As I am finishing the week, I want to add one last post this week about English versions of the Bible. In my two previous posts this week, I showed different scripture verses in the KJV and then compared them to popular modern English translations of the Bible. Today’s post concerns the deity of Jesus Christ and how that central doctrine in Christianity is diminished in newer versions of the Bible.
The first scripture passage that I will show for comparison today is 1 Timothy 3:16.
King James Version (KJV)
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
New International Version (NIV)
16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.
New King James Version (NKJV)
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
In this passage of scripture notice how the ESV, the NIV, and the NASB change “God” to “He”. If you do not think this is a big deal, I would like you to read this passage of scripture like you are a new believer. How would you know in the newer versions who the “He” is referring to? The significant teaching of this passage is that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh. He is Emmanuel, God with us.
As a side note here for all who claim that the KJV is harder to understand because of archaic words, look in the ESV at the verses before this and notice the word “buttress”.
The next passage of scripture to consider today is Luke 23:42.
King James Version (KJV)
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
English Standard Version (ESV)
42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come [a]in Your kingdom!”
New International Version (NIV)
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[a]”
New King James Version (NKJV)
42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord,[a] remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
Please notice how the ESV, the NASB, and the NIV remove the word “Lord”. “Lord” is a word which describes the deity of Jesus. The NKJV reads as the KJV but then footnotes the word, “Lord” and references other manuscripts which omit the word to cast doubt on the translation. Jesus Christ is Lord of all whether new versions of the Bible recognize it or not.
The last passage of scripture to consider today is Revelation 1:6.
King James Version (KJV)
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
English Standard Version (ESV)
6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
New International Version (NIV)
6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
All of the new versions of the Bible including the NKJV confuse the teaching of the Trinity in this verse by adding the word “His” before God. There are not two Gods. There are three persons within the one God. If one makes a closer examination of Revelation 1 and where it quotes Daniel regarding God, you would see no real distinction between the Father and the Son as God. Christ in Revelation 1 takes on the same attributes as the Ancient of days (the Father) in Daniel 7. The only distinction between the Father and the Son in Revelation is in the Son’s work in redemption as the Lamb.
The newer versions also take away the glory and dominion forever and ever from the Son and give it solely to the Father in the way they use their punctuation. The wording in the KJV ascribes glory and dominion to the Son without removing it from the Father. The glory and dominion in this passage of scripture goes to the One who washed us in his own blood in verse 5.
In conclusion, I hope this comparison of Bible versions would at least encourage you the reader to consider the KJV as the perfect word of God.