Why the KJV?

Explain - not here to disparage anyone. If not for God, I would be a saved man studying another version… There are Godly men that hold a different view - I don’t think them heretics, I simply think that they are wrong on this issue. But it’s a really important issue that we should seek to be right on.

I. The Distinction of the Word of God

What I want to stress at the onset is that the Word of God is absolutely vital. It’s not a secondary issue, it’s not something insignificant. Concerning the Word of God, I can think of no greater issue of importance to the Christian today.

Some might be shocked at that, but let me explain why:

Necessary for Salvation (Rom. 10:17)

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Back prior to Christ and directly after the resurrection, God spoke to men and through men. God gave revelations unto Prophets who would bring forth the Word of God, but according to 1 Corinthians 13:8–10 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” There is no more prophets, nor prophecies. What we’re left with is the completed Word of God.

Do you know how I’m saved? Because the Bible says: Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

I know that because of the Word of God! And if you’re saved today, it’s (ultimately) because of the Word of God.

Essential to our Walk, Worship, Witness

Essential to our Walk

It’s because of the Word of God that I know right and wrong, what God approves, and what He condemns.

I know how to act, I know how to make Godly decisions in my life because of the Word of God

Essential to our Worship

I know what is acceptable worship. (Because there is worship that is accepted by God and that which is rejected… Just ask Nadab & Abihu!)

Essential to our Witness

My reason for living is to know God and make Him known.

But the fact of the matter is, preachers are a dime a dozen. Whether they’re spouting atheism, allah, buddha, etc… Do you know what I have to offer? “THUS SAITH THE LORD!” That’s it!

The Word of God is Essential. It’s unlike any other book in the World! But what does the Bible say about itself?

II. The Declaration of the Word of God

This is what’s known as ‘circular reasoning’ (what does the Word of God say bout the Word of God?), but IF the Word of God is what I believe it is, and what it declares to be - then it matters!

Scripture is Inspired (2Tim. 3:16; 2Pet. 1:21)

2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Men held the pen, but God moved the hand!

Scripture is unlike anything else. It didn’t originate from the mind of men, but the Mind of God!

Scripture is Inspired

Scripture is Preserved (Ps. 12:6-7; Luk. 21:33)

Psalm 12:6–7 “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.”

Luke 21:33 “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

According to t Ge Bible, God promised to preserve His Word.

Now, proponents of Modern Translations will say that they believe that God preserved it, but in the original languages. I believe that God not only preserved it in the original, but in English as well - for multiple reasons, including:

In the ‘Philadelphia age’, it was the English speaking world that took the Gospel around the world

Try as I might, I’ve never found a flaw in it!

Scripture is Preserved

Scripture is Not to be Altered (De. 12:32; Pro. 30:6; Rev. 22:19)

Deuteronomy 12:32 “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”

Proverbs 30:6 “Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”

Revelation 22:19 “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

God gives multiple warnings concerning altering His Word.

Multiple warnings are important: There’s three admonitions that repeat the phrase: 2 Corinthians 13:1 “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (De. 19:15; Mat. 18:16)

Scripture is not to be altered - which is at the core of what we’re talking about today

The Distinction, The Declaration,

III. The Deception Concerning the Word of God

Jesus said of Satan: John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

This is the origination of the deception concerning this issue. Make no mistake. This issue is such by Satan’s design.

Satanic Confusion

Our society today is confused.

Just look at the Olympics:

You’ve got drag queens not only celebrated, but performing blasphemy to the cheers of Jill Biden

You’ve got men boxing and beating up women (What ever happened to the ‘me too’ movement?

We’re no different in America:

Drag Queen story hour at public libraries

Women marching to murder babies

Isaiah 5:20–21 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; That put darkness for light, and light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!”

Satan has not only confused the populace in relation to morality, he’s confused the church concerning the Word of God.

