NIV Major Changes, Eph 4-6 - Bible Believers Baptist Church

Posted on October 13, 2023 Posted By: Bevans Welder Categories: Audio, Radio Show, Text

NIV Major Changes, Eph. 4-6 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

We believe that the King James Bible is the word of God. The NIV has major changes in it that are not just intended to make it “easier to read and understand.” These changes have major doctrinal implications. This study reviews some of the most important doctrinal errors that we found in the NIV when compared to the King James Bible. The comments below are brief. There is much more discussion in the audio recording. Notice these comparisons:

Ephesians 4:7 Authorized King James Version “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:7 New International Version “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

The NIV puts the giving of grace into the past tense. But truly grace “is given” as stated in the KJV. We don’t just get a portion at salvation and then that’s it. We grow in grace [2 Pet 3:8], grace is multiplied to us [2 Pet 1:2], more grace is given to us [Jas 4:6] and God makes grace abound to us [2 Cor 9:8].

Ephesians 4:12 Authorized King James Version “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
Ephesians 4:12 New International Version “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”

“For the perfecting of the saints” has been removed in the NIV as has the reference to the “perfect man” in Eph 4:13. The perfecting of the saints is a vital function of the men in Eph 4:11. It is through their work that saints become “perfect” for the work God has for us to do in his body [Eph 4:16; 1 Pet 5:10], whereby it becomes the “perfect man.”

Ephesians 4:14 Authorized King James Version “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”
Ephesians 4:14 New International Version “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”

“The sleight of men” has been removed in the NIV. It is by this very act that the NIV translators corrupted the words of God, convincing buyers that what they had produced was an improvement over the KJV. That’s like a magician convincing you through sleight of hand that he had performed magic. Read 1 Jn 5:7-8 and notice how the NIV translators cut verse 8 in half and slipped the first half into verse 7 and left the second half as verse 8. Then read the KJV and discover that they removed the greatest single verse in the Bible on the Trinity in its entirety. By cutting verse 8 in half they tried to fool you into believing that verse 7 was still there. Magic!

In Eph 5:9, the NIV changes the “fruit of the Spirit” to the “fruit of the light.” There is certainly “fruit of the Spirit,” [Gal 5:22-23], but there is no such thing as the “fruit of the light.”

In Eph 5:21, the NIV replaces “the fear of God” with “reverence for Christ.” There are many people who reverence Christ but who do not fear God. Reverence for Christ is respect and honor. Fear of God is fear and trembling [Phil 2:12]. There’s a major difference between these two. See a similar change in Eph 6:5.

Ephesians 5:30 Authorized King James Version “for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
Ephesians 5:30 New International Version “for we are members of his body.”

The NIV removed “of his flesh, and of his bones” from the verse. This is a terrible subtraction. When Jesus saves us, we are baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ, literally [1 Cor 12:13]. We become part of him. Since he is seated at the right hand of God, likewise, we are “seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” [Eph 2:6]. As Eve came forth from Adam’s body to be his bride, likewise, we come forth from Christ’s body to be his bride. For us to lose our salvation, Christ would have to amputate part of his body and throw us out of heaven.

Ephesians 6:4 Authorized King James Version “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4 New International Version “Fathers,^[^a^] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

The NIV changed “nurture and admonition.” That was a bad change. These are two key words in the proper rearing of children. Nurture is unspoken communication, which is most important in childhood. Nurture is expressed with a hug or a kiss and it is also expressed with appropriate corporal punishment. Admonition is verbal communication and becomes more important as children grow into adolescence, when they can reason. You cannot properly rear children without nurture.

In Eph 6:18, the NIV removed “supplication.” That is an extremely important word defining a specific kind of prayer. Here’s an example. Jesus prayed, “Let this cup pass from me.” His supplication was, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Notice the earnest humility in the Lord’s “supplication.”

Conclusion: these changes in the NIV have major doctrinal implications. Rather than increase our understanding of the words of God, they lead us astray. Stick with your King James Bible. It is the truth.

body of Christ, Fear of God, grace, KJV, Modern Bibles, NIV, perfect, sleight, supplication