InterVarsity Press has yet again demonstrated its apostasy by publishing the First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. It aims “toward conveying Christian beliefs through Native American cultural concepts and storytelling” (“New Bible translation,” The Christian Post, Sept. 1, 2021). John 3:16 reads, “The Great Spirit loves this world of human beings so deeply he gave us his Son–the only Son who fully represents him. All who trust in him and his way will not come to a bad end, but will have the life of the world to come that never fades –full of beauty and harmony.” This is not the Word of God. It’s not even a loose paraphrase. To call it a Bible version is nonsense. It has no clear connection to the divinely-inspired words of Scripture, yet it was positively reviewed by hundreds of “Native churches, leaders and Bible scholars” and was done in close collaboration with Wycliffe Associates of Orlando (formerly part of Wycliffe Bible Translators) and OneBook. This type of thing is based on the unscriptural “dynamic equivalency” principles of Eugene Nida and pioneered by Wycliffe Bible Translators and the United Bible Societies. The modern Bible versions, with their textual corruptions and frightful paraphrasing liberties and the endless multiplicity of contradicting readings, are playing a major role in end-time apostasy and wishy-washy ecumenism. The infallible Word of God is not something to be played with; it is not a nose of wax to be twisted as man pleases. The translation of God’s eternal Word is the most serious business on earth. The First Nations Version isn’t much more corrupted than The Message, which is one of Southern Baptist megachurch pastor Rick Warren’s favorite “versions.” Here is John 3:16 in The Message: “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” What does that mean? Let’s let the King James Bible, an accurate translation of the infallible Word of God, shine light on this confusion: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
(Friday Church News Notes, September 10, 2021, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)