Which Bible Is Right?


Authorized King James Version


Versus


The Revised Version
New King James Version
New International Version
The Living Bible
New American Standard Bible
New World Translation
Amplified Version
New Century Version
Contemporary English Version
Good News Bible
New Revised International Version
Douay-Rheims Version
Basic English Bible
Phillips Version
Goodspeed Version



The Bible is the world's best selling book, but it is also one of the world's least read books. The Bible is a very loved book, while at the same time being a very hated book. Many have died defending it, and many others have died hating it. If the Bible is just another book, then why all the controversy?


The Bible is the most quoted book in the world. It is also the most misquoted. How can so many denominations or beliefs supposedly come from one book? It is very simple, men misinterpret and misuse its words to teach man made beliefs and ideas. The problem with this is that 2Peter 1:20 Says, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” God meant what he said when he inspired men to pen the Bible. So in order to continue to manipulate the Bible, men have brought out new versions.


It must be confusing to walk into a bookstore and have over 80 different books that all say they are the Bible. 1Corinthians 14:33a says, “For God is not the author of confusion...” So if confusion is not from God, it must come from Satan.


If God does not want us to be confused, it only makes sense that He would have one Bible for English speaking people. So the question becomes,



Which Bible Is Right?


The Authorized King James Bible was first translated in 1611. It is the same Bible that was used by the founders of the United States to determine the laws of our land. For over 300 years God has greatly blessed and used the King James Bible. This is the reason that all other versions are compared to it. So one is against all the rest.


The two main defenses, or reasons for the new translations are:



Mathematically speaking the changes are minor. The new translations agree with the King James 95-99% of the time. What should be concerning is the 1-5% that does not agree. Believers need to have confidence that they have all of God's Word, not just 95-99% of it. Matthew 4:4 says, “But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Any error in the translation of the Bible we use is too much. Galatians 5:9 says, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”


God promised to preserve His Word to all generations and He has. So Christians must be sure their Bible is pure.


The new translations were not just updated for easier reading. They make major changes and omissions. The following six categories could be used as a checklist to compare the new versions to the King James Bible.


Contradictions

(1Samuel 17:51 vs 2Samuel 21:19)


Errors


Major Doctrinal Changes



Promotes Heresy


removed “firstborn” (Perpetual virginity of Mary)


changed “faults” to “sins”

(confessional)


Partial Omissions



Complete Omissions


Matthew 17:21; 18:11; 23:14

Mark 7:16; 9:44,46; 11:26; 15:28

Luke 17:36; 23:17

John 5:4

Acts 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29

Romans 16:24


So who is responsible for all the confusion? Satan is. Just compare Isaiah 14:12 in the NIV with the King James. “O Lucifer” is removed; “O morning star” is added. Who is the Morning Star? “I Jesus... am the bright and morning star.” - Revelation 22:16


We must be sure that we have the Bible that God intends us as English speaking people to use. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand forever.” God has preserved His inspired, inerrant Word in English and that is the King James Bible.



It All Comes Down to This


So why is it so important to believe that every part of the Bible is God's unchanged Word?

If a part of the Bible, even a small part, is wrong or believed to be wrong then how do I know that Salvation is real? How do I know that the way God made for us to go to Heaven is true? How do I know that I wasn't just an accident as Evolution teaches, but rather a perfectly designed being created for a purpose? Can something be missing or has something been changed?


We must fully believe that God's Word is 100% truth. The King James Bible has been proved by time to be God's Word. We can rest assured that God has protected His Word (Matthew 4:4). Since we can know for sure that God's Word is 100% truth then we can know for sure that we were not an accident, that we were created for a purpose and that Salvation is true with only one way to Heaven.


John 3:16-18 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.