From: "Terry Rayburn" <terryrayburn@...>
Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible


snip   snip
>
> 1. The NIV is still wildly popular (unfortunately)
>     I believe our beloved JGR is a fan.

The word "fan" is not quite correct. I use it the same as I would a
commentary - "one of many." I still believe the KJV is the most
theologically correct even though the most difficult to read. I have long
believed that if the "KJV" only crowd, and the rerst of evangelicalism, had
done nothing but remove obsolete words every 50 years we would never have
had any other translation. It is the "KJV is inspired crowd" that are
indirectly partly responsible for the new translations. Once an "easier to
read" translation came on the market the flood gates were open.

The NIV is dangerous in one aspect in that it takes liberties beyond true
translation. It does not translates probems into the text leaving each
person to solve the problem with his theology, as the KJV does, the NIV
gives you their "interpretation" without your knowing their is a problem. If
their theology is correct, fine, if not, then you have "bad theology" in the
Bible texts.

I usually preach out of the KJV simply because it offends no one. If by far
the majority of the congregation uses the NIV (or any other translation) I
will preach from it.

I do encourage new Christians to read straight thru a modern trnaslation,
even "Good News for Modern Man," a couple of times just to get acquainted
with the over all facts and major players. One of the great tragedies today
is that new converts start reading thelogy books before they have a basic
understanding of their English Bibles.

Blesssings on you and yours. As always, I appreciate your posts.    JGR