I got such good comments to my last post that I thought I'd do a little follow-up research.
First off, I don't think the NIV really has a good shot at being a replacement for the KJV. The Book of Mormon language generally parallels the KJV and makes recognition of matching passages easier. Our doctrine and lesson books and libraries of sermons are all centered around the KJV. The terms we use come out of the KJV. And there are probably cases where, in doctrinal matters, the KJV is closer, although I haven't really got a good one yet. I think that for reference, the KJV is probably the best way to go. However, for reading, there are definitely times when a modern-language translation can shine.
A quick example: Try reading 2 Corinthians 11-13. Now, I'd read that in the KJV, and while it's a bit of a grammatical maze, you can puzzle out the meaning. What doesn't come through in the KJV is that Paul is ranting. Sure, he's talking about a serious topic (namely, the apostasy of the Corinthians), but he's doing so in such an aggressive, fiery way that you can almost picture the audience wincing at his forcefulness. The KJV tends to come across as soft-spoken and formal, no matter what's being said.
It was mentioned in a comment from Eve that the NIV might have an anti-LDS doctrinal slant in the way things were worded. I would really like references for this. I've taken a few shots at passages with fairly strong references to decidedly LDS doctrines, and thought I'd share the results.
1 Cor 15:29 -- Baptism for the dead as an authentic practice.
KJV: Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
NIV: Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
Rom 8:16-17 -- Man's potential to become heirs of God with Christ.
KJV: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorifed together.
NIV: The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Amos 3:7 -- God reveals his will to prophets
KJV: Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
NIV: Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
Genesis 3:4-5 -- A moderately meaningful difference in this one: The word "gods" was changed to "God." This one doesn't bother me all that much, admittedly, since it's a pretty fine distinction, and we're usually fine with Elohim being translated as "God."
KJV: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
NIV: "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Genesis 3:22 -- Plus, the plural is still here. Some branches of Christianity explain this one as God addressing "the heavenly court," by the way.
KJV: And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
NIV: And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever."
Job 38:7 -- So this one looks like a difference...
KJV: When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
NIV: while the morning stars sang together and all the angels [a] shouted for joy?
But to be fair to the NIV, that footnote [a] reads "Hebrew the sons of God." This one also strikes me as pretty minor.
Anyway, there are piles and piles of these. This was just a random sampling. I hope someone was interested, since these are fun to put together. Feel free to throw out suggestions.
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1 comment:
It seems unlikely to me that the NIV was probably not translated with an anti-Mormon agenda, but rather just translated by those who do not subscribe to Mormon theology. I'd be interested to see how it deals with the "My Father and I are One" scriptures, incidentally, and also how it deals with the quotes by Paul concerning being saved by nothing more than a vocal confession of the Christ.
However, I think I commented on this before, but I'm a fan of the NIV, as my NT teacher sold me on it a year or so ago.
It could be easy to interpret, however, that it was translated with an anti-Mormon agenda, however, because most of the so-called Christians who read it are all-too-willing to attack Mormon beliefs at the drop of a hat. On my mission, I kind of shuddered when I saw an NIV, not because there was anything wrong with the book, but because it meant I was about to be sprung upon by a rabid chiuaua aka. the owner of said book.
There are Bible translations, of course, that are translated with a fairly obvious doctrinal agenda, one of the most widespread being the Jehovah's Witnesses' New World Translation, which has effectively been laughed out of the arena by many Bible scholars.
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