The NIV Bible, like many modern translations, bases its text on the earliest and most widely accepted ancient Greek manuscripts. This textual approach sometimes results in certain verses, found in later manuscript traditions, being omitted from the main text or placed in footnotes. These omissions are not arbitrary but stem from scholarly evaluation of biblical manuscripts.
Understanding the NIV's Textual Basis
Modern Bible translations like the NIV utilize the discipline of textual criticism to determine the most accurate wording of the original scriptures. This involves comparing thousands of ancient manuscripts of the Bible that have been discovered over centuries.
The Manuscript Evidence
Earlier manuscripts, which are generally considered more reliable due to their proximity to the original writings, sometimes lack certain verses that appear in later manuscripts. For example, the King James Version (KJV) primarily relied on a set of later Greek manuscripts known as the Textus Receptus. In contrast, the NIV consults a broader range of older manuscripts, such as the Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus, which often do not contain these particular verses.
When a verse is absent from the oldest and most trusted manuscripts, modern translations like the NIV typically handle it in one of two ways:
- Omission from the Main Text: The verse is not included in the primary body of the scripture.
- Footnote Inclusion: The verse may be included in a footnote, often with an explanation that it is not found in the earliest manuscripts, or that some manuscripts include it. This allows readers to be aware of textual variations.
The verses often referred to as "missing" in the NIV are generally those that have less support from the oldest and most extensive Greek manuscript evidence.
Specific Verses Not Found in Earliest Manuscripts
The following verses are examples of scriptures that are often omitted from the main text of the NIV Bible due to their absence in the most ancient and reliable Greek manuscripts. They are typically found in footnotes or are not present at all.
| Book | Chapter | Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | 17 | 21 |
| Matthew | 18 | 11 |
| Matthew | 23 | 14 |
| Mark | 7 | 16 |
| Mark | 9 | 44, 46 |
| Mark | 11 | 26 |
| Mark | 15 | 28 |
| Luke | 17 | 36 |
| John | 5 | 4 |
| Acts | 8 | 37 |
| Acts | 15 | 34 |
| Acts | 24 | 7 |
| Acts | 28 | 29 |
| Romans | 16 | 24 |
These specific verses are among those identified by textual scholars as additions in later manuscript traditions that are not supported by the earliest and most foundational biblical texts.
