NIV in the Bible Bee

Does anyone know when the Bible Bee is planning on getting rid of the NIV? And why?

I think I heard that they'll get rid of it next year because of some copyright issues… I'm not very happy about that… :(

I just thought that it was a rumor that wasn't supposed to materialize. Where did you find confirmation that they are actually getting rid of it?

Bible Bee FAQ site has the same info unfortunately/

Well, I'm planning on memorizing the whole Bible in the NIV, so I don't exactly plan on switching… Looks like I might not be able to compete anymore… :( :(

It does not say that they would discontinue it next year, though, only that they would not offer technological NIV information during the year 2012. They are allowed to offer Bibles and cards, and they did so this year. Because we were able to use it this year (the year that the copyright issues began to take effect), we ought to be able to use it next year. This, however, is what I think the current situation is. Although I am an NKJV user, I think that it is safe to assume that NIV will remain around for a while. That is, until we receive definite information to the contrary. What do you all think?

I heard from someone who talked directly to Mr. Tom Widdoes, one of the main people at the BBHQ, about this, and Mr. Widdoes said that the NIV would not be available for the BB next year. But I guess time will tell…

O.K. If that is the case then I will believe it. I was just trying to make the point that the Bible Bee website was not really saying that they would completely get rid of it. I think that it is very sad that they won't be having it next year, but I guess that it will turn out all right in the end. :)

You are perfectly fine. :) I did not take it that way. Thank you for sharing your information. :)

Actually, I'm pretty sure that the problem is not due to copyright issues. I heard that Zondervan is not allowing the BB to continue using the NIV because the BB is refusing to use the 2011 edition of the translation.

Because of this, I'm reluctantly considering switching translations… This may change some big things for me… :(

I heard from our local host that NIV will no longer be an option for Bible Bee in 2013.

The 2011 version of the NIV contains editions that minimize the differences in gender roles, making it more PC and less faithful to the original texts. That is why BB is reluctant to use the newest edition, and since Zondervan will no longer allow SKF copyright permission to use the 1984 NIV, there seems to be no option but to switch translations.

For myself, I am considering ESV. It is one of the more similar to NIV, and although it too has received periodic editing, the changes have not been as extensive or as biased.

I wish they would just have one version only. I think it really would make everything( especially the test!) less complicated. But then again, I guess that's why they have had five versions for that reason! :/

I'm sure that if only one version was available for the Bible Bee, there would be a lot of controversy and a lot less people signing up for it. I think it's a good idea for the BB to have multiple translations, as long as they stick to the good ones. :)

Yeah, I guess you're right about that. I disagree with a lot of the other versions myself, but I don't really want to start a debate about that:) Its just that the test is so hard and the BB tries really hard to write the questions accordingly, but even so it can be a huge disadvantage since some versions leave out certain key things like cities and stuff like that.

So it's official… There's no more NIV in the BB for 2013 at least.

I found it in the (c) 2013 Competition Rulebook, it's on page 7:

It won't bother me at all because I use KJV… What are you guys who have previously used NIV going to do? Whatever you do, just don't 'not' compete! I'll miss seeing you guys if you do that!

Wow this is going to hurt a lot of contestants. Either they will have to change translations or not compete. Over 1/2 of all the semi finalists last year used NIV.

My family has always used NIV. This year we're planning on switching either to ESV or to NASB.

EDIT: Does anyone have any input on whether they like the ESV or NASB better?

My family is probably going to use the ESV or NKJV. We're leaning toward the NKJV (or, at least I am!)

Yeah, I've used NIV all my life, but I've decided that I'm going to switch to ESV this year… and, likely, for the rest of my life. :) I was originally intending on memorizing the entire Bible in the NIV, but now that that translation is out of the Bible Bee, it would be rather difficult to keep memorizing verses in it and then memorizing them in a different translation for the Bible Bee… if that makes any sense. :D There's no specific reason I'm deciding to memorize in the ESV instead of the NASB, the NKJV, etc.; that's just the version I decided to choose. I don't really have any preferences regarding translations (well… at least not with the five main ones. :D).

ESV. It is easier to understand and memorize.

Wait.. so who's Jesus paid it all (Bethany)? Is it the same Bethany I think?

It's Bethany Frisk, not me…I'm still "His Servant" as you can see :)

Okay… I thought you were playing a joke on Rachel or something!

lol! I'm glad not!

I would never do that, Rachel :)

I know you wouldn't ;-)