by Jeremy T.K. Farley
The King James vs. N.I.V. debate is, by now, a generations old debate that has seemed to define the fundamental Baptist movement.
Even with this said, however, as I have visit dozens of “IFB” churches over the past few months, it is alarming to see the number of Christians who have no idea as to why any person should reject the modern versions.
I recently had the opportunity to speak to a struggling church, who was, at the time, unsure of whether or not they should reject the NIV.
The following is a synopsis of my message, “Why Logic Says to Use Only the King James Version.”
1. At the very beginning of my sermon, I held my King James Bible in the air and without saying anything else, I simply asked, “Does everyone in this room believe this book?”
As I fully expected, the crowd in unison let out a hardy “Ahay-men!”
I followed that question up with a second question, pushing even harder, “Does everyone in this room believe this book is the total, complete and perfect Word of God?” Again, “Ahay-men!”
“Does anyone in here not believe this book is the total, complete and perfect Word of God? Speak up, right now, this is your opportunity!” Silence filled the air inside the West Virginia country church.
“Okay, then,” I replied, “well then let’s dive into this book, since you believe it is the perfect Word of God and see what it has to say about itself.”
Below are the points made and the verses to back them up:
1. God has never limited the Gospel to a single language
“Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.” – Acts 2.6
“But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” – Romans 16.26
To say that it would be impossible to perfectly translate the Word of God into another language is to ignore a multitude of verses which say the contrary.
2. God’s Word is Critically Important
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 3:15
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17
There is no tangible item on the planet, today, that is of more importance than the Word of God.
3. God’s Word has Always Been Under Satanic Assault
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” – Genesis 3.1
Since there is nothing more important than the Word of God, it seems only logical that such an item would constantly be under Satanic attack; which as history has proven, is the case.
From his very first mention in the entire Bible, Satan is casting doubt, questioning and confusing the Word of God, “Yea, hath God said…?”
4. To Attack God’s Word is to Attack God
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1.1
Not very much to expound upon here, to put it simply, God and is Word are inseparable.
5. To Change God’s Word is Unforgivable
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 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.” – Revelation 22.18-19
We can debate what it means to have your part removed “out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book,” but I think that we can all agree on the fact, that it’s certainly serious business!
6. The NIV has Removed Several Total Verses From the Word of God
At this point in the message, I reached into my briefcase and pulled out an NIV and handed to one of the deacons, someone who saw nothing wrong in using an NIV and asked him to turn to Mark 9.44 and read the verse aloud for the congregation to hear.
After an awkward thirty seconds or more of waiting for him to find the verse, I said, “Okay, let’s skip that one, go down to verse 46 and read it aloud.”
Again, several awkward seconds passed by, as a restless congregation waited. Finally, the man said, “It’s not in here.”
“Yes! It’s not in there and neither are Matthew 17:21, Matthew 18:11, Matthew 23:14, Mark 7:16, Mark 9:44, Mark 9:46, Mark 11:26, Mark 15:28, Luke 17:36, Luke 23:17, John 5:4, Acts 8:37, Acts 15:34, Acts 24:7, Acts 28:29 and Romans 16:24,” I stated.
From there, I opened the NIV to its cover page and began reading its copyright information:
“The NIV text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio), up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, providing the verses do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted.”
“In Mark 13.10, Jesus orderd, ‘And the gospel must first be published among all nations,’ Does this sound like they are wanting the Word to be published among all nations – limiting it to only 500 verses?”
“By the way,” I added, “The King James Version, is the only version in this room that is in the public domain!”
As the evening wore on, I shared with them countless verses in which the NIV had redacted key phrases such as “through his blood,” or confused Christ and Satan.
I closed by stating, “Each statement I have made here tonight are undeniable facts – visible for any person who should desire to open the books and see for themselves. The question is this, what are you going to do with what I have us given you? ‘Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.’”
by Jeremy T.K. Farley
Article submitted to Independentbaptist.com
The reason the book men call King James is the true word of the Lord known as the Hebrew tongue and cannot be translated into another language and still be the words which the Lord Jesus pronounced with his lips. Enoch was translated, but the word of God cannot be changed in any way.