(Ill.) Back before I got born again, there was a man that would come into my work and witness to me. He intrigued me so much that I decided to buy a bible. But I didn’t want one of those old, hard to read KJ Bible, I wanted one of the new - easy to understand versions. THIS WAS ME AS A LOST MAN! I had been indoctrinated even so much as to have the thought that the KJV was harder to read and understand. Let me show you something: I’m going to give you word comparison between the word used in the KJV and those in other versions:

Evil to adversity, calamity, disaster, catastrophe, distressing

House to habitation

Smell to savor

Give to gratify

Man to mortal

Old to elderly

Bones to limb

Judge to vindicate

Children to descendents

Little rivers to rivulets

Box to flask

People to multitudes

Ended to Concluded

Deep to abyss

Taken to seized

Divider to arbitrator

Riotous to prodigal

Old men to elders

Hell to hades

Judgment hall to preatorium

Thoughts to anxieties

Throne to residence

Stranger to captivity

Pictures to sloops

Fat to verdant

This list is not exhaustive. Answer me this: Is there any word on this list that is somehow better or easier to understand? I would say the opposite!

The fact is the KJV is written on a 5th grade level, where the modern versions range from 6th-9th.

They’re promoted as ‘easier to read’ for a reason. It creates a demand. It does you no good to have a supply unless you have a demand.

Satanic Confusion - makes man believe that the new are somehow better

Satanic Corruption

Directed at God’s Word (Gen. 3:1)

In Gen. 3, we see Satan introduced - and he is in the form of a serpent. This is not by accident.

Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

A few things to note:

His Method

As a Serpent, Subtil

Church, if you were going to counterfeit a dollar bill, would you begin by painting it orange? A counterfeit is dangerous because it’s inconspicuous.

His Mark

His target wasn’t Eve, it was the Word of God!

Three times in Scripture Satan is recorded as speaking. In two of the three, he attacks the Word of God! Do you think this is insignificant?

Satan wants you confused about this issue!

Denying God’s Word (Gen. 3:4-5)

In Gen. 3 we note the progression:

Satan questions the Word of God (v1)

Eve Alters the Word of God (v2-3)

Satan Denies the Word of God (v4-5)

Satan is calling God a liar.

As we get into examining the different versions, what you’re going to see is that one of the goals Satan has is to give plausibility to refute the truth of God’s Word!

Distorting God’s Word (Mat. 4:6)

When He’s not Denying God’s Word, then He’s Distorting it.

Matthew 4:6 “And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Satan was trying to misapply this Scripture in his efforts in tempting Jesus

As you will see, when we’re dealing with the topic of Bible versions, Satan subtilly denies and distorts the Word of God - but the important thing to consider is the Consequence.

Satanic Consequence

In the Garden

Obviously as we see in the Garden, by Casting Doubt and Denying the Word of God, it led to the sin and fall of man.

DON’T EVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU THIS THIS ISSUE IS NOT IMPORTANT!

We see the Consequence in the Garden, but also in our Generations

In our Generations

Over the last 60+ years, the modern translations began to gain traction (RSV 1952). We’ve seen two things happen in America = The rise of Bible Translations coupled with Contemporary Worship, Standards and Music, and the downfall of morality.

No one can possibly tell me that these are not related.

There is a consequence when the Word of God is rejected! Adam and Eve felt the consequence, and we are feeling it today!

The Distinction, The Declaration, The Deception…

IV. The Dilution of the Word of God

One of the earmarks of the new Bible versions are the dilution or the ‘watering down’ of Doctrine.

I will give examples of these later, but I want to address the point now.

Major Doctrines Weakened, Including:

The Virgin Birth

Church let me say this: There’s a difference between a ‘young woman’ and a ‘virgin’.

It’s imperative that Jesus was born of the seed of the Holy Ghost. Had He not been, He’d have inherited sin just as you and I.

The New versions Dilute The Virgin Birth

The Nature of Salvation

We are saved BY Grace, THROUGH Faith IN JESUS.

The Blood Atonement

The Bible tells us: Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

We have a bloody religion. It’s not acceptable to some, but it speaks to the severity of the subject!

The new versions dilute the Blood Atonement

The Deity of Christ

Jesus Christ is not a Created being, He’s God in the flesh! Jesus is ETERNAL

These are basic Bible doctrines… however, Satan desires for us to confuse the basics.

The Distinction, The Declaration, The Deception, The Dilution…

V. The Doubt Cast on the Word of God

One other aspect of the new versions is they cast doubt on the Word of God in other ways.

Church, is it important that we have confidence in the Word of God? Another word for Confidence is FAITH! AND IT MEANS EVERYTHING!

