It has been observed that Christians in increasing numbers are using the New International Version of the Bible as their primary translation. While the NIV provides a very ‘readable’ copy of the Scriptures, users should be informed about several significant difficulties.

Most notably, the NIV promotes the false doctrines of Calvinism by inaccurately translating several key verses. For instance, Psalm 51: 5 in the NIV reads, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me”. Obviously, this teaches the Calvinistic notion of inherited sin which is plainly denied in many other Bible texts. The KJV and ASV read, “in sin did my mother conceive me”. There is quite a difference in being conceived in sin (describing the spiritual condition of the world into which the author was born) and in being personally sinful from the point of conception.

Additionally, the NIV frequently refers to man’s “sinful nature” (see Rom. 8:3ff, Eph. 2:3, Col. 2:11, & many other passages). This teaches another tenet of Calvinism, namely total depravity – the idea that man must sin – it is in his very nature to do so.  Again, this is denied elsewhere in the Scriptures. Other versions simply refer to the “flesh” in these important verses.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? Considering these and other objections to the NIV, we suggest that Christians should exercise great caution in using this translation as their principle study Bible. Other versions are much more reliable, and several are equal to the NIV in ‘readability’. Choose the NKJV or the NASV if you want a trustworthy translation without the old English of the KJV. It would be best to reserve the NIV as a study aid in providing comparative readings.

– by Greg Gwin