Bible NIV 2011 Version ALERT

Edited 22 and 28 Jan 2011.  Please see addition at the bottom

Before reading this please familiarise yourselves with How The Bible Was Put Together and Proving Why It IS The Inspired Inerrant Word Of God  which shows that most of  the available Bible versions (up until 1984) were reliable and could be fully trusted.

NIV 2011 Version cannot be fully trusted
I often use BibleGateway.com as a valuable resource for searching specific scripture verses and copying/pasting the verses. I usually use NASB, KJV, NKJV and NIV in my research. Although NIV may not be the very best (although still a very good translation) I usually use it in my articles because it is easier to read or use.

What I didn't notice until now, is that the original NIV (1984 copyright) has been updated to 2011 copyright. Bible Gateway still list the version 1984 but it appears at the bottom of the list of versions, with 2011 version at the very top of the list. However, I will continue to use the 1984 version.

I checked out the 2011 version to see what the differences were because i could not understand why it needed to be updated as it was already easy enough to read and easily relevant in how we speak today. So why did they change it?

They changed it because they wanted the NIV to be more relevant to the 21st Century, ie they wanted it to be politically correct! WHAT?????

How dare they meddle with the Bible to make it more Politically correct, ie change it to conform to the way we think TODAY. The Bible says "do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The Bible should change us FROM the world, not change the Bible! Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. WE MUST NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. Jesus and other scriptures warned of what would happen if we tamper with the Word of God.

So what changes have taken place? Well I noticed something immediately in the Book of James. It had this as a footnote:
"James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19."

This is a fabrication of these authors and absolutely not accurate. So it is clear that this 2010 version replaces "brothers" with the words "brothers and sisters" throughout. The Greek word adelphoi DOES NOT mean believers (brothers and sisters) it is a masculine word. This is what I found:

"Strongs no. 80 Greek.  alpha (a connective particle) delpha (womb).

Thayers. Adelphos – from the same womb – a brother born of the same parents, or only one parent of mum or dad.

Vines a brother or near kinsman. Male / of the same nationality e.g Acts 3:17)

Vines shows all the variations of its use - Thayers agrees.

Brother, Brethren, Brotherhood, Brotherly:

denotes "a brother, or near kinsman;" in the plural, "a community based on identity of origin or life." It is used of:

(1) male children of the same parents, Matt 1:2; 14:3;

(2) male descendants of the same parents, Act 7:23, 26; Hbr 7:5;

(3) male children of the same mother, Mat 13:55; 1Cr 9:5; Gal 1:19;

(4) people of the same nationality, Act 3:17, 22; Rom 9:3. With "men" (aner, "male"), prefixed, it is used in addresses only, Act 2:29, 37, etc.;

(5) any man, a neighbor, Luk 10:29; Mat 5:22; 7:3;

(6) persons united by a common interest, Mat 5:47;

(7) persons united by a common calling, Rev 22:9;

(8) mankind, Mat 25:40; Hbr 2:17;

(9) the disciples, and so, by implication, all believers, Mat 28:10; Jhn 20:17;

(10) believers, apart from sex, Mat 23:8; Act 1:15; Rom 1:13; 1Th 1:4; Rev 19:10 (the word "sisters" is used of believers, only in 1Ti 5:2);

(11) believers, with aner, "male," prefixed, and with "or sister" added, 1Cr 7:14 (RV), 15; Jam 2:15, male as distinct from female, Act 1:16; 15:7, 13, but not Act 6:3. * 

[* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, p. 32.]

Notes:

(1) Associated words are adelphotes, primarily, "a brotherly relation," and so, the community possessed of this relation, "a brotherhood," 1Pe 2:17 (see 5:9, marg.); philadelphos, (phileo, "to love," and adelphos), "fond of one's brethren," 1Pe 3:8; "loving as brethren," RV; philadelphia, "brotherly love," Rom 12:10; 1Th 4:9; Hbr 13:1; "love of the brethren," 1Pe 1:22; 2Pe 1:7, RV;pseudadelphos, "false brethren," 2Cr 11:26; Gal 2:4.

(2) In Luk 6:16; Act 1:13, the RV has "son," for AV, "brother."

(3) In Act 13:1, for suntrophos, see BRING, B, Note (6)."

What Vines has done in that list, is give the usages of adelphos in the NT.  The endings indicate number, but its not straightforward as they change under various circumstances.!   adelphos is 'brother' singular.  Adelphoi is a plural - brother's there is nothing to suggest AND sister.  BUT  The Vines list of usage may show it is used in some passages where sisters are present? Therefore, (as ALWAYS) context is vital. Rather than showing the original meaning "brother" and leave it to the readers to work out the context, they have gone overboard and given their own interpretation - many times out of context, in order to be "poltically correct"

So those of you who use Bible Gateway be aware that they use NIV 2011 as the default so I advise that you choose the 1984 version instead and the same with those who are thinking about buying a new NIV,  DON'T, it cannot be trusted.


Addition 22 Jan 2011

I found this pdf file http://www.biblegateway.com/niv/Translators-Notes.pdf within BibleGateway,  which is an explanation by NIV 2010 Committee as to why they made the changes. I have partially read it through and cannot accept their reasonings as to the changes they have made.

For example, let us look at a change they made to Philippians 4:13

This is what they said within that pdf file about this change:

“And one shouldn’t be as easily able to misapply Philippians 4:13 now that it reads, ‟I can

do all this through him who gives me strength” (i.e., to be content in all circumstances,

whether in riches or in poverty), rather than ‟I can do everything through him who gives

me strength.” "

What??? Let us look at how the NIV 2010 now renders Phil 4:12-13

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

From NIV 1984 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength".

Let us consider the NKJV which says “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me”

They say that they haven't changed its original meaning but have tried to make it easier to read to prevent misinterpretation. THIS IS NOT TRUE!

The NIV 2011 is restricting us to whether we need to fast or lack material things. Paul ACTUALLY is making the point that WHATEVER situation we find ourselves in God gives us strength, not just for fasting or being homeless. ANY situation.

So here is one of (I am sure) many examples of the NIV 2011 version trying to empty the power of God's Word.

Addition 28 Jan 2011
Someone passed this link to me http://radiofreechurch.com/speaker_display/2 . Please choose message 07.


It is a video found on "Blue Letter Bible" entitled "which Bible is the best". I watched/listened through the full hour and was impressed by the evidence. I encourage you all to watch it, to become familiar with the issues, so that you can make better choices as to what Bible version you use.


I have to warn you that (although his deliverance is very easy on the ears) the first half is quite hard going. The first half is laying the foundation for the second half which became intriguing to listen to. I would say trudging through the 1st half is worth it because of what follows. I encourage you to stay with it until the end.