“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.” Rev. 22:19
- “They make the Bible easier to understand.” Much of the King James Bible is at a 5.8 grade reading level (1) (Flesh-Kincaid Grade level indicator). The New International Version is at 8.4 grade level; New King James is at 6.9, and the New American Standard Bible is at 8.12. Besides that, it is the Holy Spirit that allows anyone to have knowledge of God’s Word, not man’s editing (I Cor. 2:14)1!
Another motive is also behind “making the bible easier to understand.” That motive is to make money. If there are numerous changes, it can copyrighted, and its owner can earn money from its sales, as it is a new and different book. The King James Bible is not copyrighted, so no one makes anything by its sale!
- “They come from the originals,” or “originate from more reliable manuscripts.” The originals were never assembled in one place together. What some call more “reliable” manuscripts were the ones that were historically rejected by earlier believers because of their corruption, errors, and were seldom used. That is why some of the older manuscripts were in good condition.
- “They change ‘archaic’ words.” They do, but in many places the words replacing them change the meaning of the verse. There are less than 20 words, not including verbs that have “eth” added to them, in the KJV that are not commonly used today. It would make more sense to understand their meaning by the use of a dictionary, rather than to change the whole Bible. Many modern books have words that the reader often has to look up in the dictionary, and no one even thinks of rewriting them to make them easier to understand.
- “Scholars now know more than they knew then.” Many of the authors and translators of the new versions did not even know Hebrew or Greek; nor were they expert in over 10+ ancient languages, as were many in the 1611 King James translating committee. The translators of the King James were some of the most outstanding scholars and Christians.
- “They come from older manuscripts.” The Masoretic Hebrew Text and the Greek Textus Receptus used in the KJV are the older and more reliable manuscripts, not what is used in most modern versions. Some of what are called the “older texts” are not reliable at all. Historically they were avoided because of their known mistakes and alterations. Also, some of the “most ancient manuscripts” are actually over 100 years newer than those used in the KJV.
- “They are correcting errors.” There are no known errors in the King James Bible! Most of what people call errors are intellectual or spiritual problems people have with what God had said and had recorded. Changing His words may ease their consciences, but it does not make it God’s Word, will and way. If the new Bible versions are correcting “errors,” why are all 300+ versions different from each other? Don’t they have it right yet? Why are they still changing them? Several years ago, there was a web site rewarding a large sum of money to anyone who could find an error in the KJV. As far as I know, no one has ever found an error and has never collected a cent from the site!
- “The new versions are more reliable.” Most versions are written to teach the beliefs of the author(s), religion, or organization that produced the work. Scripture that was contrary to their beliefs was removed or changed. Also, the King James translators were honest enough that if they added words to make the context understood or to show what the Hebrew or Greek meant, they italicized the words. Most modern versions remove the italicized words or do not italicize them.
- “It is egotistical to think that only the King James in English is preserved.” There is a text that comes from the Masoretic Text and Textus Receptus for all the major languages, including: English, Greek, Hebrew, French, and Spanish. Most of the major languages also have the preserved Word of God available to them.
Stick with the King James Bible! It is the reliable, preserved Word of God!
** The King James Bible has 783,137 words, whereas the New International Bible has only 727, 969. **
(1) Riplinger, G. A. New Age Bible Versions, Ararat, VA, 1995
You may also want to read: God Kept His Word! and Examples of Changes in Modern Bible Versions and Translations
If you would like to add to your daily devotions using all scripture from the King James Bible check into:
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Really excellent post, I surely adore this website, keep on it.
One more thing I have had JW come up here and guess what they had their bible covered and boy before they even spoke I said the KJV is my Bible sorry ta da . I guess now they are covering their bibles like one used to put paper bags on books in school to protect it so to fool us but sorry not getting by me .
Sometimes they even use a KJV to prove their false doctrines. Most don’t know their Bible, and get confused by the cults false doctrines.
I agree @David the newer ones skip a lot of verses and change the meaning . The Coverdale Bible is a good one as one of the first published as are a few others before the KJV came into being . Yes dig and dig as one may be surprised what can be missing from other Bibles . The KJV is closest to the Coverdale and older Bibles but take all those newbies nah I get in debates with someone on that .
The Coverdale of 1535 is in the lineage of the KJV, but is not a reliable as the KJV or Bishops Bible. The English language was less accurate in 1535.
We must not be ignorant of this.
The pew Bibles in the church I grew up in were “Good News for Modern Man” …. a TEV new testament translation. Knowing what I know now, I cannot imagine how the deacons and pastor of that church decided to purchase those and use them in church. This was in the 70’s, and I guess they thought they were helping or did not have enough information to make an informed decision. I think it speaks to the depth and seriousness of their walk with Christ. If I am interested in something and I want to do well with it, I give it all my effort, I pour myself into it. No one that is trying to dig deeper will be deterred by thinking something is hard to read, old fashioned, etc… They will want the real thing, as pure as they can get it. They will not want it “dumbed” down…
I thank God for the KJV, it is a miracle that it exists (the study of how it came about is quite interesting) and it is a miracle of language. It is not commonplace or ordinary, it is extraordinary!
For something interesting to do, you can easily search for differences between NIV and KJV, read both, and be shocked by what is mutilated and missing. There is a purpose. I would be very careful about accepting any of these so called translations based on the belief that they are easier to read.
People would be surprised all the things that have different “perversions” in it! Just about any devotion you get in a store has 5 different bible versions in it! In fact, I picked up a devotion from my church yesterday, and it has (19) different translations in it!
The reason it has so many translations is because it has so many different authors in it, and everybody has their own translation they like!
Our Daily Bread has different translations in it! Christian books have different translations in it! Even the Baptist Hymnal at the top of each page has different translations on it!
About 5yrs ago, Jack Chick (they produce gospel tracts) was the first ones that opened my eyes up to the KJV only, and the error of other translations! And since then, I’ve been struggling to find devotions and books that are KJV only until I found openthoumineeyes.com!
Thanks Bro. Bill!
Many think the concern about the different versions (perversions) is just a matter for preachers. However, with all the different changes and deletions, it should be everyone’s concern. You cannot teach correct doctrine using a different version!! God said He’d preserve his Word! It is not preserved in the modern perversions as even the “authors” proudly admit. God either preserved His Word or He didn’t.
I am strongly convinced that the devil is involved in the corruption of God’s Word. From the beginning, one of Satan’s main attacks wasagainst God’s Word and to get man to question it. “Yea, hath God said …”
Great article on “The Bible View”
I see Bibles laying on people’s dashes in their cars, baking in the hot sun all day long, not realizing that godly men and women have died over the centuries trying to preserve the Word of God for us to read today!
Every Christian should read Foxes Book of Martyrs every couple of years to respect the lives and blood that was shed so we can have the preserved Word we have today.