About Bible Versions – I'm Following Jesus

Why Are The So Many Versions Of The Bible?

That question is as easy as understanding who it was that created it. We must understand that there is only one Bible, versions are just that, a version of a copy. Many modern versions are actually what they believe the Bible to mean in their own words. In other words, they are paraphrasing the Bible itself into something they want to believe it to be. There are hundreds of versions of the Bible, (e.g. ESV, NKJV, NIV), but there is only one Bible that is the True Word of God.

Here I will explain the importance of reading and choosing the Bible, and not a version. The Bible was originally written in three languages, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew except for parts of the books of Daniel and Nehemiah which were written in Aramaic. The New Testament was completely written in Greek. None of the original manuscripts of the Bible are now in existence, but there are exact copies of the original manuscripts, which still exist today. The original manuscripts were translated into English as this was the most prominent language used during that time.

Since the twentieth century the King James Bible, which is the primary English translation since it was created, and has always come under heavy attack, therefore, a flood of versions are trying to substitute it. To understand the need for the right Bible we need to understand where the translators got the texts. There are also two versions of translations, one of which is true, the Textus Receptus, from which the King James Bible (and older versions like the Geneva Bible) were translated.

The Textus Receptus Texts

The Textus Receptus texts (150 A.D.) stems from Antioch, the place that the Holy Spirit chose for the base of Christian operations after Stephen was martyred. It spread through Syria and Europe through its translation into the Syrian Peshitto version and the Old Latin Vulgate. There are still 350 copies of the Peshitto in existence today as a testimony to this widespread usage in the years since 150 A.D.

The Old Latin Vulgate was used by Christians in the churches of the Waldenses, Gauls, Celts, and other fundamental groups throughout Europe. This Latin version became so used and beloved by orthodox Christians that it assumed the term “Vulgate” as a name. The old Latin versions were used longest by western Christians who would not bow to the authority of Rome.

It was the Antioch text which Luther used for his German translation of the New Testament of 1522. He got it from Erasmus of Rotterdam. His Greek text was called the “Textus Receptus”. This text and the translations of it into German, English and other languages kindled the fires of the reformation all over Europe. The Textus Receptus is the Greek original from which the King James is translated.

The other which is missing much information, is the Nestle’s Greek Text, also known as the Egyptian Text or Alexandrian Text, and this is where modern versions get their information.

The Nestle’s Greek Text

The Nestle’s Greek Text (1898) was the basis for the critical Greek Text of Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort. The Westcott and Hort Text of 1881 was collated with Weymouth’s third edition and Tischendorf’s eighth edition by Eberhard Nestle in 1898 to become what is known as the Nestle’s Greek New Testament.

The text is based on only a few manuscripts, two of the most important ones are the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. Sinaiticus from all outward appearances looks very beautiful, but it contains many uninspired books such as the “Shepherd of Hermes,” the “Epistle of Barnabas,” and the “Didache”. Vaticanus, as the name implies, is in the Vatican library at Rome. No one knows when it was placed in the Vatican library, but its existence was first made known in 1841. Vaticanus leaves out words or whole clauses no less than 1,491 times. It bears traces of careless transcriptions on every page.

The reason this is so important is because the two texts disagree consistently concerning the major doctrines of the Bible. The Nestle’s Greek Texts are found to disagree on readings concerning the virgin birth of Christ, the Blood atonement, Christ’s second coming, the deity of Christ, and many other fundamental Christian doctrines.

To illustrate the importance of why we are to read a Bible that is based on the Textus Receptus texts I have listed two bible verses, Luke 4:8 and I John 5:7 of the King James Bible (1769) in several versions from the oldest English versions to the newest. It will show you that words have been taken away or added, leaving the reader unknown to important key phrases and truths that God intended for you to know.

Sometimes one word is omitted or changed and it may seem insignificant to us, but it is serious to God. Not knowing one key word can literally be the difference between life or death. Keep in mind that pages were printed on a printing press in which many letters from the English alphabet did not exist,and they sounded out many words themselves, which seem misspelled, but the words are legible. You will be able to see how misleading and confusing these new versions can be to new Christians.

Geneva (1587)
Luke 4:8 – But Iesus answered him, and saide, Hence from mee, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lorde thy God, and him alone thou shalt serue.

KJ – And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

I John 5:7 – For there are three, which beare recorde in heauen, the Father, the Worde, and the holy Ghost: and these three are one.