Every Word

May 2, 2011 was the 400th anniversary of the first publishing of the King James Version of the Holy Bible. It has stood the test of time, but lately has been challenged by a slew of modern versions, all claiming to be correct. For the purpose of this study, I will be using the New International Version for comparison to the KJV, but most, if not all, of the newer versions are in line with the NIV.

2 Timothy 2:15
[KJV]Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
[NIV]Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

The one place in the Bible where we are told to study has been changed to “do your best.” Our best isn’t good enough. Only God’s best will do, and the only way we’re going to learn about God’s best is to study His word.

1 John 5:7-8
[KJV](7)For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (8)And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
[NIV](7)For there are three that testify: (8)the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

This passage is one of the greatest passages supporting the doctrine of the Trinity. Verse 7 names all three Persons of the Trinity and says that they are one. Verse 8 is talking about man, made in the image of God, in three parts. While these three parts, the Spirit, the water, and the blood “agree in one,” they are not said to be one. The new versions drop the last part of verse 7 and the first part of verse 8 and destroy the meaning of the passage.

 Act 8:36-38
[KJV](36)And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (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. (38)And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
[NIV](36)As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” (38)And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

The NIV completely omits verse 37 in this passage. What’s so important about verse 37? It’s the one passage in the Bible where baptism is shown to be administered only to believers.

These are just three examples out of hundreds where key passages supporting some of the most fundamental doctrines of Christianity are being perverted and weakening modern churches to the point where a lot of them are nothing more than social clubs. Don’t forget what Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”