Bible Research > English Versions > 20th Century > NIV > Translators

The NIV Committee on Bible Translation

The NIV Committee on Bible Translation (CBT) is a self-perpetuating committee formed in 1965 for the purpose of creating and revising the NIV.

From 1965 to 1983 the members of the CBT [1] were:

  1. E. Leslie Carlson, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
    Carlson died in 1967 and was replaced by Larry Walker.
  2. Edmund P. Clowney, Westminster Theological Seminary.
    Clowney resigned in 1968 and was replaced by Robert Preus.
  3. Ralph Earle, Nazarene Theological Seminary
  4. Burton L. Goddard, Gordon Divinity School
  5. R. Laird Harris, Covenant Theological Seminary
  6. Earl S. Kalland, Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary (Denver)
  7. Kenneth S. Kantzer, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
    Kantzer resigned in 1969 and was replaced by Richard Longenecker.
  8. Robert Mounce, Bethel College (St. Paul).
    Mounce resigned in 1967 and was replaced by Youngve Kindberg.
    Kindberg resigned in 1983 and was replaced by Donald Wiseman.
  9. Stephen W. Paine, Houghton College
  10. Charles F. Pfeiffer, Central Michigan University
    In 1974 the "long-inactive" Pfeiffer was replaced by Kenneth L. Barker
  11. Charles C. Ryrie, Dallas Theological Seminary.
    Ryrie resigned in 1977 and was replaced by Ronald Youngblood (appointed 1979).
  12. Francis R. Steele, North Africa Mission.
    Steele resigned in 1969 and was replaced by William J. Martin.
    Martin died in 1980 and was replaced by Bruce Waltke.
  13. John H. Stek, Calvin Theological Seminary
  14. John C. Wenger, Goshen Biblical Seminary
  15. Marten H. Woudstra, Calvin Theological Seminary

During 1976-1978 there was "an expansion of the CBT for editing purposes" in which the following six scholars served as de facto members of the committee: Elmer Smick, Bruce Waltke, Herbert Wolf, Ronald Youngblood, Gleason Archer, and Roy Hayden.

In January 2002 the fifteen-member CBT included the persons listed below. Nine of these (marked with an asterix) had not been involved in the making of the original NIV (1978) or of its revision in 1983. This is the committee that produced the revision of the NIV known as the TNIV (2005).

  1. John Stek, Chairman of the Committee on Bible Translation
    Calvin Theological Seminary, Part-time Professor of Old Testament
    Denominational Affiliation: Christian Reformed Church
  2. Donald H. Madvig,* Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Bible Translation
    Retired Pastor and Professor of Biblical Studies
    Denominational Affiliation: Evangelical Covenant
  3. Kenneth L. Barker, Secretary of the Committee on Bible Translation
    Dallas Theological Seminary, Adjunct Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Studies
    Denominational Affiliation: Southern Baptist
  4. Gordon Fee*
    Regent College, Professor of New Testament Studies
    Denominational Affiliation: Assemblies of God
  5. Richard T. France*
    Parrish Minister, England and Wales
    Denominational Affiliation: Church of England
  6. Karen H. Jobes*
    Westmont College, Associate Professor of New Testament
    Denominational Affiliation: Presbyterian Church of America
  7. Walter Liefeld*
    Tyndale Theological Seminary, The Netherlands, Interim President
    Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Professor Emeritus of New Testament
    Denominational Affiliation: Independent
  8. I. Howard Marshall*
    University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Professor of New Testament Exegesis
    Denominational Affiliation: Methodist
  9. Alan R. Millard*
    University of Liverpool, England. Professor of Hebrew and Ancient Semitic Languages
    Denominational Affiliation: Christian Brethren (Open Brethren)
  10. Douglas Moo*
    Wheaton College Graduate School, Professor of New Testament
    Wheaton College, PhD Coordinator in Biblical and Theological Studies
    Denominational Affiliation: Independent Bible Church
  11. Martin J. Selman*
    Spurgeon's College, London, Deputy Principal
    Denominational Affiliation: Baptist
  12. Larry L. Walker
    Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, Visiting Professor
    Denominational Affiliation: Southern Baptist
  13. Bruce K. Waltke
    Regent College, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Studies
    Reformed Theological Seminary, Professor of Old Testament
    Denominational Affiliation: Baptist
  14. Herbert M. Wolf
    Wheaton College Graduate School
    Denominational Affiliation: Independent Baptist
  15. Ronald F. Youngblood
    Chairman of the Board of Directors, International Bible Society
    Bethel Seminary San Diego, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament and Hebrew
    Denominational Affiliation: Baptist General Conference

