The King James Bible Versus The Modern Versions

The following is taken from a new tract that I have written on the superiority of the King James Bible. 

The scripture gives many of the same titles and attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ to itself. For example, both are called “the Word of life” (Phil. 2:16; 1 Jn. 1:1). Therefore to attack one is to attack the other and to exalt one is to exalt the other. There must be a Bible available today that is pure, perfect, and powerful (Ps. 12:6-7). The Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible are both called “the Word of God.” Words are needed to reveal and declare. Christ reveals and declares the Father (Jn. 1:14; 18). The Spirit inspired the scripture to reveal and declare Christ. There is an inseparable bond between the incarnate Word and the inspired word. One is God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16) and the other is God manifest in a Book (2 Tim. 3:16).

All three members of the Godhead are equally God but it is clear in the scriptures that Christ was sent to glorify the Father and the Spirit was sent to glorify the Son (Jn. 7:14-18; 16:12-15). The Holy Spirit, who inspired the scripture, glorifies the Son of God who is central in all the scripture (Jn. 5:39; 15:26). Therefore we know that any religious group that denies the deity of Christ or diminishes Him in any way is not of God and any Bible that does the same is also not of God. It is a fact that the King James Bible honors and glorifies the Son of God more than all the modern English translations. 

All the modern English versions (like the NIV and ESV) attack and diminish the person and work of Christ to some degree. Those who defend the modern versions would say, “But they don’t do that in every passage!” Why would it be right or acceptable to do that even once? Would you let someone slap your wife or mother just once?! Some versions are worse than others, but just one error is serious! What if Christ had sinned just one time? This issue alone ought to be sufficient for any sincere Christian to reject the modern versions (not to mention the issues concerning the men, manuscripts, and methods). 

The spirit of Satan is at work in this world, especially in religion (Eph. 2:2; 2 Thess. 2:7). His great ambition is to be worshipped. He is envious of the true Christ. Do you think the Spirit of God led the translators of the NIV to call Satan and Christ by the same name (“morning star”, Isa. 14:12; Rev. 22:16)? Satan has been producing new versions with doctrinal leaven. Many think that I am crazy for saying such a thing but Satan is all about attacking the word of God. What was the first thing he ever said to man (Gen. 3:1)? He even had the audacity to attack the word of God when he was tempting the Word of God, Jesus Christ (Matt. 4:6)! THE ISSUE in the last days is inspiration of scripture (2 Tim. 3:13-17)! Please consider the following comparison of the KJB with some of the modern versions. 

The Deity of Christ

• Mic. 5:2 But thou Bethlehem… out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. – “whose origin is from of old, from ancient days” (RSV), “whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (NIV), “whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (ESV) 
• Matt. 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him… – “kneeling before him” (RSV), “bowing down” (NASB), “kneeling down” (NIV), “kneeling down” (NKJV),  “kneeling before him” (ESV)
• Lk. 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. – “Jesus, remember me” (RV, NASB, NIV, ESV)
• Rom. 14:10-12 … for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ… So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. – “judgment seat of God” (RSV, NASB, ESV), “God’s judgment seat” (NIV) 
• 1 Tim. 3:16 God was manifest in the flesh… – “He who was revealed in the flesh” (NASB), “He was manifested in the flesh” (RSV, ESV), “He appeared in a body” (NIV)
• 1 Jn.5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. – omitted in RSV, NASB, NIV, ESV 

The Virgin Birth of Christ

• Isa. 7:14 …Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son… – “a young woman shall conceive” (RSV), “a young woman is with child” (REB)
• Lk. 2:33 And Joseph and his mother… – “And his father and his mother” (RSV, ESV), “And his father and mother” (NASB), “The child’s father and mother” (NIV)

The Sinless Life of Christ

The Lord Jesus was angry with the unbelieving Jews (Mk. 3:5). The modern versions have Him condemning Himself with His own teaching by omitting, “without a cause” in Matt. 5:22 (RSV, NASB, NIV, ESV). 

The Blood of Christ

Sinners are redeemed by the precious and pure blood of Christ. Why would any Bible omit references to the blood of Christ? For example, the vital words, “through his blood” (Col. 1:14) are omitted in the RSV, NASB, NIV, and ESV.

The Resurrection of Christ

Christ gave His apostles “many infallible proofs” of His bodily resurrection (Acts 1:3). Modern versions water this down: “many proofs” (RSV, ESV), “many convincing proofs” (NASB, NIV). 

There are many other problems with the modern versions that we could point out. For example:

 

Doctrines attacked

• Scripture – Modern versions mess up key verses on the scripture (Ps. 12:6-7; 2 Cor. 2:17; 2 Tim. 3:16)
• Study – Modern versions change “study” and “rightly dividing” (2 Tim. 2:15)
• Salvation – The apostle Paul taught we are justified by the “faith of Christ” (e.g. Gal. 2:16) Modern versions change those verses to say “faith in Christ.” 

 

Doubts

Modern versions have footnotes that cast doubt on whole passages like Mk. 16:9-20 and Jn. 7:53-8:11. There are many verses that are omitted and partial verses omitted. 

Contradictions and Mistakes

• Who killed Goliath? David, Elhanan, or both (1 Sam. 17:51; 2 Sam. 21:19)?
• Is the quote in Mark 1:2 found in Isaiah? (No, it’s in Malachi)

 

Why are there so many modern versions (hundreds have been published in the last 120 years)? God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). The publishers claim they produce new versions because they have access to better manuscripts and they want to make the Bible easier to understand. That is simply not true. They use corrupt manuscripts (2 Cor. 2:17). That the new versions are written in modern language does not mean they are easier to understand. The key to understanding the Bible is to be a real Bible-believing Christian (1 Cor. 2:14; 1 Thess. 2:13)! So, what are the real reasons?

1) Satan (Gen. 3:1)

2) Pride (correct the word of God, be your own authority)

3) Love of money (1 Tim. 6:10)

What have the modern versions produced as compared with the King James Bible? The King James Bible has been used of God for over 400 years to build strong Christians and churches. The modern versions have produced liberalism and apostasy. 

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:20)