My wife went to the Bible Book Store To get me a New Bible as a gift, and was told by the lady that works there , that they will not stock or sell the New International Version , because the latest publication, changes the words and leaves out a lot of Gods word. She says it is a perverted Bible.

So my Wife Bought me the King James Version with LARGE print.

I did not know this about the NIV , ( The Lady says that NIV published before 2011 is OK, it is the ones published after 2011 that are perverted.

New one on me but mine is prior to 2011 anyway. I do a lot of back and forth between the NIV and KJV.

I'm sure if you Google it, you'll find info about it.

The group in charge of the 2011 revision of the NIV decided to change some of the language making it more gender neutral in some areas, along with some other more modern ideas. Many have issues with that because it can change some obvious meanings and some more subtle deeper meanings of the Word.

God created man (referring to Adam) vs. God created mankind (2011 made it a plural noun); He vs They (2011 version); etc...

Masculine nouns and pronouns are commonly changed to gender neutral. No problem if it applies, but it may change the intention of the verse...at least according to some scholars and some groups.

I personally study several different versions. ESV, KJV, NKJV, NASB, and NIV (older one). I have an old Living Bible that I like to read sometimes too...belonged to my grandmother and I like to read her notes in the margins. She used the KJV and then read the Living Bible as a paraphrase version to grasp many passages more fully.

The older NIV is a good version and is easy to read. But I prefer a more literal translation for my day to day reading.

You can really ruffle some feathers when you start discussing which version is better. I have an NIV and used it for 9 years, but for the past year and a half, as I studied God's Word more and more in groups that used differing versions, I began to see subtle differences in the NIV wording and others. That caused to me start doing a side by side comparison of same verses and realized there IS a difference and that those variations could change the meaning of the scripture in some instances. That caused me to look at other versions much deeper and harder. What I settled on is ESV (English Standard Version) this year.
I will be quick to say that none of us should rely on just ONE version, but to compare them all when trying to discern what the writer was trying to convey.
I also recommend using a Strong's Concordance as well as a companion to doing Bible study. That gives you the EXACT meaning for every word in the Bible and makes a difference in comprehension, or it does for ME, anyway.

I like my Bible app on my phone. I will often flip back and forth and read several translations. I'll even look at the Message some which is a paraphrase.

Another tool is www.biblos.com You get to look see the Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek along with Strong's Concordance all in one place.

You have that exactly correct. Many get angry about any criticism of translations or versions. Some tell you that only one version is approved, such as the King James.

The NIV has some good qualities but some definte faults just like you stated. The newer NIV just adds to the issues.

I use the ESV and the NKJV the most.

I have this link in my favorites:


Bible Gateway *** click here for index ***


Choose the translation you want and compare translations. Very handy.

Note: I used Romans 22 as a search term because there is no Romans 22. That caused an index of the whole Bible to appear. That's what I wanted to add to my favorites.

49er, I have the same app and USE it! I also like You Version and have recently discovered Blue Letter Bible and wear that thing out!

I keep an Interlinear Bible that has Greek Hebrew and English translated word for word as best as can be, into modern English on my desk. Beside it is a Strongs Concordance and a KJV. The KJV gets the most attention though. Actually, even it, doesn't get as much attention as it should.

mm, I've got a Strongs Concordance too and it's a very very useful tool in my studies.

Another good tool are the word studies by Kenneth Wuest and his expanded New Testament translation.

I have read a bunch of them, from when I was little reading the KJV to the HCSB, which is what I use now. I have liked them all!