In November 2009 the following persons were members of the committee, and this is the committee which produced the revision published in 2011:

  1. Kenneth Barker
    Retired, Academic Dean of Capital Bible Seminary
    Denominational Affiliation: Independent Bible Church
  2. Craig Blomberg
    Professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary
    Denominational Affiliation: Alliance of Renewal Churches (Charismatic)
  3. Jeannine K. Brown
    Associate Professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary (St Paul)
    Denominational Affiliation: Unknown
  4. Gordon Fee
    Professor of New Testament at Regent College (Vancouver).
    Denominational Affiliation: Pentecostal
  5. Richard T. France,
    Retired, Principal of Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University
    Denominational Affiliation: Anglican
  6. David Instone-Brewer
    Tyndale House, Cambridge.
    Denominational Affiliation: Baptist, Evangelical Alliance.
  7. Karen H. Jobes
    Professor of New Testament Greek at Wheaton College
    Denominational Affiliation: Evangelical Presbyterian Church
  8. Douglas Moo
    Wheaton College Graduate School, Professor of New Testament
    Wheaton College, PhD Coordinator in Biblical and Theological Studies
    Denominational Affiliation: Independent Bible Church
  9. William Mounce
    Formerly Professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
    Denominational Affiliation: Unknown
  10. Mark L. Strauss
    Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary (San Diego)
    Denominational Affiliation: Baptist General Conference
  11. Paul Swarup
    Pastor and Teacher, Christ Church, Noida, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, India
    Denominational Affiliation: Church of North India
  12. Larry L. Walker
    Retired from Beeson Divinity School of Samford University
    Denominational Affiliation: Southern Baptist
  13. Bruce Waltke
    Retired Professor of Old Testament, Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.
    Denominational Affiliation: Baptist
  14. Michael Williams
    Calvin Theological Seminary.
    Denominational Affiliation: Christian Reformed Church
  15. Ronald Youngblood
    Professor of Old Testament at Bethel Theological Seminary (San Diego)
    Denominational Affiliation: Independent Baptist


NIV Translators and Editors,
and their Institutional and Church Affiliations

The following list of NIV translators and editors is reproduced from the list sent to me by the International Bible Society in September 1993. The list does not always give the church affiliation of the persons listed. In a few cases there is no institutional affiliation given, but only a city of residence. Presumably, the names listed are all those who participated in the translation of the original NIV (1973-1978) or of the revision of 1984. Many of the people listed here are known to have had only a very minor role in the translation. -- M.D.M