Yet there are two different ways that Satan casts doubt on the Word of God.

In the Omissions

In the modern translations - almost without fail - portions of the Bible are simply not there.

In the NIV alone, there are 17 complete verses & 64,576 words omitted. This is the equivalent of 30+ books of the Bible!

In the Footnotes

(footnotes)

Mar. 16:9-20

NIV | [The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

Mat. 17:21

NIV | Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 9:29.

Mat. 18:11

NIV | Some manuscripts include here the words of Luke 19:10.

Mat. 23:14

Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.

Luk. 22:43-44

NIV | Many early manuscripts do not have verses 43 and 44.

Act. 8:37

NIV | Some manuscripts include here Philip said, ?If you believe with all your heart, you may.? The eunuch answered, ?I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.?

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?” [37] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

VI. The Differences in Bible Versions

In the Source

The reason for the differences is because the Bibles come from different source material.

It’s not that they’ve taken one manuscript and just translated them differently, it’s that they come from two completely different sources.

Modern Versions = Alexandrian Scripts

Authorized Version = Texus Receptus

They’re different because they come from different places

In the Substance

They’re different because they say different things.

Regarding Salvation

Why He Suffered - 1Pet. 4:1

1 Peter 4:1a

KJV | Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh,

NIV | Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,

ESV | Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh,

NLT | So then, since Christ suffered physical pain,

CSB | Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh,

The Message | Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him.

The Difficulty of it - Mar. 10:24; Mat. 7:14

Mark 10:24

KJV | And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

NIV | The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

ESV | And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!

NLT | This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.

CSB | The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

The Message | The disciples couldn’t believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: “You can’t imagine how difficult.

Matthew 7:14

KJV | Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

ESV | For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

NLT | But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

CSB | How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

The Message | The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.

NKJV | Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

In Whom it is Found - Joh. 6:47

John 6:47

KJV | Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

NIV | Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.

ESV | Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

NLT | “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.

CSB | “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life.

How it is attained - Joh. 3:36

John 3:36

KJV | He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

ESV | Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

NLT | And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

The Message | That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that.”

The Virgin Birth - Luk. 2:33

Luke 2:33

KJV | And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

NIV | The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

ESV | And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

NLT | Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.

CSB | His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.

The Message | Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words.

The Blood Atonement - Col. 1:14

Colossians 1:14

KJV | In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

NIV | in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

ESV | in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

NLT | who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

CSB | In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The | Message the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.

The Triune God - 1Jo. 5:7

1 John 5:7

KJV | For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

NIV | For there are three that testify:

ESV | For there are three that testify:

NLT | So we have these three witnesses—

CSB | For there are three that testify:

The Message | A triple testimony:The Godhead of Jesus

The Sinfulness of Sodomy - Deut. 23:17; I Kin. 14:24; 2Kin. 23:7

Deuteronomy 23:17

KJV | There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

NIV | No Israelite man or woman is to become a shrine prostitute.

ESV | “None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons of Israel shall be a cult prostitute.

NLT | “No Israelite, whether man or woman, may become a temple prostitute.

CSB | “No Israelite woman is to be a cult prostitute, and no Israelite man is to be a cult prostitute.

The Message | No daughter of Israel is to become a sacred prostitute; and no son of Israel is to become a sacred prostitute.

NKJV | “There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel.

1 Kings 14:24a

KJV | And there were also sodomites in the land:

NIV | There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land;

ESV | and there were also male cult prostitutes in the land.

NLT | There were even male and female shrine prostitutes throughout the land.

CSB | there were even male cult prostitutes in the land. T

The Message | Worse, they had male sacred prostitutes, polluting the country outrageously

NKJV | And there were also perverted persons in the land.

Who is the Morning Star? - Isa. 14:12; Rev. 22:16

Isa. 14:12

KJV | How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

NIV | How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

Rev. 22:16

KJV I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

NIV | “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

Church think about this: If two things are different, then they’re not the same! That sounds simple but yet it’s profound! How can both of them BE the Word of God if they say different things?

VII. Discernment is Necessary

We must weigh the evidence. When you consider:

The Way Satan Operates

The Differences betwen them

The Fruit that has come from them

Conclusion

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