A Great Inconsistency

by Jesse Whitlock

A while back I was in attendance at a Gospel Meeting. The preacher started out by informing us that his text would be taken from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. Later in his message he attempted to take to task a cardinal point of Calvinism. He made some good arguments against the error, but it was totally inconsistent with his choice of versions. The thought struck me with a new force that any preacher/teacher who used the NIV as their main text ought not ever to speak out against any facet of the doctrine of John Calvin.

The NIV teaches within its text every error of Calvinism. We see this using the “TULIP” (an acrostic word showing the major tenants of Calvin).

“T” for Total depravity, i.e., inherited sin, sinful nature, original sin or adamic sin/nature. The preacher and/or teacher using the NIV had better not speak of this error unless they are ready to meet Psalms 51:5 which reads in the NIV thus, “Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” That is an unfaithful translation, but that’s the NIV. Also, you need to know that the Greek word sarx which is faithfully translated “flesh” in reliable translations has been perverted in the NIV to read “sinful nature.” Don’t take my word for it, take the NIV and read for yourself (Romans 7:5,18,25; 8:2,3,5,8,9,12,13; 13:14; 1 Corinthians 5:5; Galatians

5:13,19,24; 6:8; Ephesians 2:3; Colossians 2:11,13; 2 Peter 2:18).

“U” stands for Unconditional election (salvation); sometimes referred to as predestination. You had better not speak of this false teaching while using the NIV. You may be asked to consider Romans 9:16 in said perversion, “It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desires or effort, but on God’s mercy.” Again if you look at II Corinthians 2:2 and 5:5 in the NIV you will find this phrase, “...guaranteeing what is to come.” The context deals with the seal of the Holy Spirit. The NIV changes past tense to future tense and then inserts “what is to come”, which words are not found in the Greek text! That is dishonest and reinforces the error of Calvinism.

‘L“ stands for Limited atonement; i.e., only; a certain limited number will be saved. 1 Peter 2:8 reads in the NIV; “...and a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” I emphatically deny that Christ forces any man to fall in order that the limited number will be saved. Yet, I could not teach or preach that while using the NIV. The translators of this perversion should have noted their contradiction when they pointed out Jesus tasted of death for all men - Hebrews 2:9; 5:8-9 (even in the NlV)! In II Peter 3:9 even the NIV is forced to admit God does not want any to perish “...but everyone to come to repentance.” Shades of contradiction — this is a absurd as the Book of Mormon!

“I” means Irresistible grace; hence the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. Acts 16:14 in the NIV states, “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” It has Lydia’s heart opened before she heard the Word. 1 Corinthians 1:14 in NIV is changed, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to Him, and he cannot understand them...” (Emphasis mine - JIW). If this were true there would be no need to ever encourage a sinner to read the Bible, to hear Gospel preaching, to study any Bible topic — for the Word of God does come “from the Spirit of God,” but per the NIV the sinner cannot understand such anyway! Without the so-called irresistible grace you are doomed. This doctrine makes God to become a respecter of persons — but you dare not point out such error while holding up your NIV!

“P” is for Perseverance of the saints, i.e., once saved always saved, once in grace always in grace, impossibility of apostasy. The NIV has perverted 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 by removing the language “except ye be reprobates” and “we are not reprobates.” They watered it down to “you fail the test” and “we have not failed the test.” They have omitted the Greek word for “reprobate” entirely. Why? Lest anybody conclude that it is possible for one to fall from grace.

Calvinism is taught time and again in the pages of the NIV. If you would ever speak the truth against Calvinism make sure that you are (not?) using the NIV. But, if you are using the NIV it may be you do not speak against Calvinism I