  1. Robert L. Alden. Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary. Conservative Baptist.
  2. Gleason L. Archer, Jr. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Evangelical Free.
  3. Glenn W. Barker. Fuller Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  4. Kenneth L. Barker. Capital Bible Seminary. Evangelical Free.
  5. James R. Battenfield. Grace Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  6. S. Herbert Bess. Grace Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  7. Harvey J.S. Blaney. Asbury Theological Seminary. Nazarene.
  8. W. Gordon Brown. Central Baptist Seminary, Toronto. No church affiliation given.
  9. Donald W. Burdick. Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary. Conservative Baptist.
  10. Frederick W. Bush. Fuller Theological Seminary. Presbyterian.
  11. E. Leslie Carlson. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Southern Baptist.
  12. Philip S. Clapp. Western Evangelical Seminary. United Methodist.
  13. Edmund Clowney. Westminster Theological Seminary. Presbyterian.
  14. Ralph R. Covell. Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary. Conservative Baptist.
  15. John J. Davis. Grace Theological Seminary. Grace Brethren.
  16. Wilber T. Dayton. Wesley Biblical Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  17. Raymond B. Dillard. Westminster Theological Seminary. Orthodox Presbyterian.
  18. Ralph Earle. Nazarene Theological Seminary. Nazarene.
  19. David Engelhard. Calvin Theological Seminary. Christian Reformed.
  20. Milton C. Fisher. Reformed Episcopal Theological Seminary. Reformed Episcopal.
  21. Lewis A. Foster. Cincinnati Bible Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  22. Francis Foulkes. Bible College of New Zealand. Church of England.
  23. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. Westminster Theological Seminary. Orthodox Presbyterian.
  24. Wesley L. Gerig. Fort Wayne Bible College. No church affiliation given.
  25. Donald R. Glenn. Dallas Theological Seminary. Independent.
  26. Burton L. Goddard. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Orthodox Presbyterian.
  27. Louis Goldberg. Moody Bible Institute. Baptist.
  28. David Gooding. The Queens College, Belfast, Ireland. No church affiliation given.
  29. J. Kenneth Grider. Nazarene Theological Seminary. Nazarene.
  30. Clarence B. Hale. Wheaton College. No church affiliation given.
  31. Murray J. Harris. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Open Brethren.
  32. R. Laird Harris. Covenant Theological Seminary. Reformed Presbyterian.
  33. Everett F. Harrison. Fuller Theological Seminary. United Presbyterian.
  34. Roland K. Harrison. Wycliffe College, Toronto. No church affiliation given.
  35. Gerald F. Hawthorne. Wheaton College. Plymouth Brethren.
  36. Roy E. Hayden. Oral Roberts University. United Methodist.
  37. William Hendriksen. Boca Raton, Florida. Christian Reformed.
  38. D. Edmond Hiebert. Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. Mennonite Brethren.
  39. Mark E. Hillmer. Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. Lutheran, Missouri Synod.
  40. F. B. Huey. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Southern Baptist.
  41. John C. Jeske. Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Lutheran, Wisconsin Evangelical Synod.
  42. S. Lewis Johnson. Dallas, Texas. Independent.
  43. Walter C. Kaiser. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Evangelical Free.
  44. Earl S. Kalland. Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary. Conservative Baptist.
  45. Kenneth S. Kantzer. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Evangelical Free.
  46. Homer A. Kent. Grace Theological Seminary. Grace Brethren.
  47. F. Derek Kidner. Tyndale House, Cambridge, England. Church of England.
  48. Y. R. Kindberg. International Bible Society. Christian and Missionary Alliance.
  49. Simon Kistemaker. Reformed Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  50. Meredith G. Kline. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  51. Fred C. Kuehner. Reformed Episcopal Seminary. Reformed Episcopal.
  52. William L. Lane. Western Kentucky University. No church affiliation given.
  53. G. Irvin Lehman. Eastern Mennonite College. Mennonite.
  54. Paul E. Leonard. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Brethren.
  55. Arthur H. Lewis. Bethel College. Baptist.
  56. Jack P. Lewis. Harding Graduate School of Religion. Church of Christ.
  57. Walter L. Liefeld. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Plymouth Brethren.
  58. G. Herbert Livingston. Asbury Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  59. Richard N. Longenecker. Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. Baptist.
  60. Allan A. MacRae. Biblical School of Theology. Bible Presbyterian.
  61. Donald H. Madvig. Bethel Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  62. W. Harold Mare. Covenant Theological Seminary. Presbyterian.
  63. William J. Martin. Regent College, Vancouver. Christian Brethren.
  64. Thomas E. McComiskey. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Evangelical Free.
  65. J. Ramsey Michaels. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  66. Alan R. Millard. University of Liverpool, England. Christian Brethren.
  67. Leon Morris. Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia. No church affiliation given.
  68. Robert Mounce. Western Kentucky University. No church affiliation given.
  69. Roger Nicole. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. American Baptist.
  70. John N. Oswalt. Asbury Theological Seminary. United Methodist.
  71. Stephen W. Paine. Houghton College. Wesleyan Methodist.
  72. Edwin H. Palmer. Executive Secretary, NIV Committee on Bible Translation. Christian Reformed.
  73. J. Burton Payne. Covenant Theological Seminary. Presbyterian.
  74. Charles F. Pfeiffer. Central Michigan University. Reformed Presbyterian.
  75. Robert D. Preus. Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne. Lutheran, Missouri Synod.
  76. Stephen M. Reynolds. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Orthodox Presbyterian.
  77. Robert P. Roth. Northwestern Lutheran Seminary. Lutheran.
  78. Charles C. Ryrie. Dallas Theological Seminary. Baptist.
  79. Jack B. Scott. Reformed Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  80. Elmer B. Smick. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  81. Francis Steele. Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. No church affiliation given.
  82. John H. Stek. Calvin Theological Seminary. Christian Reformed. [2]
  83. Harold C. Stigers. Covenant Theological Seminary. Presbyterian.
  84. Marvin E. Tate. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Southern Baptist.
  85. G. Aiken Taylor. Ashville, North Carolina. No church affiliation given.
  86. Merrill C. Tenney. Wheaton College. No church affiliation given.
  87. Gerard Van Gronigen. Reformed Theological Seminary. Christian Reformed.
  88. Larry L. Walker. Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Southern Baptist.
  89. Wilber B. Wallis. Covenant Theological Seminary. Presbyterian.
  90. Bruce K. Waltke. Regent College, Vancouver. Baptist.
  91. Rowland Ward. Ulvestone, Australia. No church affiliation given.
  92. G. Henry Waterman. Wheaton College. Christian and Missionary Alliance.
  93. J. C. Wenger. Goshen Biblical Seminary. Mennonite.
  94. John R. Werner. International Linuistics Center. Reformed Presbyterian.
  95. Walter W. Wessel. Bethel Theological Seminary, West Campus. Baptist.
  96. David John Williams. Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia. Church of England.
  97. William C. Williams. Southern California College. No church affiliation given.
  98. Marvin R. Wilson. Gordon College. Conservative Baptist.
  99. Donald J. Wiseman. University of London, England. No church affiliation given.
  100. Herbert M. Wolf. Wheaton College Graduate School. Independent.
  101. Leon J. Wood. Grand Rapids Baptist Bible Seminary. Baptist.
  102. Marten H. Woudstra. Calvin Theological Seminary. Christian Reformed.
  103. Ronald Youngblood. Bethel Theological Seminary, West Campus. Baptist. [3]
  104. John M. Zinkand. Dordt College. No church affiliation given.

