Intrepid Lutherans: Issues with the NIV 2011: "The saints" are no more
Issues with the NIV 2011: "The saints" are no more
There are no more “saints” in the NIV 2011. The term has been completely removed and replaced with various alternatives. I find this very troubling.
Consider the following analysis of how many times the word “saints” appears in the most standard English translations of the Bible:
As the reader surely knows, the English word “saint” comes from the Latin “sanctus,” which means “holy” or “holy one.” It has been used for centuries as the common English translation of two Hebrew words in the Old Testament and one Greek word in the New Testament.Consider the following analysis of how many times the word “saints” appears in the most standard English translations of the Bible:
| KJV: | 96 | |
| NKJV: | 95 | |
| ESV: | 81 | |
| NIV84: | 69 | |
| NASB: | 68 | |
| HCSB: | 61 | |
| NIV 2011: | 0 |
There are two nouns in Hebrew that have traditionally been translated as “saints” in English: Chasidim and Q’doshim. The primary meaning of Chasidim is either “recipient of mercy” or “merciful or faithful.” In most of the cases where that word occurs in the Old Testament, NIV 2011 translates with “faithful people,” “faithful ones,” or “faithful servants.” This change may be justifiable (see Professor Brug’s comments below), but most English translations have, nonetheless, historically translated the word with “saints,” and Luther’s German translation had “Heiligen” (“saints, holy ones”) for this word.
The primary meaning of Q’doshim is “holy ones.” In these cases, the NIV 2011 translates as “holy ones” or “holy people” in most cases. Again, this change is justifiable. One may argue about whether or not it is helpful or necessary to do away with the term “saint.” It has served the English language well for four hundred years and remains in common usage in most translations of the Old Testament.
Hagioi is the Greek word in the New Testament that has traditionally been translated saint. The word hagioi means “holy” or “holy ones.”
Here is the breakdown of how many times the word “saints” appears in the most standard English translations of the Old Testament:
| KJV: | 35 | |
| NKJV: | 34 | |
| ESV: | 21 | |
| NIV84: | 24 | |
| NASB: | 8 | |
| HCSB: | 0 | |
| NIV 2011: | 0 |
