BIBLE VERSIONS – READ FIRST
VERY IMPORTANT – PLEASE KNOW: Salvation through belief, faith and trust in Jesus Christ is NOT dependent upon which Bible version you read. In fact, you can be saved by HEARING the Word of God, not even having read the Bible. The MOST important thing is that YOU READ HIS WORD AND GET IT INTO YOUR HEART. BELIEVE IT. REPENT. RECEIVE THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION BY TRUSTING IN JESUS!
As you dig in here, our prayer is that the Holy Spirit will be your ONLY guide to Truth about God’s Word, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN!
After Jesus saved me in 2001, over the internet, I was given an NIV Bible by my church. With my name engraved on the cover. That was the Bible. The ONLY Bible. My Bible. I believed it, unconditionally. I was vaguely aware of other versions. I thought they were all the same, with slightly different translations. Saying the EXACT same thing, using different words, not changing, diluting or contradicting God’s Word.
While reading the NIV, I found subtle contradictions & doctrinal confusions. This bothered me. A lot. I just wrote it off to my inability to “rightly divide the Word of Truth”. Later, a pastor friend of mine shared some differences between the KJV and modern translations – translations that opted for the Wescott & Hort Greek compilation over the Textus Receptus; and and the Latin Vulgate and Greek Septuagint over the Mesoretic Hebrew.
As it turns out, even though 95.5% of all Bible versions agree; and core doctrine is still discerned and understood; it comes at the cost of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
More on this in later sections, but it became clear. Tranlations based on Wescott & Hort’s new greek translations, its subsequent editions, and follow on compilations, depended upon a few, older manuscripts that are proven to be corrupt – this corruption is made clear by it’s own words, errors and ommission. So I FEARFULLY DUG DEEP. MY FOUNDATION OF TRUTH AND MY FAITH JUST TOOK A BIG HIT.
A FEW EXAMPLES:
NIV CONTRADICTION. Calls Satan and Jesus the MORNING STAR. Erases Satan’s Name (Lucifer not found in the NIV or any other version except the KJV & NKJV – New King James Version).
NIV Isaiah 14:12 – “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!”
NIV Revelation 22:16 – “I, Jesus … I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
KJV DOES NOT CONTRADICT. NAMES LUCIFER. (ONLY the KJV/NKJV gives us Satan’s name: Lucifer.)
KJV Isaiah 14:12 – “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!”
KJV Revelation 22:16 – “I Jesus … I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”
Another example:
KJV & ESV CONTRADICTS THE DOCTRINE THAT JESUS IS FULLY GOD. Which is it?
KJV Philippians 2:6 – “who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:”
ESV Philippians 2:6 – “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,”
A final example:
NIV & ESV OMMITS THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. NOT THE KJV– The only place in the Bible the Trinity it is clearly defined.
KJV 1 John 5:7-8 – “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”
NIV 1 John 5:7-8 – “For there are three that testify: 8 the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.” OMITTED
ESV 1 John 5:7-8 – “For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” OMITTED
To this day, I will quote from various versions for purposes of clarity. The NKJV is my favorite alternative version to the KJV. However, for deep, accurate study of God’s Word, I support, use and recommend the King James Version (KJV.) I am convinced that it is the perfectly preserved “Word of God,” in English, that God promised to preserve. I did not come to this realization easily.
We acknowledge that the KJV is perceived to be difficult to read, and taught by many so-called experts, that it is corrupted. This is a tough issue, especially for new Christians.
Once you become a true student of His Word, you cannot ignore the very subtle, deceptive and doctrinal attacks on the Word of God.
So, if you claim to be a true believer, you already know that God’s Word is true. You’ve most likely read Genesis 3 – THE FIRST RECORDED ATTACK OF GOD’S WORD BY SATAN.
- 3 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?
- 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
- 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
- 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
- 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And Satan’s attacks on God’s Word have not stopped.
We can prove this, beyond any doubt, so PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE SECTION, no matter where you are in your faith walk. IT WILL BLESS YOU!
SO, DO NOT LET THIS WORRY YOU! All versions are filled with the spirit of Truth. But many are riddled with subtle contradictions and inconsistanceies, but NOT ENOUGH TO BREAK YOUR FAITH, just maybe weaken or confuse it.
God made a promise – when you become a believer, He will send the Holy Spirit to indwell you and guide you; to comfort you and TEACH you. He is the Spirit of Truth! Trust God, Trust Jesus and Trust the Holy Spirit, and God will NOT let you be led astray!
GOD PROMISSED TO PRESERVE HIS WORD, AND ELEVATED HIS WORD, SUCH THAT HIS WORD, IS IN FACT, GOD! JESUS IS THE WORD.
John 1:1-4
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
1. Psalm 12:6–7 (The primary preservation passage)
Psalm 12:6–7 (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.“
This is the foundational preservation text cited by KJV-only advocates.
2. Psalm 119:89
“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”
God’s Word is eternal and permanently established.
3. Psalm 119:152
“Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.”
His testimonies endure forever.
4. Psalm 119:160
“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”
Every judgment of God endures forever.
5. Isaiah 40:8
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.“
Quoted again in the New Testament.
6. Matthew 5:18
Jesus said:
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
Not even the smallest Hebrew letter or stroke will disappear before God’s purposes are fulfilled.
7. Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
Also found in:
8. 1 Peter 1:23–25
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever…
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.”
Peter directly quotes Isaiah 40.
9. Psalm 111:7–8
“The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.”
10. Psalm 105:8
“He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.”
11. Ecclesiastes 3:14
“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever…”
If God’s works endure forever, many infer His spoken revelation likewise endures.
12. Isaiah 59:21
“As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth… from henceforth and for ever.“
One of Scripture’s clearest promises concerning God’s words.
13. John 10:35
Jesus declared:
“…the scripture cannot be broken;”
A strong affirmation of Scripture’s enduring authority.
14. John 17:17
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Truth, by definition, does not expire.
15. Proverbs 30:5–6
“Every word of God is pure…
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
God’s words are complete and must not be altered.
16. Deuteronomy 4:2
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it…”
17. Deuteronomy 12:32
“What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
18. Revelation 22:18–19
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things , God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
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 warns against altering His revealed Word.