NIV: A Tampered Version of the Holy Bible?

Part II: Denying Jesus as Saviour

Numerous Scripture passages (Is 43:3, 11, 45:15, 21, Luke 1:21, Luke 2:11, and Acts 5:31, to name a few) in many versions of the Bible stated clearly that Jesus is the Savior. Yet, some of the new versions seem to deny Jesus being the Saviour, thus contradicting themselves.

   It was noted in Part one of this article (Part I: Denying the Sabbath) that since EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God is vital for Christian life, the devil is making slight changes, even changing single letters such that the whole doctrine is confused, or contradicting.

  Here are some subtle trivial changes that fail to render the original intent of God’s word. Study them prayerfully, and with a desire to “know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Only the versions in my possession are used). 

Matthew 18:11

KJV: For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost

WEB: For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.

ASV: For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.

NIV: Blank (Whole text omitted)  

This text plainly states that Jesus came to save the lost. And since He came to save, He is the Saviour. The King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV) and World English Bible WEB) all agreed to this truth. The New International Version (NIV), however, completely left the text out. It is literally blank. By leaving it blank, it denies the truth that Christ is the Saviour of lost sinners. 

Luke 9:55, 56

KJV: But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. ⁵⁶For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

WEB: But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know of what kind of spirit you are. ⁵⁶For the Son of Man didn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They went to another village.

NIV: But Jesus turned and rebuked them, ⁵⁶and they went to another village.

ASV: But he turned, and rebuked them. ⁵⁶And they went to another village. 

The sentences underlined in KJV and WEB look as though they have been deliberately crossed out in NIV and ASV.  The omitted part of the text stated clearly that Jesus came to save men’s lives. Omitting this information denies Jesus of his role as the Saviour of men. 

I Corinthians 5:7

KJV: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

WEB: Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.

NIV: Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

ASV: Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ: 

KJV makes it clear that the sacrifice of Jesus is for us. That means that He is the Saviour. WEB also supported it. The other two versions omitted for us. With this change, the texts mean that Jesus was sacrificed, but not necessarily for us. 

John 4:42

KJV: And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

WEB: They said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

NIV: They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

ASV: and they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world. 

NIV and ASV didn’t mention Christ in the text. Reading the whole story, one would never miss to understand that this man in NIV refers to Christ. But it is interesting to note that in the new translations, someone doesn’t want the name Christ to be associated with the title Saviour. 

The KJV retains the truth of Jesus being the Saviour. “…and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” NIV stated this truth in Matthew 1:21, but denies it in the above texts, thus contradicting itself. If “God is not the author of confusion,” (I Corinthians 14:33) who would be the one attempting to confuse the faithful who earnestly read God’s Word in search for truth?

   Well, as you might have guessed, it’s the devil. He hates Jesus so much that he tries every way he can to deny the truth that Jesus is the Saviour, even to the point of tampering with the Holy Scriptures. He became enemy with Jesus in Heaven, continued the fight into Eden, into the wilderness after His baptism, onto Mt. Calvary and the great controversy is still raging. You and I are caught between the crossfire.

   The devil is very subtle in his deceptions, meaning that he does things so slightly or delicately that one is unable to analyse or identify. “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made…” (Gen 3:1). There is therefore, very vital that we are extremely careful that we are not deceived. We have been urged to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The Scriptures must be correctly interpreted, or translated, and must conform to the original intent and meaning of the Word of God.

   Personally, efforts made to distort Scriptural truth that Jesus is the Savior, has instead affirmed my belief that Jesus is my Saviour! I use KJV because I think it retains the original intent of God’s word. I use NIV from time to time, but always ensure that the meaning of the text is the same in both versions.

Be blessed!