The '''NIV''' has gained wide acceptance among evangelicals due to its adherence to [[conservative]] doctrinal points with respect to the divinity of Christ, salvation through faith, and both [[Old Testament]] prophecies and the fulfillment of them. It also uses gender-specific pronouns and declined to embrace liberal gender neutrality.
But the '''NIV''' did erase numerous biblical references to the unborn child,<ref>See [[Feminist Bible]].</ref> perhaps to appease supporters of [[abortion]]. This has enabled scholars professors at Wheaton College and elsewhere to dilute or deny Christian opposition to abortion.
== History of Translation ==
Led by a committee of mostly professors, more than one hundred scholarsacademic types, beginning in the late 1960s, undertook the project of retranslating the Bible for the best extant (existing) originals in [[Hebrew]] and [[Greek]] texts. Their political views were undisclosed. Their stated goal was that the translation be:<ref>http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=31#books&version=31;</ref>
:an Accurate, Beautiful, Clear, and Dignified translation suitable for public and private reading, teaching, preaching, memorizing, and liturgical use. The translators were united in their commitment to the authority and infallibility of the Bible as [[God]]'s Word in written form. They agreed that faithful communication of the meaning of the original writers demands frequent modifications in sentence structure (resulting in a "thought-for-thought" translation) and constant regard for the contextual meanings of words.