Matthew 4: 4 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.
When did every word of God proceed out of his mouth?
Isaiah 46: 9 Remember the former things of old: for
I am God, and there is none else; I am
God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times the things that are
not yet done, saying, My counsel shall
stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
When did the Lord have all the counsel of his heart?
Psalm 119:89
89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled
in heaven.
Did the Lord ever have a new counsel of his heart one day that he did not know in days past? Certainly not! Therefore,
How much of the counsel of the Lord’s heart did he provide to every generation?
Psalm 33:11
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for
ever, the thoughts of his heart to all
generations.
How much of the word of God was known by every generation; from Adam on?
Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for
ever, the thoughts of his heart to all
generations.
Luke 1:70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy
prophets, which have been since the world
began:
Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until
the times of restitution of all things, which
God hath spoken by the mouth of all his
holy prophets since the world began.
A last will and testament must be written before the death of the testator!
For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalms 119:89
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Psalms 119:160
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. Hebrews 9:16
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Hebrews 9:17
Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. Hebrews 9:18
For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Hebrews 9:19
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Acts 20:27
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. Matthew 4:4
The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Psalms 33:11
How many languages were there when the Lord declared all the counsel of the Lord?
Genesis 11:1 AND the whole earth was of one
language, and of one speech.
What is this language called?
Zephaniah 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
What kind of words would this pure language have?
Psalm 12: 6 The words of the LORD are pure words:as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation
for ever.
Since the Lord declared all the thoughts of his heart from the beginning and preserved every pure word for all generations, what did he declare this pure language to be?
Acts 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the
earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me,
and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard
for thee to kick against the pricks.
The Jews have an advantage over all the people of the earth:
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Romans 3:1
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. Romans 3:2
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Romans 3:3
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Psalms 51:13
All the heathen nations did not have their own book of the Lord written in their own language in the old testament, no more than the heathen have their own book of the Lord written in their tongue.
The new testament is written in the same language as the old; and according to Romans 3 lines 1 through 3 the books of the new testament were certainly not written in the Greek tongue. Not one scripture line will prove otherwise.
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? John 5:44
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. John 5:46
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? John 5:47
Who is the author and who is it that wrote all the words of the Book of the LORD?
Proverbs 22: 20 Have not I written to thee excellent
things in counsels and knowledge,
21 That I might make thee know the
certainty of the words of truth; that thou
mightest answer the words of truth to
them that send unto thee?
Hebrews 12: 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and
finisher of our faith; who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at
the right hand of the throne of God.
The Lord wrote his book and promised to preserve it for all generations; this is one example of how he said it to Moses:
Exodus 32:15¶ And Moses turned, and went down
from the mount, and the two tables of the
testimony were in his hand: the tables
were written on both their sides; on the
one side and on the other were they
written.
16 And the tables were the work of God,
and the writing was the writing of God,
graven upon the tables.
19 ¶ And it came to pass, as soon as he
came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the
calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger
waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of
his hands, and brake them beneath the
mount.
The Lord wrote his book and preserved it through Holy men of God that published his words.
Exodus 34:1 AND the LORD said unto Moses, Hew
thee two tables of stone like unto the first:
and I will write upon these tables the
words that were in the first tables, which
thou brakest.
Jesus is the author of his book, who then published it?
Psalm 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the
company of those that published it.
Baruch said it on this wise:
Jeremiah 36:17 And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us
now, How didst thou write all these words
at his mouth?
18 Then Baruch answered them, He
pronounced all these words unto me with
his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in
the book.
Adam had a copy of all the books of the LORD and he knew that a man named Luke would write the book of Luke to Theophilus, and when Luke wrote it, he fulfilled scripture. Theophilus also had a copy of the Book of Luke, and the reason Luke wrote the book of Luke to Theophilus, was that he might know the certainty of those things, wherein he had been instructed:
Luke 1:1 FORASMUCH as many have taken in
hand to set forth in order a declaration of
those things which are most surely
believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us,
which from the beginning were
eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had
perfect understanding of all things from
the very first, to write unto thee in order,
most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of
those things, wherein thou hast been
instructed.
