Soon after the New International Version was published, I wrote a tract exposing this unscriptural version. "Should We Trust The New International Version?" has gone through many reprints and has been circulated by the thousands. (Tract #A-217 may be ordered from us. 50 for $5.00 postage paid in USA - SEE BELOW FOR ORDERING INFORMATION.). Since that time, we have not changed our mind about this corrupt version. We are more convinced than ever that NIV cannot be trusted.
The startling news that NIV will become a Unisex version, was published in the March 29, 1997 edition of World magazine. This is a complete capitulation to the ungodly feminist movement of our day. This shows that the people who control NIV are not the least bit interested in producing an accurate translation of the Word of God. They are interested in making money and in advancing an agenda that is contrary to God's word. Not only are they going to publish this femi nist monstrosity, but they are going to cease publishing the present edition of NIV. They are going from bad to worse.
"When it was reported in the March 29 World that the NIV Committee on Bible Translation the group with exclusive authority over the NIV, and to whom publisher Zondervan is contractually boundhad decided to change the NIV to a unisex version, leading theologians spoke out (4/19 World). Regent College professor and author J.I. Packer, after examining specific changes, stated that the `adjustments made by what I call the feminist edition are not made in the interests of legitimate translation procedure. These changes have been made to pander to a cultural prejudice that I hope will be short-lived.' He said the revisions are `blurring rather than clarifying the sense of the original.'"1
While we do not agree with J.I. Packer all the time, he is certainly on target in this instance. Please note that this world renown author is no friend of the KJV.
Paige Patterson, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBC), has spoken out against the gender neutral edition of NIV. He certainly could not be classed as a KJV only man, but his article published in National Liberty Journal makes some good points.
Ever since an independent Baptist pastor tried to introduce materials from Lee Strobel of Bill Hybels' Willow Creek Community Church among independent Baptists, I have been trying to warn people about this unscriptural ministry. Now, we find that Bill Hybels and his people are responsible, in part at least, for this unisex NIV. Read on!
"Susan Olasky, who wrote the World article, cites Gilbert Bilezikian, the determined egalitarian theologian-in-residence at Willow Creek (Community) Church. He confidently prophesies that the feminist perspective will prevail in both evangelical and secular worlds. Bilezikian chortles, `It is a quiet reform movement that is unstoppable. In two or three generations from now it won't even be an issue.'"2
"And make no mistake about it. Gilbert Bilezikian and other purveyors of feminist ideology are not tolerant folks who allow others their perspectives.
"Olasky's article also recounts the decision of Willow Creek (Community) Church, under the leadership of Bill Hybels and Bilezikian, to close all leadership positions to those who do not agree with the feminist agenda.
"What will be next at Willow Creek -- openness to same-sex marriages, even more openness to the killing of preborns in the wombs of their mothers? Who knows? One thing is certain, all of these ideas are the frequent riding partners of the feminist gang. And all of them are a threat to the basic fabric of society and to the people of God."2
"This NIV Inclusive Language Version is now on sale in England. While it was translated by Zondervan's Committee for Bible Translation in the U.S., this NIV cannot be purchased in America by mutual agreement of the publishers in the U.K. and the U.S.
"According to Larry Walker (a member of the fifteen-member Committee for Biblical Translation for NIV), much of the pressure to do this unisex Bible came from Hodder and Stoughton, the British publisher of the NIV.
"They are demanding a `unisex' version to compete with the unisex NRSV. Zondervan, the American publisher, has, for years, brought pressure for `unisex' language in its books. Think about it. NIV translators knuckle under to a British partner whose concern is neither accuracy nor truth, but money! And this comes out of England, which since Spurgeon's death has basked in its liberalism and has become so deficient in its evangelistic efforts as to lose its own nation."2 "Remember that it is often the case that a thoroughgoing liberal is less dangerous than a compromising, conservative evangelical, simply because the liberal tends to be more forthright and candid. Why do the NIV translators not openly state their purpose? Is the NIV a stealth translation as alleged in Olasky's article? NIV translators, I call on you to be entirely forthcoming and label your translation as the `NIV-Unisex translation.' At least let people know where your real commitments are.
"Editors Note: Bruce Ryskamp, president of Zondervan, has stated that a U.S. Inclusive Language Version of the NIV will not be available before the year 2000 at the earliest."2 (That is only 2 years and 6 months away).
"No movement is any more dangerous to the New Testament church than the feminist effort to re- engineer society and abandon God's parameters for the home and for the church."2
Of course he is right about the Unisex NIV, but he is completely wrong in thinking that there is a need for any kind of NIV. He is wrong in thinking that the KJV needs to be replaced. He is a victim of the liberalism that he has professed to oppose.
Listen to what he says, "For some, this new development is disheartening and disconcerting. While from the outset I have not been particularly a fan of the NIV. I am an ardent supporter of the effort to translate the Scriptures into the vernacular of the people of each generation.
"As much as I personally love the King James Version, it remains an English translation from 1611. Accordingly, non-English speaking people cannot read it. Plus, language changes over time, and a good contemporary translation by biblical inerrantists who will not be influenced by the politics or the dangers of the dynamic equivalency theory of translation needs to be produced every century and perhaps even every 50 years.
"When the NIV came out, I was hopeful. Maybe it would be faithful to the text and evangelical to the core.
"The more I read the NIV with a Greek Testament or Hebrew Bible open beside it, the more misgiving I have; but I have remained convinced that the best modern translation with a real chance to succeed in the market and in the churches is the NIV. Now my hopes are dashed."2
How could Patterson be so blind to all the dangers of the NIV? His idea that the Bible needs to be retranslated every 50 to 100 years flies against all reason. The last 386 years that the KJV has reigned, should prove the folly of such a statement. His idea that the KJV is no longer understandable is pure foolishness!!
The best thing that can happen, would be that the whole NIV project would go belly up. We don't need the present NIV, and we sure don't need the Unisex NIV!!! It just may be that the new Unisex NIV will wake a lot of people up to what is going on. However, I am sure that many foolish untaught people will adopt the Unisex NIV. This is all the more reason why we must keep up the heat on these new versions. The devil is behind them all!
1 Calvary Contender, VOL. XIV NO. 10, May 15, 1997
2 National Liberty Journal, Vol. 26 No. 5, May 1997. Special Report by Dr. Paige Patterson, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Read what Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson has to say on the "TNIV."
Read what the Southern Baptists have to say about this "new" bible.
