Bible Versions

Introduction

Psa. 11:3 “If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?”

I. The Desire for Alternate Versions

Why is there a push for other versions of the Bible?

From a Readers Standpoint

Rom. 7:23 “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”

The natural inclination of the flesh is to reject that which is Spiritual. This is the reason our flesh gives us ‘reason’ to reject the KJV.

‘The KJV is too hard to understand ’.

‘The new versions are easier to read’.

‘It might be a different, but not enough to matter’

Question: How much poison are you willing to tolerate in one glass of water?

Any excuse your flesh can give you to keep you away from that which is Spiritual, it will. We should recognize this and reject those excuses instead of entertaining them.

From a Publishers Standpoint

Bible versions are products of a publisher.

The corporations thus ‘protect’ their property via exclusive copyright

Thus granting exclusive profits for each publisher who releases the ‘most readable and reliable translation’.

Additional profits gained by licensing their version digitally and in other forms.

From Satan’s Standpoint

Our Spiritual growth depends on the Word of God (Rom. 10:17)

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

It’s where we learn of God, His attributes, His expectations, proper doctrine and perspective

If Satan lessens the impact of the Word of God in us, he will lesson God’s impact on our lives as well as our impact upon others.

Satan has already proved his desire concerning the Word of God (Gen. 3)

II. The Differences Between Versions

Here we will examine differences between the KJV and other modern translations

The Basics

Three Translation Styles

‘Word for Word’

Sometimes called ‘Formal Equivalence’, as these are where the translators would translate each word independently, then would add words necessary to form the complete sentence. (Some more, some less)

Examples are: KJV; NASB; ESV; NKJV

‘Thought for Thought’

Sometimes called a ‘Functional Equivalence’, as it attempts to convey the thought found in the original language while somewhat constrained to the structure of the original.

Examples are: NIV; NLT; CSB

Inherent problems with the ‘Thought for Thought’ translation is that it assumes a singular thought is being conveyed. Oftentimes, God will convey multiple thoughts in a singular verse. This dilutes down the effectiveness of the Word of God.

‘Free Translation / Paraphrase’

These translate the ideas from the original text without constraint of the original words or language. It is a ‘retelling’ using the translators interpretation of the Scripture.

Examples include: The Living Bible (TLB), The Message

Inherent problem with the paraphrase translation is that it is

Two Translation Substratum (Foundation)

The majority of Bible texts have their foundation in the Alexandrian Texts

The King James Bible’s foundation is in the Textus Receptus

This is one of the great reasons for the differences between the two.

Other reasons would include the perspective, motive and process of the translators involved

Perspective - how they viewed the Scriptures (whether they saw it as Perfectly inspired by God)

Motive - how they viewed the desired impact upon the reader

(Example) The sodomite language removed from the NIV while understanding one of the translators was queer.

Process - how the process of of translation occurred - did they pass them around and double check each other and what they did if there were disagreements between them, etc...

The Specifics

Important doctrines altered

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.

Entire portions omitted

The NIV takes away 64,576 words

The NIV removes major portions of at least 147 verses and removes or footnotes 45 complete verses

This is not exclusive to the NIV, this is just the statistical example

Various Contradictions Abound

Who killed Goliath? - 2 Sam. 21:19

2 Samuel 21:19

KJV | And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Beth-lehemite, 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.

NLT | During another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam!

CSB | Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath of Gath. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.

The Message | At yet another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaar, the weaver of Bethlehem, killed Goliath the Gittite whose spear was as big as a flagpole.

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.”

When was Jesus Crucified? - Joh. 19:14; Mar. 15:25

Joh. 19:14

KJV | And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

NIV | It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.

Mar. 15:25

KJV | And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

NIV | It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.

Casting doubt upon what’s there

Mar. 16:9-20; Mat. 17:21; Mat. 18:11; Mat. 23:14; Luk. 22:43-44; Act. 8:37

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.

(footnotes)

Conclusion