Showing posts with label KJV-only. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KJV-only. Show all posts
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Are Bible Translations Really Worth Dividing Over?
Isn't it ironic that on the one hand the bible commands Christians to be united, but on the other hand some of us divide over the bible itself?
In particular, some folks believe the King James Version (KJV) is the only true English bible. See here for one example.
If the KJV is better than all other modern English versions, then it seems that the KJV would be considerably different than the other versions, especially in key verses. The one verse in the bible that I believe best sums up the gospel is II Corinthians 5:21. Let's compare this verse in the KJV to how other versions have translated it.
First, the KJV:
KJV: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Now let's look at other versions (in no particular order):
NKJV: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
ESV: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
NIV: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
NASB: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
HCSB: He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
RSV: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
NLT: For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Geneva: For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, which knewe no sinne, that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him.
Tyndale: for he hath made him to be synne for vs which knewe no synne that we by his meanes shuld be that rightewesnes which before God is aloved.
In slightly different ways we read all of the above versions saying the same thing. The wording is different, but the meaning is demonstrably the same.
I personally favor some translations (ESV, NKJV) over others (RSV, NLT). We all probably have our own favorites. Some translations are more literal than others. Some are more readable than others. (There are a few translations that should be avoided, but this is because the translators have purposely altered the meaning of the original text because of a significant bias; the NRSV and TNIV come to mind.)
For the most part, modern English translations say the same thing. This is certainly something we can discuss and, if need be, agree-to-disagree.
Let us avoid separation over any preference of a particular translation, whether it be the KJV, ESV, NIV, or any other.
We should certainly be able to remain united around the truth of the gospel as presented in the bible instead of dividing over the very word that presents the gospel to us.
In particular, some folks believe the King James Version (KJV) is the only true English bible. See here for one example.
If the KJV is better than all other modern English versions, then it seems that the KJV would be considerably different than the other versions, especially in key verses. The one verse in the bible that I believe best sums up the gospel is II Corinthians 5:21. Let's compare this verse in the KJV to how other versions have translated it.
First, the KJV:
KJV: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Now let's look at other versions (in no particular order):
NKJV: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
ESV: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
NIV: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
NASB: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
HCSB: He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
RSV: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
NLT: For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Geneva: For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, which knewe no sinne, that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him.
Tyndale: for he hath made him to be synne for vs which knewe no synne that we by his meanes shuld be that rightewesnes which before God is aloved.
In slightly different ways we read all of the above versions saying the same thing. The wording is different, but the meaning is demonstrably the same.
I personally favor some translations (ESV, NKJV) over others (RSV, NLT). We all probably have our own favorites. Some translations are more literal than others. Some are more readable than others. (There are a few translations that should be avoided, but this is because the translators have purposely altered the meaning of the original text because of a significant bias; the NRSV and TNIV come to mind.)
For the most part, modern English translations say the same thing. This is certainly something we can discuss and, if need be, agree-to-disagree.
Let us avoid separation over any preference of a particular translation, whether it be the KJV, ESV, NIV, or any other.
We should certainly be able to remain united around the truth of the gospel as presented in the bible instead of dividing over the very word that presents the gospel to us.
Monday, May 11, 2009
I Didn't Know the NKJV was a "A Deadly Translation"
I preach from the New King James Version (NKJV). The reason for this is that most people within our church family use either the King James Version (KJV) or the New International Version (NIV). I have found the NKJV to be understandable by those using the other translations.I am not an NKJV-only guy (I'm not sure if there are any), but I do like the translation. I believe it is good as far as English translations go. There are other good ones such as the KJV, the ESV, the NASB, and the HCSB, but I'm sticking with the NKJV because I think it best meets the needs of those within this congregation.
That said, I did not realize until today that the NKJV is "a deadly translation." I stumbled upon a website that actually claims this. As you might expect, this is a website run by someone from the KJV-only crowd.
This KJV-only website begins by saying, "(The NKJV) is a deadly version because it's editors have succeeded in deceiving the body of Christ on two main points: (1) That it's a King James Bible (which is a lie), and (2) that it's based on the Textus Receptus (which is only a partial truth). The following information should be helpful when dealing with Christians who have been swindled by the Laodicean lovers of filthy lucre."
The site makes the following claims, among others:
"There's nothing 'new' about the NKJV logo. It is a '666' symbol of the pagan trinity which was used in the ancient Egyptian mysteries."
"It is estimated that the NKJV makes over 100,000 translation changes, which comes to over eighty changes per page and about three changes per verse! A great number of these changes bring the NKJV in line with the readings of such Alexandrian perversions as the NIV and the RSV."
"Since the NKJV has 'changed the truth of God into a lie,' it has also changed Romans 1:25 to read 'exchanged the truth of God for the lie.' This reading matches the readings of the new perversions, so how say ye it's a King James Bible?"
When I read stuff like this, all I can do is sigh. I'm not convinced my NKJV bible is "deadly." I'll keep using it until I am convinced by some actual scholarship.
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