NIV Major Errors, Eph. 1-3 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 1:11 Authorized King James Version “in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
- Ephesians 1:11 New International Version “In him we were also chosen,[a]having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,”
There are two major problems here. First, we were predestinated to obtain an inheritance, not to be saved (see or listen to the radio broadcast on Biblical Predestination). Second, we were not “chosen, having been predestined…” That is the false doctrine of Unconditional Election supported in the NIV. The reference to “an inheritance” is removed completely in the NIV making you think that God predestined the chosen to be saved.
- Ephesians 1:13 Authorized King James Version “in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
- Ephesians 1:13 New International Version “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,”
The NIV says that you were included in Christ “when you heard… the gospel.” That’s not true. There are many who have heard the gospel, who are still not in Christ, because they have not “trusted” Jesus Christ, as the KJV says. The way the NIV is worded lends credibility to the false Calvinistic doctrine of Irresistible Grace. Calvinists, whether they realize it or not, because of their doctrine of Total Depravity, believe that you must be born again before you can believe. In the NIV, the changes in Eph 1:13 conveniently support this error.
- Ephesians 2:2 Authorized King James Version “wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”
- Ephesians 2:2 New International Version “in which you used to livewhen you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
The NIV changes the “power of the air” to the “kingdom of the air.” There is no such thing as the kingdom of the air. That is a figment of the translators’ imagination. The kingdoms are the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world [Rev 11:15; Lk 4:5].
- Ephesians 3:9 Authorized King James Version “and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”
- Ephesians 3:9 New International Version “and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.”
The NIV removed “by Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ is the Creator [Col 1:16] and he is the Word of God [Jn 1:1-3] by whom God spoke everything into existence. That’s a needless and bad change.
- Ephesians 3:18 Authorized King James Version “may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;”
- Ephesians 3:18 New International Version “may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,”
The four dimensions of Eph 3:18 have nothing to do with “the love of Christ,” as the NIV states. They are dimensions of the holy temple of the body of Christ [Eph 2:19-22; Eph 4:13-16], which God wants us to comprehend. The NIV obliterates any possibility of comprehending this.
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.
Quotations from the NIV are from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.