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The Heresies of the Modern
"Conservative" Translations of the Bible
By Pastor Greg Wilson
Many sincere Christians are being led to believe that the modern translations
of Scripture are but updates of the King James Bible. Most do not
realize that these modern versions are translations of entirely different
Greek texts. Nothing could be more deceptive than to present them
as updates of the Authorized Version (KJV).
The texts used in the modern translations came via the Catholic Church
and from ancient Egyptian theologians. These Alexandrian (Egyptian) "Christians"
rejected the literal interpretation of the Scripture from the earliest
centuries of Christianity. As will be seen, these texts differ markedly
from those used in the translation of the King James Bible. They
show definite marks of corruption and a consistently inferior theology,
particularly in the area of the deity of Jesus Christ.
It is both illogical and dishonest to present all these various
and contradictory texts as the true Word of God. If the King James Bible
and the texts from which it was translated are the preserved and genuine
Word of God, then the others most assuredly are not. God is not schizophrenic.
He has not left us several different Bibles. He has not given us contradictory
messages.
Within this tract I can give but a brief overview of the most
glaring theological heresies supported by the modern versions of the Bible.
I will consider only those versions most often used by those who claim
to be conservative Christians. There are literally thousands of places
where they differ with God's Word as found in the Textus Receptus
and Authorized (King James) Version of Scripture. I believe, however,
that the brief evidence presented here is enough to convince the sincere
truth seeker that something is amiss.
In every case, the discrepancies noted are also present in the more
liberal translations, such as The Revised Standard Version, The New
Revised Standard Version, The Jerusalem Bible, Today's English Version,
etc.
If you use one of these modern versions, I pray that you will
take the time to compare its text with the text of The Authorized Version
presented here. You may be surprised with what you find.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
This verse clearly sets forth the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity,
as it is found above in the Authorized Version of Scripture.
Most modern translations so mutilate this verse that there is
no longer any reference to the Trinity to be found within it at all.
The New American Standard Version (NASV), The New International
Version (NIV), and The Living Bible (LB) all remove any reference
to either the Father, or the Word (Jesus Christ) from this verse.
The New King James Version (NKJV), maintains the reference
to the Trinity in the text. However, it contains a footnote that sets forth
only a biased part of the textual evidence concerning the verse and leaves
a very strong impression that these words do not belong in the Bible.
Acts 8:37 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.
Philip's reply to the eunuch, in this verse, is a clear example of the
Biblical doctrine of Believer's Baptism.
The NIV completely removes this verse from the text skipping
from verse 36 to verse 38. There is no verse 37 in the NIV text
at all!
The NASV puts the entire verse in brackets indicating that
these are "words probably not in the original writings" (Preface to NASV,
p. xi)
The LB footnotes the verse and states: "Many ancient manuscripts
omit verse 37 wholly or in part."
The NKJV likewise footnotes the verse and questions its
place in the original text.
1 Timothy 3:16 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.
This verse clearly sets forth the truth of the incarnation, namely
that GOD was manifested in the flesh by Jesus Christ.
The NIV and NASV both substitute he for God,
greatly weakening the teaching of the verse.
The LB so paraphrases the verse that it is hardly recognizable,
and weakens the teaching concerning the incarnation even more than the
NIV and NASV.
The NKJV as usual footnotes the verse and notes that who rather
than God is to be found in the modern printed Greek New Testaments.
Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy,
and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance.
This verse teaches that Christ came to call sinners to repentance.
The NASV and NIV omit the reference to repentance.
The LB's paraphrase does not use the word repentance, and
completely subverts the verse's meaning.
The NKJV once again footnotes this verse, questioning whether
repentance is properly in the text.
Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which
were spoken of him.
The Authorized Version refers to Joseph and his mother,
carefully acknowledging the virgin birth of Christ. Within the KJV and
the Greek texts from which it comes, Christ is never referred to as the
son of Joseph, nor is Joseph called His father, except when he is so called
by other men. The Biblical narrative itself never refers to Him as such.
The NIV substitutes the child's father for Joseph.
The NASV substitutes His father.
