Verses excluded from modern translations

While doing some research recently, I discovered a helpful article: List of Bible verses not included in modern translations. At the bottom of the page is a chart showing verses excluded, bracketed or moved to footnotes for twenty-seven different versions. It took a lot of work to make that chart! I found it helpful in the work I'm doing right now. Decided to pass this along in case you can use it too.

Gideons Edition of the New International Version

First, I want to thank Joshua Holman for alerting me to this edition. He has also done quite a bit of research on this and other Bibles. Thank you Joshua!

What Joshua discovered is that The Gideons International distributed slightly modified editions of the New International Version. This is exciting to Bible Collectors and those who study different versions. The rest of you may yawn appropriately.

I don't know all the details of this edition yet. I believe in the U.S. The Gideons International distributed the New International Version of the Bible from 1983 to 1986. I have New Testaments from 1984 and 1985. I do not know if they distributed the full Bible in NIV as well.

The editions distributed by The Gideons had the following changes:

1. Footnotes were removed.
2. Some alternate readings in the footnotes were incorporated into the text (John 1:14, 18, 3:16, 18; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5, 5:5; 1 John 4:9).
3. Verses which were found only in the footnotes in the original NIV were incorporated into the Gideons text (Matthew 17:21, 18:11, 23:14; Mark 7:16, 9:44, 9:46, 11:26, 15:28; Luke 17:36, 23:17; John 5:4; Acts 8:37, 15:34, 28:29; Romans 16:24).

I am still trying to find out:

• What years did The Gideons in the U.S. distribute the NIV?
• What years did The Gideons in the U.K. distribute the NIV?
• Were there any other changes besides the ones mentioned above?
• Are the U.S. and the U.K. editions the same aside from anglicized spelling?

(The Gideons also distributed The New Berkeley Version in the 80s and are now distributing a slightly revised English Standard Version. More about this in a future post. I also wish to thank The Gideons International for their incredible ministry around the world!)

John Bowes Bible

I just received my copy of Bible Editions and Versions, the journal of the International Society of Bible Collectors. This time in "Quickreads" a Bible by John Bowes is mentioned. I never got to read it before, though I mentioned it my book. Today I discovered a copy for free reading or download on Google Books! If you are interested, go get your copy of The New Testament Translated from the Purest Greek by Jown Bowes today!

New New World Translation Available Now

I don't get any credit for the news - others let me know it was coming (Thanks JJ!) and sent links (Thanks JH!). The 2013 Revision of the New World Translation is now available. A few links:

• Download the PDF from JW.org here
• JWsurvey.org announced the release here
• There is a Youtube video of the announcement here
• There are pictures of the new Bible here
• There is a timeline of the meeting here

New World Translation - 2013 Update

I just received notice (thanks, JJ) that the Jehovah's Witnesses have announced an update to the New World Translation. It has been updated to 21st century English. I don't have any more information yet. If you know of print editions or an online edition, please let me know.