The words found in the Book of Daniel were called scripture before Daniel:
But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. Daniel 10:21
Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. Daniel 11:1
And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. Daniel 11:2
The whole book, all the counsel of the Lord was declared, written and preserved by the Lord Jesus from the beginning and every generation had the book of the LORD; this is how Matthew 4 line 4 is mate with Isaiah 46 lines 9 and 10.
Paul said it on this wise:
1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a
prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of the Lord.
Philippians 3:1 FINALLY, my brethren, rejoice in the
Lord. To write the same things to you, to
me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is
safe.
Solomon said it on this wise:
Ecclesiastes 1: 9 The thing that hath been, it is that which
shall be; and that which is done is that
which shall be done: and there is no new
thing under the sun.
10 Is there any thing whereof it may be
said, See, this is new? it hath been already
of old time, which was before us.
The words Philip read to the man from Ethiopia are found only in the book of Acts and not in the book of Isaiah. The book known as Esaias is the book of the LORD:
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Acts 8:27
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Acts 8:28
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. Acts 8:29
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? Acts 8:30
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. Acts 8:31
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: Acts 8:32
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. Acts 8:33
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Acts 8:34
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. Acts 8:35
Many highly esteemed scholars and those that profess to be Christian, believe God’s pure words of a pure language can be translated and changed from the first language called Hebrew which the Lord pronounced with his lips into another language and still be the word of God. In what manner is the use of the word (translate) used in the Lord’s book of authority?
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5
To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. 2 Samuel 3:10
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Colossians 1:13
Therefore since the words translate, translated and translation have nothing to do with changing the pure language into another language spoken after the Lord confounded the languages, why is it that scholars will profess that the book of Acts chapter 2 is a proof that the devout Jews coming from diverse nations could understand the unlearned apostles speak in the language in which they were born?
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Acts 2:2
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Acts 2:3
(Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you. Deuteronomy 14:7)
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Acts 2:5
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Acts 2:6
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? Acts 2:7
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Acts 2:8
Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. Isaiah 28:9
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Isaiah 28:10
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. Isaiah 28:11
To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:12
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isaiah 28:13
These devout Jews were devout because they kept the language in which they were born. They were Jews and the Jews language is the Hebrew tongue.
Why were these men scattered about to diverse lands? Their fathers of old married strange wives and their children could not speak in the Jews language; therefore they could not keep the commandments of the Lord and the Lord scattered them. Those Jews that were called devout, were called devout because they kept the Jews language and came to worship in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 13:23 ¶ In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.
Nehemiah 1:8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
The new testament and the old is written and preserved in the same language, which according to the above scripture lines must be Hebrew. There can be only one book of the Lord which he declared from the beginning, pronounced with his lips, wrote and preserved for all generations. We cannot put our trust in man nor in the chronicles of man’s wisdom and we know the subtle whiles of the devil; therefore which book of all the books men call the Holy Scriptures is the true and perfect word of God?
Only one book can fulfil this scripture line:
Isaiah 34:16 ¶ Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
17 And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line:
they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell
therein.
This manner will come down to faith; and I will conclude by asking –
What language is the most powerful language in our generation? This particular language must be either the first or second language which most people on earth speak in this generation. Which ever language it is, consider that the language before Genesis 11 line 1 is the language which Adam and Noah spake and that language must be the language which the Lord likened to these lines:
Matthew 24: 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be.
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, because these line are true:
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. Matthew 4:4
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1:18
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:2
Only one book can fulfil all the scripture lines above. Walk into any so call Christian book store and all the books that are published cannot be the true word of God. God is not the author of confusion and it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore all the words of the counsel of the Lord’s heart were declared by the Lord God from the beginning, Genesis through Revelation), he pronounced every jot and tittle with his lips in the true pure language called Hebrew made of perfect pure words, he alone is the author of his book and he promised to preserved every word in perfect order for all generations so that every person can know with certainty the words of truth.
