The Heresies of the Modern
"Conservative" Translations
of the Bibleby Pastor Greg Wilson (CB)
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
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.