The New Internation Version Bible

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Here is conundrum for the believer.  Which “Word of God” should be used?  Should one use the King James Version, the book of Mormon, or possibly the New International Version?  (Again, I will use capitalizations when it counts).  I respect the NIV for a few reasons.  First, I respect the concept the translators of the NIV use.  Here is a quote from the preface of the 2002 edition: 

“From the beginning of the project, the Committee on Bible Translation held to certain goals for the New International Version: that it would be an accurate translation and one that would have clarity and literary quality and so prove suitable for public and private reading, teaching, preaching, memorizing and liturgical use.” 

A number of languages over numerous centuries were used in the writing of the Word of God.  The translations must be accurate if they are to be followed and applied to life on Earth; otherwise, they are errant and not the perfect word of god.  Second, I hold unity as an obtainable concept.  Unity is another concept that has been lost to the christian world.  Here is how the translation teams felt about unity: 

“In working toward these goals, the translators were united in their commitment to the authority and infallibility of the Bible as God’s Word in written form.  They believe that it contains the divine answer to the deepest needs of humanity, that it sheds unique light on our path in a dark world, and that it sets forth the way to our eternal well-being.”   

If only all christians acted upon the belief in these sentences.  Finally, these translators have this to say about the source of the Word of God. Re-read the first sentence of the last quote: 

“In working toward these goals, the translators were united in their commitment to the authority and infallibility of the Bible as God’s Word in written form.” 

At least in print the translators of the NIV Bible believe that the Word truly has an infallible quality.   

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