In this series of articles (this being the fourth article), we have exposed how the NIV both adds and removes from God’s word.  We spent some time talking about how the NIV translators want to make man sinful by nature, instead of sin being a choice.  We have noticed that the NIV has man saved by faith and confession alone.  We have exposed those errors with the simplicity of truth.  Many today argue that the NIV is “THE easy to read translation”.  In reality, the NIV is the easy to be lost through translation.  In this article we are going to learn about the NIV’s work in removing Christ as deity.

     Man has long tried to demote Jesus.  The Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that Jesus is deity and even some apostate teachers of our day, like John Welch, do the same (http://www.wordsoftruth.net/deityofchrist122301.htm).  We will notice that the NIV has removed areas of Scripture that show Jesus being worshipped here on earth.  We will notice that the NIV outright removes that God was made know in the flesh.  These things are relevant for if we believe not that Jesus is God we will die in our sins (John 8:23-24 and Hebrews 11:6).
 

 Jesus taught that only God is to be worshipped (Luke 4:6-8).  This truth is supported throughout the New Testament.  In one example Cornelius tired to worship Peter, but notice Peter’s response: “And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man” (Acts 10:25-26).  In another example Paul had healed a lame man through the power of God and those witnessing that event wanted to praise Paul and Barnabas.  Notice the reaction of Paul and Barnabas: “And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.  Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein” (Acts 14:11-15).

    We have seen men of God reject the idea of being worshipped.  However, even the angels of Heaven would not accept worship.  John records for us what happened when he fell down at the feet of an angel to worship him: “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).  John also recorded this in the last chapter of the book of Revelation: “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God” (Revelation 22:8-9).

     As we see in the New Testament, both Apostles and Angels of Heaven refused to be worshipped.  However, if we look to Christ he accepted worship here on earth.  This would either make Him a sinner, which He is not (Hebrews 4:14-15); or this is Jesus accepting worship because He is deity.  Following the “Sermon on the Mount” Matthew records this for us: “When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean” (Matthew 8:1-2).  The NIV in this account decided that this is not worship, saying only that the man knelt before Jesus.  Kneeling before someone (i.e. a man giving an engagement ring to a woman) is different than some falling down and worshipping someone.  The NIV removes the word “worship” from several occasions wherein Christ was worshipped.  Compare the following verses with the King James or New King James Version of the Bible:
 

• NIV Matthew 9:18 "While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."
• NIV Matthew 15:25 "The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said."
• NIV Matthew 18:26  "The servant fell on his knees before him. `Be patient with me,' he begged, `and I will pay back everything."
• NIV Matthew 20:20 "Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him."
• NIV Mark 5:6 "When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him."
• NIV Mark 15:19 "Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him."

If you were to make the suggested comparisons you would note that the NIV has removed worship from Christ in these passages.  This is because the NIV wants Christ to be beneath His position of deity.

    The attempt to demote Christ as deity is further evident in two passages where the NIV continues to pervert God’s word.  First, the NIV removes “God was manifest in the flesh” from I Timothy 3:16.  The NIV reads as follows in I Timothy 3:16: “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”  One would argue that Christ is, from the NIV, the revelation of godliness.  SO WHAT, so are Christians (I Timothy 6:11 and II Peter 1:6).  The NIV removed that God was manifest [made known] in the flesh.  They take away that Christ was / is deity by doing such.  The second passage they pervert is as follows: NIV Philippians 2:6 "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped."  Contrary to the Scriptures, the NIV does not declare Jesus as deity.  Therefore, the NIV is not God’s word translated into English.  It is man’s perversion.

     Jesus is “God with us…” (Matthew 1:23).  Jesus is the “true God” (I John 5:20).  Jesus is the “King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God” (I Timothy 1:16-17).  Jesus is “over all, God blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 9:5).  Jesus is “the Word” and “the Word was God” (John 1:1-4; 14).  Jesus is the “I am” (John 8:58; cf. Exodus 3:14).  Whosoever therefore denies these things most certainly does not have God as their Father or Jesus as their Lord (II John 9).

     The NIV is a perpetuator of spiritual terrorism.  It’s goal, contrary to our Lord (Luke 19:10), is to seek and destroy those who would desire to be saved.  The NIV wants to confuse the lost convincing them that all is well with their souls.  We have seen many things that the NIV has both added and removed from God’s word.  One will not find such terms as “remission, regeneration, impute, propitiation, new testament, Godhead, Jehovah, or mercy seat” in the NIV.  There has been a terrible thing that has been committed in our time, the NIV.

     Sadly, many brethren have taken to this perversion of God’s word and there are even congregations that have placed this perversion in the pews for people to read.  This is no different than inviting a false teacher into a congregation to teach.  Such error needs to be exposed and the eyes of the ignorant need to be opened.  There is much more to be said of the NIV perversion, but this will conclude our series.  I sure hope someone’s eyes will be opened.