Differences Between the NIV Bible & the NLT Bible
The NIV and NLT Bibles are meant to make the ancient text readable for a modern audience. While the NLT strives to convey ideas clearly rather than translate words literally, the NIV offers a slightly more traditional voice.
Other People Are Reading
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They Are Both Translations
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Both the NIV (New International Version) and NLT (New Living Translation) are translations of the Bible from its original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek) into English.
NIV Translator Goals
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Bible translations into English fall into a continuum from literal word-for-word translations to thought-for-thought translations or even paraphrases. The official NIV website states that its team worked from 1968 to 1978 to produce "a thought-for-thought translation" using a "moderately traditional tone that makes it appropriate for both public worship and personal reading."
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NLT Translator Goals
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According to the official website of the NLT, its scholars worked to produce a Bible in "clear, contemporary English." They felt that in some cases a literal rendering of the text "was hard to understand, was misleading, or yielded archaic or foreign wording." As such, the NLT is written in a more informal tone than the NIV and is less of a word-for-word translation.
Other Translations
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The NIV and NLT are popular English translations. Other popular translations include the ESV, TNIV, RSV and "The Message," a paraphrase of the Bible.
Investigate Differences
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By investigating the differences among the NIV, NLT and other translations, readers and students of the Bible can come to a decision on which one or ones will work best for their purposes.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Randen Pederson
