Can anyone succinctly list the issues with the NIV translation for Catholics? I know I have read about it before but now I cannot find the articles. I recall there being issues with the translation of the word “tradition” among things.
PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Hiding the condemnation of personal interpretation
2 Peter 1:20
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by **the prophet’s **own interpretation. (NIV adds “the prophet’s”)
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (KJV)
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, (New American Standard)
Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, (New American Bible)
One passage that is never cited as a proof text for sola scriptura is 2 Peter 1:20-21. That’s hardly surprising. In this passage, Peter rejects the idea of private or individual interpretation: “no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation.” Then Peter warns: “But false prophets also arose among the [Jewish] people, just as there will be false teacher among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who brought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” (2 Peter 2:1) Note that under divine inspiration, Peter connects individual interpretation with heresies!
The Greek word that is translated as “heresies” comes from the verb
haireomai, which means “to take or to choose for one’s self.” In the first century, it had the negative meaning of going off on one’s own in rebellion to the established teaching. Thus, in Acts 24:14, some translations render it as “sect”.
The statement in 2 Peter 1:20 is so strong in its opposition to the idea of
sola scriptura that one Protestant translation attempts to subvert its meaning by inserting words that are not in the original. Thus, it appears that the New International Version (NIV) intentionally mistranslates “one’s own interpretation” with “by the prophet’s own interpretation.” However,
tou prophetou is not found in the Greek text.
Avoiding Positive References to “Tradition”
Here are a few Greek words and their English equivalents:
paradosis - tradition
didaskalia - teaching
didachi i - teaching doctrine
In the following verses, the Greek word,
paradosis, is translated in the NIV as “tradition”; note that in each of these instances,
paradosis is viewed in a negative light.
Matthew 15:1-5
Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the **tradition
paradosis] **of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your
tradition paradosis]? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your
tradition paradosis].”
Mark 7:1-13
The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the
tradition paradosis] of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other
traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the
tradition paradosis] of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?” He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: " ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the
traditions paradosis] of men.” And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own
traditions paradosis]
! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your
tradition paradosis] that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
Galatians 1:14
I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the
tradition paradosis] of my fathers.
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human
tradition paradosis] and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
In the following verses, the Greek word,
paradosis, is translated in the NIV as “teaching”; note that in each of these instances,
paradosis is viewed in a positive light.
1 Corinthians 11:2
I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the
teaching paradosis], just as I passed them on to you.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the
teachings paradosis] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the
teaching paradosis] you received from us.
(cont.)
