The New International Version (NIV) is a popular English translation of the Bible that has undergone several revisions since it was first published in 1978. The latest revision, the NIV 2020 edition, was released in August 2020 and includes a number of changes and updates to the text.
One of the main goals of the NIV 2020 revision was to make the translation more accurate and faithful to the original biblical languages. To achieve this, the translators used the latest available biblical scholarship and resources, including updated lexicons and dictionaries, and consulted with experts in fields such as linguistics and archaeology. The NIV 2020 also includes a number of changes to the text that were designed to make the translation more readable and easier to understand for modern readers.
One notable feature of the NIV 2020 is its gender-inclusive language. The translation uses inclusive language where appropriate to ensure that the text is accessible and meaningful to all readers. This includes using gender-inclusive terms such as “brothers and sisters” instead of “brothers” to refer to groups of people, and avoiding using male-centric terms or phrases when referring to God or other biblical figures.
The NIV 2020 also includes a number of other updates and improvements to the text, such as the use of more consistent language and the inclusion of more cross-references to help readers understand the context of the passages. The translation also includes additional study resources, such as a concordance and maps, to help readers delve deeper into the text.
Overall, the NIV 2020 is a significant update to the popular NIV translation, and it aims to provide a more accurate and accessible version of the Bible for modern readers. Whether you are a seasoned Bible reader or new to the text, the NIV 2020 is a valuable resource to help you better understand and engage with the biblical text.
So what are the main differences between the NIV 1984 and NIV 2020? Here are a few key points to consider:
- Gender language: One of the main differences between the NIV 1984 and NIV 2020 is the way they handle gender language. The NIV 1984 used masculine language when referring to God and to people in general, which caused some controversy among readers who felt that it was not inclusive enough. The NIV 2020 addresses this issue by using more inclusive language that is sensitive to the diversity of genders and experiences represented in the Bible.
- Terminology: The NIV 2020 also updates some of the terminology used in the translation in order to make it more accurate and consistent with the original text. For example, the NIV 2020 replaces the term “prodigal son” with “lost son” in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) because the term “prodigal” can be misleading and does not accurately reflect the meaning of the original Greek word.
- Translation philosophy: The NIV 1984 and NIV 2020 also have slightly different translation philosophies. The NIV 1984 follows a formal equivalence approach, which aims to preserve the formal structure of the original text as closely as possible. The NIV 2020, on the other hand, follows a functional equivalence approach, which aims to convey the meaning of the text in a way that is natural and easy to understand for modern readers.
- Readability: As a result of these differences in translation philosophy, the NIV 2020 is generally considered to be more readable and easier to understand than the NIV 1984. It uses more natural English and avoids some of the more archaic language and word choices that were present in the NIV 1984.
Overall, the NIV 1984 and NIV 2020 are both reliable and respected translations of the Bible, but they do have some notable differences that readers should be aware of. Whether you prefer the NIV 1984 or NIV 2020 will likely depend on your personal preference and what you value most in a translation. Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose a translation that you can understand and that helps you connect with the message of the Bible.
