Translator of NIV Bible Version Dies

Rev. John Stek, a retired Professor of Old Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and one of the main motivators behind and translators of the New International Version of the Bible and Today’s New International Version of the Bible, died recently at the age of 84 in Grand Rapids.

The NIV and TNIV, which are both approved for use in Christian Reformed Church in North America congregations, are popular versions of the Bible. Many copies are stored in pews and used in worship in CRC congregations across the U.S. and Canada.

In an April 2005 article in the Banner, the monthly publication of the CRC, Stek wrote on the careful approach one should take when reading the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. In it, he may have touched on his own approach to reading the Bible.

“Poverbs is a treasury of precious jewels of wisdom.,” he wrote. “Let’s not neglect this unique book in the holy library that is Scripture. Doing that impoverishes our spirit and, in the language of the ‘wise,’ makes us run the real risk of wandering into the way of fools.

“To hear wisdom’s instructions well you need patience and you need to concentrate. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Read bits at a time and read slowly—very slowly—giving wisdom’s pithy observations, exhortations, warnings, and proverbs time to burn their fuses and explode in your mind with fresh insights—those “Aha!” moments that point the way to good living.” For a more full account of Steks life and legacy, visit: Rev. John Stek, who worked on NIV version of Bible, dies at age 84 (Grand Rapids Press.)