Why should I use the King James Bible and not a more modern, updated version? After all, the archaic language of the KJV is so hard to understand? These are the questions that people ask me most often regarding Bible versions. The real issue is not the reading level or the language but the authority of the inerrant, infallible, inspired, and preserved Words of God. Since God promised that He would preserve “every jot and tittle,” then what version is the correct one to use since they all differ in literally thousands of places?
KJV comes from the “Received Text” or the “Textus Receptus.” The NT manuscripts are what is at issue. Of the almost 5000 discovered, approximately 95% are in this grouping and are in agreement. This is the text that the reformers used in writing their Greek NT’s. These manuscripts largely come from the school at Antioch.
All other Modern Bible versions, except the NKJV, come from the Alexandrian Manuscripts. Some of these mss are quite old and are therefore regarded as more reliable. The two main mss are the Sinaiticus and the Vaticanus which were discovered in RC institutions and kept from the world for over 1000 years. These two mss differ from each other in thousands of places. These were the two mss used by Westcott & Hort for their NT Greek text which they forced on the Revision Committee in 1881 whose mission was simply to update the “archaic” language of the KJV. Instead they used an entirely different source. This IS the main problem with ALL modern Bible versions. They have a different foundation.
NKJV comes from the Received Text but was “corrected” by the Alexandrian text. It most closely follows the KJV and is very similar in almost all regards. However, when you change the “words” you also change the meaning. The Trinitarian Bible Society documented 1500 word changes in the first eleven chapters of the Gospel of Matthew alone. Although these changes may seem to be, “no big deal” to most Christians, let me remind you that Satan attacked Eve with “subtlety” in Gen. 3:1-5. He questioned, added to and denied God’s word in his attack.
Most Christians believe that God “inspired” his word in the “original” writings. The problem lies with the doctrine of “preservation.” God did not promise just to preserve His “thoughts” and intentions but the very “words” that were inspired. This is called “verbal-plenary” inspiration. The KJV is a word for word translation carefully and consistently constructed to fulfill its mission of presenting the very WORD of God to the English speaking peoples. That is why the words that are “understood” in the Greek have the English “equivalent” in Italics so that the translation would be accurate and honest.
Mt. 4:4 – We are to live by “every word.”
Rev. 22:18-19 – warns us not to mess with His words.
The following scriptures claim that the words were preserved by God for us:
Psalm 12:6-7
Psalm 119:89
Isa. 40:8
Mt. 5:18
Mt. 24:35
I Peter 1:23-25
If you take the time to compare the KJV with say, the NIV you will notice that the words are different. Using different words gives a different meaning and changes some important doctrines in the Bible. The NIV also has 64,000 less words! The original editions were missing important passages like Mark 16:9-20.
There are a few main issues at hand:
Modern bibles come from a different source than the KJV
Inspiration is not just the thoughts and ideas but the words
Preservation is the key doctrine
Compare just a few key verses and see for yourself!
Here is a quick sampling of the changes and omissions that you don’t need to be a Greek scholar to understand. These changes affect the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.
II Sam 21:19 – who killed Goliath?
KJV – And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
ESV – And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
Psalm 12:6-7 – preservation of the words
KJV – The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
ESV – The words of the LORD are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.
You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever.
NIV – And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.
You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked.
Isaiah 7:14 – born of a virgin or a young damsel?
KJV – Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Daniel 3:25 – a son of the gods or the Son of God?
KJV – He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
ESV – He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
NIV – He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Acts 8:37 – modern bibles omit or footnote this passage as not belonging, teaching salvation by baptism.
KJV – And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
ESV – Acts 8:36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! yWhat prevents me from being baptized?”
Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
NIV – 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized? ” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Colossians 1:14 – BLOOD is missing
KJV – In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
ESV – in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
NIV – in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
I Timothy 3:16 – GOD was manifest in the flesh
KJV – And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
ESV – Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
NIV – Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
I John 5:7-8 – teaching on TRINITY. Verse 8 missing and verse 7 changed into two verses.
KJV – (vs 7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
(vs 8) And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
ESV – (vs 7) For there are three that testify:
(vs 8) the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
NIV – 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
Acts 12:4 – KJV is the only Bible that CORRECTLY translates “pascha” as Easter.
Cf: Ex 12:12-18 & Lev 23:5-6 (Passover is the 14th day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread starts on the 15 day so it had already taken place!)
KJV – And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
ESV – And when he had seized him, he put him jin prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
NIV – After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
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