The current JBQ Guidelines (https://kidmin.ag.org/ministries/JBQ/teamquizzing) state, “In interversion quizzing, all questions shall be from the current official Bible Fact-Pak. If different, both NLT and NIV answers will be listed.”
When ruling on the completion of an interrupted question, the Guidelines state, “A response is correct when it contains all the basic information (the same question ... in essence) called for on the Bible Fact-Pak card.” Essence is simply words that are different which have a similar meaning. Both the NIV and NLT were translated from the same ancient documents. The different words used in each version attempt to convey the same thoughts regardless of version. Therefore, giving “NIV” words instead of “NLT” words or vice versa would definitely be “in essence” and should be counted correct. Of the 576 JBQ questions, there are 6 questions which have been substantially changed. Only 4 of them have had the essence of the question changed in the conversion to NLT:
1) Question # 57 – What new name did God give to Jacob after he wrestled with God?
2) Question # 420 – How does Jeremiah 1:5 proclaim God’s value and plan for our life?
3) Question # 528 – Give nine of the characteristics of true Christian love.
4) Question # 568 – What are nine different signs of Jesus’ soon return?
For these 4 questions, the question completion must be in the essence of the new question as listed above. A 30 point question became a 20 point question (#421 What three figures of speech do the Bible writers use to describe the church?) and a 20 point question was revised to a 30 point question (#556 Quotation Question. According to Romans chapter 12, how is the church compared to a body? In the NLT, 2 verses are required in the answer while one verse is required in the NIV). For the other 570 questions, the essence of the question has not changed from version to version. In other words, if the question is completed using the former verbiage, it should be ruled correct. When ruling on answers of non-quotation questions, an answer should be ruled correct when the answer contains the basic information (given in essence). As a side-note, essence is all that is necessary for an answer to be ruled correct. Again, essence is different words with a similar meaning (note: words from a different JBQ question or answer might be used by a child. If the words mean the same thing, the child should be ruled correct. Spiritual concepts often use the same Christian lingo and judgments should be made based on simple essence.) For the four questions listed in the above section, the answer given must answer the question. For example, nine answers must be given for #528 and 568. For answers of quotation questions, both the NLT and the NIV versions will be listed if different (if both versions are the same, only one will be listed). Quizzers do not have to declare which they are quoting, but must do one or the other “word for word” in order to be ruled correct. Even if a quizzer declares a certain version at the beginning of the match, they may quote a different version and be counted correct during the match provided they quote word perfectly. Mixing versions while answering a quotation question must be ruled incorrect.