Literary Critics and Other Consultants

  1. Edward M. Blaiklock. University of Auckland, New Zealand. No church affiliation given.
  2. Frank E. Gaebelein. Headmaster Emeritus, The Stony Brook School. Reformed Episcopal.
  3. Charles E. Hummel. Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. Baptist.
  4. Elisabeth Elliot Leitch. Writer. Episcopal.
  5. Calvin Linton. The George Washington University. No church affiliation given.
  6. Kathryn R. Ludwigson. Grand Rapids Baptist Bible College. No church affiliation given.
  7. Alvin Martin. Fuller Theological Seminary. Christian and Missionary Alliance.
  8. Virginia Mollenkott. William Paterson College. No church affiliation given.
  9. Margaret Nicholson. Author-Editor. No church affiliation given.
  10. W. T. Purkiser. Kansas City, Missouri. No church affiliation given.
  11. Walter R. Roehrs. Concordia Theological Seminary. No church affiliation given.
  12. Samuel J. Schultz. Wheaton College. Baptist.
  13. John T. Timmerman. Calvin College. No church affiliation given.
  14. Richard F. Wevers. Calvin College. Christian Reformed.


COMMITTEE ON BIBLE TRANSLATION CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I – Name

Section 1. The name of the Committee shall be COMMITTEE ON BIBLE TRANSLATION.

Section 2. The Committee, called into being by the Palos Heights Bible Translation Conference (August 26 and 27, 1965), shall be a self-perpetuating body, independent of all ecclesiastical organizations, educational institutions, committees, and other associations.

ARTICLE II – Purpose

Section 1. The purpose of the Committee shall be to prepare a contemporary English translation of the Bible as a collegiate endeavor of evangelical scholars, and to pursue matters related thereto.

ARTICLE III – Membership: Limitations/Qualifications, Admission, Tenure

Section 1. At the time of the adoption of this Constitution and its By-Laws, the membership of the Committee shall be declared to be:

E. Leslie Carlson, Earl S. Kalland, Francis R. Steele, Edmund P. Clowney, Kenneth S. Kantzer, John H. Stek, Ralph Earle, Charles F. Pfeiffer, J. C. Wenger, Burton L. Goddard, Stephen W. Paine, Marten H. Woudstra, R. Laird Harris, Charles C. Ryrie.

Section 2. The size of the Committee shall be limited to fifteen members.

Section 3. Only those shall be eligible for membership on the Committee who endorse the purpose for which the Committee exists, and who are willing to subscribe to the following affirmation of faith: “The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written, and is therefore inerrant in the autographs”; or to the statements on Scripture in the Westminster Confession, the Belgic Confession, the New Hampshire Confession, or the creedal basis of the National Association of Evangelicals; or to some other comparable statement.

Section 4. Admission to membership on the Committee shall be by invitation of the Committee only.

Section 5. Membership on the Committee shall be for indefinite tenure as regulated by the By-Laws.

ARTICLE IV – Organizational Structure

Section 1. The officers of the Committee shall be: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, all of whom shall be elected by the Committee from its own membership.

Section 2. The officers of the Committee shall be elected to serve for a period of three years and shall hold office until their successors are installed. They shall be eligible for re-election.

Section 3. The officers of the Committee shall constitute its Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V – Election of Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Committee shall be elected at the last regularly scheduled plenary meeting of the Committee in the calendar year in which their terms expire.

Section 2. Newly elected officers of the Committee shall assume office January 1 of the next calendar year following their election.

ARTICLE VI – Meetings

Section 1. The time and place of regular meetings of the Committee shall be at the discretion of the Committee.