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Psalms 138:2
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Hebrews 6:18
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33
Im sorry, but you know the New Testament was written in Greek, right?
I dont begrudge anyone using the KJV, and I am hrateful for its place in the history of the Church, but please extend me the same courtesy when I read and preach from the ESV. The history of the Bible has been the story of the common (or “vulgar”) translations. The Septuagint brought the OT into common Greek, the Vulgate bumped both Testaments to Latin, and Luther did the same for German while Wycliffe and Tyndale brought the Word into English. But we dont speak that way any longer, or at least I dont, and the Bible is most useful when it can be understood by thise who hear it. From a textual criticism standpoint no translation is perfect because we dont have the original documents and there is always a personal element to interpretation. The KJV is just as guilty as any other version.
Also, from a standpoint of ministry, I have found the KJV to be a barrier. In my experience most people that are either unbelievers or have been burned by the church automatically shut down at the first “Thou”. The older language seems to dredge up the worst stereotypes about us, almost inducing a spiritual PTSD. Regardless of the beauty of the KJV, i will not preach from a translation that seems more likely to being a stumbling block than other faithful and accurate versions. For my personal study? Sure, lets do it. But not from my pulpit.
Skimming through an ESV New Testament I found 17 verses in the book of Revelation that were either completely or partially deleted. Enough said! Stay with the old Authorized King James Bible. It is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, preserved word of the living God.
Good article on “Simple Logic”. Not sure if this was brought out in that sermon, but all of the modern “versions” make 1 change in particular that is enough for me to abstain from use. They take out “Calvary”. Look for yourself, you won’t find Calvary in Luke 23:33. Think of all the song, messages, and witnessing that would never have happened if not for Calvary. Where would we be without Calvary!
Indeed, I only read the King James Version.
By using your “logic”, we should stop using the KJV because of the corrections it made of its own. Rev 22 condemns both adding to and taking away!
Which translation mistakes are you speaking of? All the corrections made to the King James that I am aware of were publishing mistakes or publishing/printing updates not translation mistakes.
I am sorry but this is pure ignorance; as I have used the NIV for years and saw nothing wrong with as the NKJV came in basic and in college. No one speaks like this as I suggest checking out the ISV as I used this in the Editor’s Lounge of Issue Five. The ESV has ties to Chicago if I remember right — more accurately Wheaton as The Living Bible, being Carol Stream.
May I recommend ‘New Age Bible Versions’ by Gail Riplinger for insightful reading about KJV vs. all other BIbles.
See also the video The Bible Under Fire The Story Of The RSV And NRSV. It is eye opening. After viewing it I don’t see how a true child of God could ever use a so-called new version. Stick with the old tried and true Authorized King James Bible. Amen!
A major reason for revision of the King James Version, which is valid for both the Old Testament and the New Testament, is the change since 1611 in English usage. Many forms of expression have become archaic, while still generally intelligible—the use of thou, thee, thy, thine and the verb endings -est and -edst, the verb endings -eth and -th, it came to pass that, whosoever, whatsoever, insomuch that, because that, for that, unto, howbeit, peradventure, holden, aforetime, must needs, would fain, behooved, to you-ward, etc. Other words are obsolete and no longer understood by the common reader. The greatest problem, however, is presented by the English words which are still in constant use but now convey a different meaning from that which they had in 1611 and in the King James Version. These words were once accurate translations of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures; but now, having changed in meaning, they have become misleading. They no longer say what the King James translators meant them to say.
Thus, the King James Version uses the word “let” in the sense of “hinder,” “prevent” to mean “precede,” “allow” in the sense of “approve,” “communicate” for “share,” “conversation” for “conduct,” “comprehend” for “overcome,” “ghost” for “spirit,” “wealth” for “well-being,” “allege” for “prove,” “demand” for “ask,” “take no thought” for “be not anxious,” etc.