Provable Errors in the NIV

1. Jesus said that “the scripture cannot be broken” (Joh 10:35).
   1. If a book claiming to be the scripture contains internal contradictions, it is a broken book which is not consistent with itself.
   2. Such a book is therefore not scripture.

1. The NIV has at least two provable errors which are internal contradictions, which is proof that the NIV is not the inspired, infallible, and preserved word of God.

III. Provable error #1: Act 13:17-20

1. “The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, 18 he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, 19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.” (Act 13:17-20, NIV)

2. Notice the chain of events in the NIV:
   2. God brought them out of Egypt.
   3. They spent 40 years in the desert.
   4. God overthrew seven nations and gave them the land.
   5. All this took 450 years (the overthrowing of the nations in Canaan, or possibly the time beginning with their stay in Egypt and ending when they were given the land).
   6. AFTER that God gave them judges until Samuel.

3. The NIV is saying one of two things:
   3. 1) the time that it took for the seven nations in Canaan to be overthrown and the land to be divided was 450 years, or,
   4. 2) the time that they stayed in Egypt, wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, the seven nations in Canaan were overthrown, and the land was divided to them took 450 years.

1. 1. One thing is certain: the judges ruled AFTER the 450 years according to the NIV.

1. 1. This is an outright contradiction no matter how it is run.

4. A careful examination of Bible chronology will show that Israel spent 215 years in Egypt (see page 3 below), 40 years wandering in the wilderness, and seven (7) years destroying the nations in the land of Canaan (The Wonders of Bible Chronology by Philip Mauro clearly proves these times).

5. Therefore, the total time from when Israel first entered Egypt until the judges ruled was 262 years (215+40+7=262), not 450 years.

6. Either way you look at it, the NIV in Act 13:20 contradicts itself and is therefore demonstrably shown to not be the infallible, inspired word of God.

7. The KJV has no such provable errors or contradictions in it.

1. 1. “The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.” (Act 13:17-20, KJV)

1. 1. Notice the chain of events in the KJV:

1. 1. 1. God brought them out of Egypt.
      2. They spent 40 years in the wilderness.
      3. God destroyed seven nations and gave them the land.
      4. AFTER that, God gave them judges for 450 years until Samuel the prophet.

1. This is an accurate history from the time that Israel was in Egypt until Samuel the prophet, and the Old Testament bears that out precisely.