Enjoying the NIV???

[Blood-Bought Pilgrim]

I never thought I would say this, but I've been reading through the NIV some this year and I have been pleasantly surprised by how good it is. I find it refreshing and smooth yet still accurate. I'm also pleasantly surprised by how much traditional language they have retained in important passages.

This leads me to a question-- do you think much of the initial blowback against the NIV in conservative circles had more to do with the cultural climate (and perhaps fears raised by the TNIV) than the actual translation itself? Do you think it was unfair?

Several translations more accepted amongst conservatives have now essentially conceded that the NIV's approach to gender language was good, even if we may quibble over specific passages. And it seems like a general tide of recognizing the limits of formal equivalence is becoming more widespread as well.

I'd love to get thoughts from some of you on this!

 

[Phil D.]

The 1984 NIV is much less problematic (theologically, critically) than later versions. Personally, I find the smooth flow and readability of the NIV to be among the very best out there.

 

[arapahoepark]

Like I said here. It totally gets Romans right. I'm sick of other translations like the NET opting for the subject genitive because of its trendiness.

 

[erickinho1bra]

The 1984 NIV is much less problematic (theologically, critically) than later versions. Personally, I find the smooth flow and readability of the NIV to be among the very best out there.

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I'm not sure what version of the NIV he used but one of the professors at the Master's Seminary who is also a pastor at Grace Community Church (who looooove the NASB and LSB) used the NIV for OT and ESV for NT. And a profession ancient language translator at Grace told me about an evaluation he did with 5 popular translations based on different metrics. He found that at the end of the evaluation when you added up the point, they were all pretty similar. These two things have greatly increased my appreciation for the different translation traditions.

 

[Blood-Bought Pilgrim]

I'm not sure what version of the NIV he used but one of the professors at the Master's Seminary who is also a pastor at Grace Community Church (who looooove the NASB and LSB) used the NIV for OT and ESV for NT. And a profession ancient language translator at Grace told me about an evaluation he did with 5 popular translations based on different metrics. He found that at the end of the evaluation when you added up the point, they were all pretty similar. These two things have greatly increased my appreciation for the different translation traditions.

To your point, one of the most notable things that has stood out to me is how close to the ESV and other translations the NIV is. At least for me, the rhetoric on the topic can make it feel like they are supposed to be worlds apart.

 

[Ed Walsh]

I never thought I would say this, but I've been reading through the NIV some this year and I have been pleasantly surprised by how good it is. I find it refreshing and smooth yet still accurate. I'm also pleasantly surprised by how much traditional language they have retained in important passages.

The NIV is not my go-to Bible. But I often refer to it if I'm studying or preparing a lesson.

Maybe the NIV is like the stopped clock being right twice a day, but I have found the NIV to be at some places the better translation.
Ed

 

[erickinho1bra]

The NIV is not my go-to Bible. But I often refer to it if I'm studying or preparing a lesson.

Maybe the NIV is like the stopped clock being right twice a day, but I have found the NIV to be at some places the better translation.
Ed

You guys can judge me for this but I often refer to my NLT on Accordance when the NKJV and ESV aren't making sense to my simple brain. I read, in an article by D.A. Carson, the latest NLT moved away from being more like a paraphrase to be as dynamic in equivalence as you can be whilst remaining a true "translation."

 

[Phil D.]

You guys can judge me for this but I often refer to my NLT on Accordance when the NKJV and ESV aren't making sense to my simple brain. I read, in an article by D.A. Carson, the latest NLT moved away from being more like a paraphrase to be as dynamic in equivalence as you can be whilst remaining a true "translation."

Well, no judgment here as long as you don’t use The Message…

 

[Blood-Bought Pilgrim]

You guys can judge me for this but I often refer to my NLT on Accordance when the NKJV and ESV aren't making sense to my simple brain. I read, in an article by D.A. Carson, the latest NLT moved away from being more like a paraphrase to be as dynamic in equivalence as you can be whilst remaining a true "translation."

I think the NLT can be a helpful resource, though in my experience it is so dynamic that you do need to be a bit careful with it. No judgment at all using it as a help though!

 

[arapahoepark]

I think the NLT can be a helpful resource, though in my experience it is so dynamic that you do need to be a bit careful with it. No judgment at all using it as a help though!

I've heard their chronological Bible is the best.

 

[Cornelius Van Halen]

On the readability - Does anybody have thoughts on using the NIV for ESL Bible reading? I've also considered the CSB, but I'm hesitant to pull the trigger on one or the other because it will have to be a financial investment. I'm also not sure how easily I can acquire a moderate amount of NIV 1984's.
(College students in my city are willing to come to Bible Studies to work on their English - the English/Hungarian Bible that I have easy access to uses the Good News Translation which I don't like.)

 

[iainduguid]

The NIV is a couple of grades reading levels easier. It has shorter sentences and paragraphs, which make it a bit more accessible. The CSB is very readable too, but still a bit harder than the NIV.

 

[Cornelius Van Halen]

Thanks, Dr. Duguid! Hope all is well - I'm a former student of yours!

 

[Execute]

I'm also not sure how easily I can acquire a moderate amount of NIV 1984's.

This is what puts me off the NIV. I also like the '84, am less fond of the '11, and lament the decision to discontinue completely the previous version.

 

[iainduguid]

On the readability - Does anybody have thoughts on using the NIV for ESL Bible reading? I've also considered the CSB, but I'm hesitant to pull the trigger on one or the other because it will have to be a financial investment. I'm also not sure how easily I can acquire a moderate amount of NIV 1984's.
(College students in my city are willing to come to Bible Studies to work on their English - the English/Hungarian Bible that I have easy access to uses the Good News Translation which I don't like.)

You would likely have to order them individually, but I'm sure you could source quite a few hardcovers in decent condition through abebooks.com or other outlets for about $10-15. Of course, getting them to Hungary might be a challenge. It might be better to search for the UK version in British used bookstores. I imagine thrift stores have a steady supply. Of course, it depends whether you are teaching them British English or American English!

 

[Cornelius Van Halen]

Of course, it depends whether you are teaching them British English or American English!

I'd need to learn the British English first

I think we have someone coming to visit in a few months, so I'll see if I find some NIV's before then!

Thanks again!