BIBLE VERSIONS – COMPARE SCRIPTURE
According to most King James Version scholars, modern translations like the New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), and New Living Translation (NLT) dilute core doctrines by deleting or altering critical words, phrases, and whole verses. KJV advocates show that these modern versions rely on corrupted Alexandrian manuscripts (the Critical Text), whereas the KJV stands preserved on the Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority text.
In another page of this Bibile Versions section, you will learn that two of the few ancient, and genuinely older manuscripts that Textual Critics argue are better, because they are older, in the Gospels alone, disagree with each other more than 3,000 times. These are the codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus.
Contrary to this, the thousands and thousands of new testament Greek manuscripts that make up the Textus Recptus, have a nearly perfect level of agreement between them. Therefore, the very science that Textual Critics recognize that filters out error – the word for word comparision of documents for differences – itself proves the Textus Receptus to be the reliable stream of new testament manuscripts.
The following list compiles ONLY 30 key scriptures frequently cited by KJV defenders to demonstrate how modern versions weaken text concerning the deity of Christ, salvation, the Trinity, and spiritual warfare.
The best interactive online app for Bible verse comparisons – The Modern Versions vs. the King James Bible, is KJV Compare, created by Brandon Peterson and his Truth is Christ ministry.
KJV Compare
Completely Omitted New Testament Verses
KJV advocates point to these verses because they are entirely removed from the main text of modern translations, often being relegated to small footnotes.
Matthew 17:21 < — Click to Compare on Bible Gateway, SEE FOR YOURSELF!
- KJV: “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Deletes a fundamental tool for intense spiritual warfare and deliverance.
- KJV: “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Directly removes a clear statement from Jesus outlining His ultimate mission on Earth.
- KJV: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Deletes Christ’s strong condemnation of religious hypocrisy and the reality of “greater damnation”.
- KJV: “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Silences a frequent and solemn warning issued by Jesus to His listeners.
- KJV: “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Modern versions strike out two out of three of Jesus’ explicit descriptions of the literal, eternal torments of Hell
- KJV: “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Removes an essential, conditional warning regarding the necessity of personal forgiveness.
- KJV: “And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Erases a declaration of fulfilled Old Testament prophecy regarding the crucifixion.
- KJV: “Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Deletes a specific prophecy detailing the separation of humanity at the Second Coming.
- KJV: “(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Removes historical and biblical context explaining the custom behind releasing Barabbas.
- KJV: “For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of any disease he had.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Removes the structural explanation for why the disabled man was waiting by the pool of Bethesda.
- 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.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Eliminates the vital biblical requirement of personal faith and confession of Christ prior to water baptism.
- KJV: “Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Breaks the narrative thread explaining why Silas remained available to travel later with Paul.
- KJV: “And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Removes the recording of the cultural impact and internal debate caused by Paul’s preaching.
- KJV: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: Omitted entirely from the main text.
- KJV Argument: Deletes a final, apostolic blessing over the Roman church.
Key Alterations to Critical Doctrines
In these instances, KJV defenders point out that key phrases or titles have been changed or diluted, stripping away emphasis on Christ’s deity, the Trinity, or original design. CLICK THE SCRIPTURE REFERENCE TO SEE THE COMPARISON FOR YOURSELF.
1 John 5:7–8 (The Johannine Comma)
- KJV: “…in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth…” [38, 39, 40, 41]
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “…the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” (The explicit mention of the Heavenly Father, Word, and Spirit is removed). [14, 42, 43, 44]
- KJV Argument: This is viewed as the most blatant attack on the Trinity, stripping the clearest statement of the Godhead out of the Bible.
- KJV: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “…He was manifested in the flesh…” (or “Christ was revealed”)
- KJV Argument: Substituting “God” with a generic pronoun (“He”) weakens a primary, undeniable proof text for the Incarnation and deity of Christ.
- KJV: “And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things…”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “The child’s father and mother marveled…”
- KJV Argument: By labeling Joseph as Jesus’ “father,” modern translations compromise the critical doctrine of the Virgin Birth.
- KJV: “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “Whoever believes has eternal life.” (Omits “on me”)
- KJV Argument: Creates a dangerous theological ambiguity by removing the explicit object of saving faith: Jesus Christ.
- KJV: “…God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “…God, who created all things.” (Omits “by Jesus Christ”)
- KJV Argument: Erases the biblical reality that Jesus Christ functioned as the active Creator of the universe.
- KJV: “…for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “…for we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”
- KJV Argument: Obscures the direct link that Jesus is God by modifying His unique judicial title.
- KJV: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Omits “through his blood”)
- KJV Argument: Removes the foundational mechanism of Christian salvation—the literal blood of Jesus Christ.
- KJV: “…I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “…I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Omits “to repentance”)
- KJV Argument: Softens the gospel call by deleting the foundational requirement of “repentance”.
- KJV: “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book…”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “which said, ‘Write on a scroll what you see…'” (Omits the divine titles)
- KJV Argument: Strips Christ of His eternal, divine titles at the very opening of the apocalyptic vision.
- KJV: “…whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
- NIV / ESV: “…whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” (or “times past”)
- KJV Argument: Demotes Christ’s nature from being eternal (“everlasting”) to merely being old or historical (“ancient”).
- KJV: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!”
- KJV Argument: Replaces the proper name of Satan (“Lucifer”) with “morning star,” a title that the Book of Revelation explicitly assigns to Jesus Christ (Rev 22:16), causing blasphemous confusion.
- KJV: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God…”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God…” (Omits “of Christ”)
- KJV Argument: Generalizes the phrase and removes the focus from Jesus Christ.
- KJV: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing…”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything…” (Omits “in Christ Jesus”)
- KJV Argument: Strips away the vital theological concept of the believer’s position “in Christ.”
- KJV: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life…”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life…”
- KJV Argument: Changes an active call to holy obedience into a passive phrase, shifting the text away from God’s law.
- KJV: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Omits “Christ”)
- KJV Argument: Removes the name of Christ, exchanging it for an ambiguous, lower-case pronoun.
- KJV: “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
- NIV / ESV / NLT: “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone.'” (Omits “but by every word of God”)
- KJV Argument: Irony noted by KJV defenders: modern versions delete the very phrase that commands mankind to live by every single word of God.