Short condensed sentences dominate the NIV. It has also removed many of the connective words (such as 'and', 'so that' and 'for') that linked the thoughts of a passage together. One illustration (among many) is the excluding of 'for' at the beginning of Romans 1:18, thus not allowing the reader to see the association with verses 16-17.<br><br>The NIV often translates the same Greek or Hebrew word into a number of different English words. For example, in Romans 1:3, Paul says that Jesus was descended from David "according to the flesh". 'Flesh' is an important word in the rest of Romans, and its appearance in the opening verses is very significant. However, the NIV translates it 'human nature' in 1:4, and 'sinful nature' elsewhere in the book. The NIV removes the connection between ideas. They don't allow the reader to build up an idea of what Paul means by 'flesh'.<br><br>The Never Intended Version (NIV) is not IMHO the best of versions, but I would rank it somewhat in another category—a commentary, and not a very good one at that.<br>

Reformed and Always Reforming,