The LB further muddles the issue by leaving Joseph in
the text, but substituting Mary for his mother even though there
is absolutely no Greek manuscript that does so.
The NKJV leaves the text as in the KJV, but once again
tells us in the footnotes that the modern Greek New Testaments substitute
His father for Joseph.
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me
hath everlasting life.
This passage teaches clearly that belief in Jesus Christ alone will
bring eternal life. The modern versions make room for the idea that "it
really doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere."
On me is omitted from the NASV and NIV.
The NKJV once again casts doubt on the place of on me
in the text within its footnotes.
John 7:53-8:11 (Please refer to you own Bible)
This passage relates the story of the woman taken in adultery.
All 12 verses are bracketed in the NASV indicating that
the editors did not believe that it was in the original text.
The NIV sets the verses off from the regular text and notes that
"The earliest and most reliable manuscripts do not have John 7:53-8:11."
The footnotes in the LB states that "Most ancient manuscripts
omit John 7:53-8:11"
The NKJV notes that these verses "are bracketed in the NU-Text
[the modern Greek New Testaments] as not original."
Mark 16:9-20 (Please refer to you own Bible)
These verses contain the resurrection narrative, the Great Commission,
and the promises of Christ to His disciples concerning His protection of
them.
The NASV brackets the entire passage indicating that the editors
did not consider it to be in the original writing.
The NIV separates these verses from the regular text and notes:
"The two most reliable early manuscripts do not have Mark 16:9-20."
The LB notes: "Verses 9 through 20 are not found in the
most ancient manuscripts, but may be considered an appendix giving additional
facts."
The NKJV notes: "Verses 9-20 are bracketed in NU-text as not
original."
1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered
in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
This passage sets forth the doctrine of the substitutionary death of
Christ. In that Christ did not simply die, but that He died for us.
The NASV, NIV, and LB all omit for us from the
text.
The NKJV once again questions the place of for us within
the text in its footnote.
2 Peter 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried
with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
This passage teaches the doctrine of the eternal damnation of the lost
by the words for ever.
Forever is omitted in the NASV and NIV.
The NKJV questions the place of forever in the text within
its footnote.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ
is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in
the world.
This passage demonstrates that belief in the incarnation is essential
to genuine Christianity by the words: "That Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh."
"Come in the flesh" is omitted from the NASV, NIV, and
LB. This leaves room for the Gnositic heresy that Christ was not
genuine flesh and blood.
The NKJV questions the place of "come in the flesh" within
the text by its footnote.
Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:
and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches
which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and
unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
That Jesus Christ is the eternal God is taught by the words: "I am
the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last."
The NASV and NIV omit these words.
The NKJV raises doubts concerning its originality in its footnote.
SOME CLOSING THOUGHTS:
1 - References in the footnotes of these modern Bibles to "the best
manuscripts, the most ancient manuscripts, the most reliable manuscripts,
etc." all refer to the stream of Bible texts that proceeded out of Alexandria,
Egypt through the Catholic Church. These texts are manifestly corrupted
by Bible deniers and infidels. They are not the texts which Bible believers
possessed and which they refused to surrender through years of governmental
and clerical persecution.
2 - These modern Bibles and the modern Greek New Testaments from which
they originate ignore much of the evidence concerning the true text of
the Bible. In particular, they give little heed to the evidence of the
writings of the earliest Christians, which indicates that they had Bibles
which support the text of the King James Bible.
3 - It is true that the NKJV was translated from the Textus
Receptus (the same Greek Text from which the KJV was translated).
It is also true that most of the men who worked on the translation of this
modern Bible did not believe that this was the best text. I personally
knew some of the men on the translation committee. I sat in their classes
and I know that they favored the Catholic, Egyptian texts. This is clearly
shown by their profuse use of footnotes to question the place of the traditional
readings within the text.
4 - Those who seek to justify the modern versions of the Bible often
state that there is no major doctrine effected by the variances amongst
the different Greek manuscripts. This brief article has clearly shown that
this is simply not the case and that these modern "scholars" are not to
be trusted!
5 - If you use one of the modern translations I pray that God may use
this brief study to lead you to His true and preserved Word as found in
the Greek Textus Receptus and English King James Bible.
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