The New International Version (NIV) emerged as the most popular Bible translation in a nationwide survey of Protestant ministers.
In a poll of more than 500 pastors of Protestant churches, 34 percent said they are most likely to rely on the NIV in their work. The traditional King James Version was favored by 24 percent of the pastors, followed by the New Revised Standard Version (17 percent), the New King James Version (10 percent) and the New American Standard (9 percent).
Other versions, including the New Living Translation, The Message, The Living Bible, the Contemporary English Version and the Amplified Bible, were each named by less than 2 percent of the pastors.
The survey, conducted by Ellison Research, a marketing-research company based in Phoenix, Arizona, only asked pastors what version of the Bible they use for most of their work. It didn’t ask them what is the “official” Bible of their church or denomination, what translations they own or what version they recommend to parishioners.
Denominational choice
They type of Bible used varied by denomination. Pastors in mainline denominations favored the New Revised Version. Evangelicals favored the NIV, while Pentecostal and charismatic churches tended to prefer the King James Version.
A pastor’s personal political stance also emerged as a factor in choice of a Bible translation. Among self-described political liberals, 71 percent preferred the new Revised Standard Version for their work. The NIV was top choice among political moderates, at 43 percent. Conservatives split equally between the NIV and King James, with 35 percent each.
A surprising find, said researcher Ron Sellers, is that the pastor’s age has little to do with selection of a Bible translation. The average age of pastors who favor the King James Bible is 51, compared to 50 for those who prefer the NIV and 48 for each the New Revised Standard, New King James and New American Standard versions.
“The research exploded the myth held in some circles that older pastors cling to the traditional King James, while younger ministers prefer more contemporary versions,” said Sellers, president of Ellison Research.
(ABP)
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