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June 7, 2026, 7:00 a.m.

One Bible – Two Emphases

Comparison Between the NIV and Recovery Version

Yesterday, while handing out Bibles, someone asked me the difference between the New International Version (NIV) and the Recovery Version (RcV) translations of the Bible. I told him that I prefer the Recovery Version. This morning I thought of a specific difference between the two. (See the end of this article for the complete texts of both versions.)

In Ephesians chapter 4, beginning with verse 20, the Greek text and the RcV say something like, "But you did not so learn Christ, if indeed you have heard Him." The NIV says, "That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ."

Here, the Bible is talking about a transformational event. Your being, your person, is being changed from living yourself into living Christ, from expressing yourself into expressing Christ. This is similar to muffin batter or cake batter learning a mold into which it is poured and then baked into the shape of that mold.

However, the NIV changes the source from experiencing Christ directly into a mental learning that should bring about a change in you. It makes it something you learn about rather than something you experience.

In verse 21, the NIV tells us that we were taught in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. The RcV tells us that we were taught in Him as the reality is in Jesus. Again, the NIV makes this more of a mental exercise, while the RcV makes it experiential. There is a difference between being taught the truth and living in a realm where that truth is experienced.

In the next verse, the NIV tells us that we were taught to put off the old self. The RcV matches the original Greek in telling us to put off the old man. Again, the NIV focuses on teaching, while the RcV focuses on experience.

Here, and again two verses later, the NIV talks about the self, both old and new. We are to have a new mental attitude and thus be able to put on a new and improved self. The original Greek and the RcV speak about a man—putting off the old man and, after being renewed in the spirit of our mind, putting on the new man.

Thus, the NIV speaks of improving our individual selves through a change in mental attitude. The RcV tells us that we need a new person. This comes about through the spirit renewing us to the point that our mind is different.

The next verse, verse 25, tells us that this new person is a corporate person, for we are members one of another. That is, the new man is the entire Body of Christ. The NIV does mention the corporate aspect, but it somehow expects us, in our new self, to act as if we are a corporate person.

If you check a Greek Interlinear Bible for these six verses, Ephesians 4:20-25, you will find that the RcV matches the Greek, while the NIV does not.

Complete texts:

NIV From thenivbible.com.

Eph 4:20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

RcV. From bibleread.online (footnotes and cross references have been deleted and the text reformatted to match that of the online version of the NIV bible quoted from above )

Eph 4:20 But you did not so learn Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him as the reality is in Jesus, 22 That you put off, as regards your former manner of life, the old man, which is being corrupted according to the lusts of the deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind 24 and put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality.

25 Therefore having put off the lie, speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.