Section 2. Additional meetings of the Committee may be called at the discretion of the Executive Committee, with due notice to all the members.

ARTICLE VII – Projected Translation

Section 1. All those engaged by the Committee as translators or editors shall be required to affirm the following article of faith:

“The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written, and is therefore inerrant in the autographs”; or the statement on Scripture in the Westminster Confession, the Belgic Confession, the New Hampshire Confession, or the creedal basis of the National Association of Evangelicals; or some other comparable statement.

Section 2. The Committee shall see to the safeguarding of the integrity of the text of the projected translation by making adequate provision for its copyright.

Section 3. The Committee shall seek to make provision for the availability of the projected translation, apart from the normal channels of trade, to Bible Societies, and similar distributing agencies.

Section 4. The Committee shall for a reasonable time provide for a periodic review and revision of the projected translation with a view to improving its renderings, embodying the fruits of future biblical scholarship, and keeping its idiom current.

Section 5. This article shall be applicable also to any revision(s) of the projected version (NIV) under whatever name such revision(s) may be published.

ARTICLE VIII – Amendments

Section 1. The only parts of this Constitution not subject to amendment are articles II, III.1, .2, .3, .4, VII.1, and VIII.1.

Section 2. Amendments to the Constitution of the Committee shall be made only at a regularly scheduled, or properly called, plenary meeting of the Committee, and only when the specific proposal to amend has been submitted to the Committee at its last preceding plenary meeting, and has been recorded in the minutes of the meeting. Such amendment shall require a two-thirds vote of the members present.

Section 3. Amendments to the By-Laws of this Constitution may be made by the Committee at any of its plenary meetings by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present.

source: http://biblica.com/niv/


1. As given by John H. Stek, in "The New International Version: How It Came to Be," chapter 10 in The Challenge of Bible Translation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003). Stek lists the original members on page 245, and in following pages describes changes of the membership. In 1967 "the committee had a vacancy to fill due to the resignation of Robert Mounce," so "at the invitation of the CBT, and further to strengthen the bonds between the two bodies and to assure free communication between them, Youngve Kindberg [of the New York Bible Society] became a member of the Committee on Bible Translation." (p. 248) "In 1968 two changes of long-term significance occurred in the membership of the CBT: Robert Preus of Concordia Theological Seminary replaced Edmund Clowney, who had resigned due to heavy responsibilities at Westminster Seminary, and Larry Walker of Southwestern Baptist Seminary replaced Leslie Carlson, who had died the previous year." (p. 251) In 1969 "Francis Steele and Kenneth Kantzer both resigned due to heavy responsibilities elsewhere. Richard Longenecker replaced Kantzer, while the Steele vacancy was left open to be filled at a later date." (p. 252) In 1971 "William J. Martin of Regent College, Vancouver, was invited to join the CBT to fill the Steele vacancy." (p. 253) In 1974 "Kenneth L. Barker of Dallas Seminary had been invited to sit with the CBT during its editing work. Shortly thereafter he was appointed a full member of the CBT to replace the long-inactive Charles Pfeiffer." (p. 256) In 1976 the CBT "invited four Old Testament scholars (Elmer Smick of Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Bruce Waltke of Dallas Theological Seminary, Herbert Wolf of Wheaton College Graduate School, and Ronald Youngblood of Bethel Theological Seminary) ... to assist it in the final editorial review" of the first edition of the Old Testament. (p. 256) In 1977 Gleason Archer and Roy Hayden were also "invited to assist" in an "expansion of the CBT for editing purposes." (p. 256) In 1983 the CBT met to revise the whole NIV, and by that time "the CBT's membership had changed somewhat since 1978. Charles Ryrie had resigned in 1977, and Ronald Youngblood (Bethel Seminary, San Diego) was added in 1979. In the spring of 1980 Bill Martin died and was replaced that same year by Bruce Waltke of Regent College, Vancouver. At the CBT's meeting in 1983, Youngve Kindberg resigned and his place was taken by Donald Wiseman of the University of London. Wiseman had for many years chaired the committee that Anglicized the text of the NIV for the Commonwealth edition published by Hodder & Stoughton, and he was present for part of the CBT's review of the NIV in 1983." (p. 261)

2. John H. Stek is currently (2001) the Chairman of the NIV's Committee on Bible Translation.

3. Ronald Youngblood is currently (2001) the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Bible Society, which owns the NIV copright and is the employer of the Committee on Bible Translation. He was the executive editor of the New International Reader's Version (NIrV), a simplified and gender-neutral revision of the NIV marketed for children, and is currently a member of the CBT.



Bible Research > English Versions > 20th Century > NIV > Translators