Would You Like NIV, or NIV Classic?

I've spent a few months with the online / Kindle Edition of the NIV ©2011. This is the updated NIV which the translators have chosen to simply call, NIV. This is a break from their previous TNIV, which distinguished itself from the NIV 1984 (the one we've been reading for over 25 years).

I have read what I consider improvements on the way the update translates many passages in regard to changes in the English language over the past 25 years, as well as discoveries about Greek usage from 2000 years ago. For the most part, I still enjoy the flow of reading the NIV 2011 silently or aloud, as well as studying the truth of God's Word, and applying it to my life. Just to be clear the NIV 2011 is, in my opinion, just as much God's Word as KJV, ESV, etc.

I do have some problems with the update. I understand that these are probably based on personal preference, but I wonder if anyone else who has used the NIV for several years would share my concern. Allow me to vent for a moment.

I'm still not sure about the extent to which the updated NIV goes gender neutral. Surprisingly, my mom said she likes the idea of making it more readable to women, since the Gospel is meant for both men and women, and in Christ there is neither male nor female! She's less stuck in her ways than her son, who's almost half her age! But what bothers me is the mix between singular and plural to make many such passages gender neutral.

For example look at Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To me, "they," sounds grammatically incorrect, and less personal, less individual than "he." The updated NIV book of John is full of gender neutrals that also seem to render the text less focused on the individual than the older NIV.

My other, more personal problem with the updated NIV is the fact that after 25 years I have dozens, if not hundreds of verses and even several chapters memorized. The update is just different enough to confuse and irritate if I tried to re-memorize all those passages! Going to another version altogether would be a pain for the same reason. If possible, I'd like the church I pastor to have an official version for continuity. Yes, we utilize several versions as we study, but the Word commands the public reading of the Scripture - it should be at least the same version for that. Come to think of it, the New Testament church was reading from the Septuagint, which seems to me a translation that follows a less-than-literal philosophy, much like the NIV.

Ultimately, I may embrace the update, but I would rather the NIV people retain both versions. I believe the 1984 and 2011 versions are that different. They say they're going to only offer one, the 2011 NIV, until they revise it. But maybe they will change their plans if enough people clamor for the 1984 edition. They could offer NIV and NIV Classic! But you remember how well that worked for Coca-Cola...

Patrick's Breastplate

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, Everyone! The following version is from the book, How The Irish Saved Civilization, by Thomas Cahill. I've always thought it was a beautiful piece.

Saint Patrick’s Breastplate
From How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth and his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels, In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet reward,
In prayers of patriarchs, In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles, In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins, In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun, Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind, Depth of sea,
Stability of earth, Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel, merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantation of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of creation.

Shall We Dance - Audio

Lighthouse is going on Sermon Network! Our address is http://sermon.net/lccmayo

Enjoy this message from back in September

The New, New International Version

 The year was 1984 (or 1985?).  My Daddy purchased me a huge Genuine Leather Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, New International Version.  NIV was the Bible we had recently heard Mylon Lefevre reading from at one of his concerts.  I figured if it was good enough for a thirty-something Christian rocker, it was good enough for an aspiring 14 year old rocker!

The last time the NIV was updated, other than the TNIV, was 1984.  Wait!  That explains why we got such a good deal on that huge Bible:  It contained the 1978 edition of the NIV which they would have been trying to get rid of in 1984-85! 

Anyway, flash forward to 2010.  This, most popular modern English version of God's Word, is getting a face-lift which will be unveiled in print sometime around March, 2011.  If you want a preview now you can go to Bible Gateway, and compare the NIV (2010) to the NIV (1984) and the TNIV.  Or you can keep reading!

As a NIV guy for the past 25 years or so, I have mixed feelings about this update.  Sure they tried to spring that gender-neutral TNIV on us a few of years ago.  But I didn't have to accept it because it didn't even have the same name, what with that extra "T" at the beginning!  The 2010 NIV is slated to be the only, NIV displacing both the 1984 NIV and the TNIV the two of which will not be published after March 2011.

I've only glanced at a fraction of this new version, but I've seen some interesting developments.

The new NIV has some changes which lean toward the inclusive language of the TNIV.  For example, John 1:4 uses the word replaces, "...was the light of men," with, "...was the light of all mankind."  The TNIV went all the way, with "people" completely blurring gender.  Galatians 1:2 in the New NIV addresses Paul's letter to, "all the brothers and sisters."  The footnote for this verse states:  "The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family."

However, in some passages the new NIV leans to a more traditional reading that earlier editions.  Since 1984, this was Galatians 5:16: 
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  
And the New NIV: 

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Notice the words "walk" and "flesh" are right from more traditional versions, such as the King James.

I will give some other examples in upcoming posts, and I encourage you to examine this new version of the Bible for yourself.  You can go to the Committee on Bible Translation or Bible Gateway to read the new text from this update  Let me know what you think about it!

[Photo:  Mylon Lefevre and Broken Heart, Mid-80's]

Survival of The Sympathy

I overheard a girl  in a store lamenting the tragedy of Europeans coming over to America, killing the indigenous people and stealing their land.  I have a few theories about said invasion.  I would have kept these to myself but for the other side of your world view.

She clearly indicated a strong slant away from intelligent design,  and toward all things evolutionary.  Here's my question:  Evolution is the acceptance of the survival of the fittest, the strong eat the weak, dogs and cats living together...  That last part is actually from Ghost Busters, but you get the idea.

How can you accept a world view that assumes one group displacing another through a more robust immune system, military might, or even technological advantage is simply part of the circle of life, but then actually complain about it when it happens?  What ground does she have to stand on, if the atrocities about which she gripes are just another step in the evolutionary cycle?  Sure she can voice her dissenting opinion about U.S. history.  But without some authority to appeal to, it's just that - opinion!

Jesus comes along and claims that the Scripture cannot be broken.  He gives us that higher authority as a foundation for morality.   How great to have something higher than just public opinion on which to base the very issues of our lives!