Why the King James Version
The purpose of this article is to explain why First Baptist Church has a strong conviction concerning the King James Version of the Bible. The reader will be left with information that will help him understand things which they might not have previously known.
The King James Bible comes from two texts; the Majority text and the Textus Receptus, sometimes known as the received text. These were the accepted manuscripts for centuries, then came the Alexandrian manuscripts. Alexandra Egypt was the location of much heresy during the early years of the church. It was there that the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek. Clement and Origen, who were apostates, corrupted the scripture to accommodate their heretical doctrines. Thus was the birth of the corrupt Alexandrian text. From these came the most commonly used, the Vatacanus and the Siniaticus. These were the manuscripts used by Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort (more about these men later.) These are the manuscripts that are responsible for the translations of most (if not all) of the modern Bibles. These are Roman Catholic documents and the Siniaticus was so unreliable it was thrown in the trash but someone pulled it from garbage pail and it eventually found its way into the hands of Westcott and Hort. They also used the Textus Receptus but only after they had made some 5,000 changes to the text. This became known as the Westcott and Hort Greek text.
There are 5,309 Greek manuscripts that contain all or part of the New Testament; these manuscripts agree 95% of the time with the King James Version (1611). There is no dispute about this fact. There is only 5% where there is disagreement between the King James Version (KJV) and all these other versions. But tell me, would you want to eat something that was 95% pure and only 5% rat poison? In fact, many modern versions use the Textus Receptus because it is superior to the other manuscripts, the problem comes when the Textus Receptus disagrees with the Vatacanus and the Siniaticus, This is where the confusion and corruption comes from – this 5% is the root of all the controversy. However, when this occurs, the corrupt texts of the Vatacanus and Siniaticus are used instead of the Textus Receptus. The Alexandrian text are always favored in the modern translations.
It is important to understand the background of the KJV 1611 and its translators as well as the background those who translated the Revised Version, from which comes the modern versions.
First let us consider the translation work of the King James Bible (1611). In 1604, King James authorized an English translation of the Bible. He appointed 54 Hebrew and Greek scholars to do the work. The number was reduced to 47 by the time the work formally began in 1607. These were devout men of faith and prayer; many were known to spend 6 – 8 hours in prayer a day. Rather than working together in one location these men were divided into 6 groups which worked in three different cities. Two groups each in Westminster, Oxford, and Cambridge. Each group was given a selected portion of Scripture to translate. Each scholar made his own translation of a book and then passed it on to be reviewed by the other members of his group. The whole group then went over the book together. Once a group completed a book they sent copies to the other five groups for review. All objectionable and questionable translations were marked and noted, they were then returned to the original translators for consideration. A special committee was formed by selecting a leader from each group, this committee worked out the remaining differences and presented a finished copy for the printers in 1611. By using this method it meant that the King James Bible had to pass at least 14 examinations before going to press. Throughout this extensive process the men could consult any learned individual in the land for their judgment and the churches were kept informed of the process.
We might also acknowledge that the KJV is the only Bible with a trail of blood and the Bible that was used in all the great revivals of the past.
Now we will turn our attention to the translators of the Revised Version from which has come all the modern versions.
Brooke Foss Westcott (1825-1901) and Fenton John Anthony Hort (1828-1892) were two English scholars who produced the corrupt Greek text of the modern versions. Their dominating influence on the revisions committee of 1871-1881 accounts for most of the corruption that we have today in the modern translations. While considering the reliability of their work one must keep several points in mind. The following information is well documented in “Final Authority” by William Grady and in Gail Riplinger’s “New Age Bible Version.”
1. The “Life and Letters of Brook Foss Westcott and the Life and Letters of Fenton
John Anthony Hort” runs over 1,800 pages. A personal salvation testimony is not
given once for either man, and the name “Jesus” is found only 9 times.
2. Westcott was a firm believer in Mary worship, and Hort claimed that Mary had a
lot in common with Jesus worship,
3. Hort believed in keeping Roman Catholic sacraments.
4. Hort believed in Baptismal regeneration as taught in the Catholic Church.
5. Hort rejected the infallibility of the Scripture. (note: Both Westcott and Hort said
that the Bible should not be treated any differently than any other book)
6. Hort took great interest in the works of Charles Darwin.
7. Westcott did not believe in the Second Coming of Christ, the Millennium, or a
literal Hell.
8. Both men rejected the doctrine of Hell and they supported prayers for the dead
in purgatory.
9. Hort refused to believe in the Trinity.
10. Hort refused to believe in angels.
11. Westcott confessed that he was communist by nature.
12. Hort confessed that he hated democracy in all its forms.
13. While working on their Greek text (1851-1871) and while working on the Revision
Committee for the Revised Version (1871-1881), Westcott and Hort were also
keeping company with “seducing spirits and doctrines of devils”. Both men took
great interest in occult practices and clubs. They started the “Hermes Club” in 1845,
the “Ghostly Guild” in 1851, and Hort joined a secret club called the “Eranus Club” in
1872. All these were spiritualist groups which believed in such unscriptural practices
as communication with the dead (necromancy).
14. The Westcott and Hort Greek text was SECRETELY given to the Revision Committee.
15. The members of the Revision Committee of 1881 were sworn to a pledge in regard
to the new Greek text being used and they met in secret for 10 years.
16. The corrupt Greek text of Westcott and Hort was not released to the public until
5 days before the debut of the Revised Version. This prevented Bible-believing
scholars like Dean Burgon from reviewing it and exposing it for the piece of trash it
was.
The reader will have to decide whether or not he/she believes that God is able to preserve His Word for all generations, and to do so without error. If God is able to preserve His Word, what type of men would He qualify for the job? I believe the evidence speaks for itself.
I believe there is enough of God’s word in the modern versions for someone to be saved. However, they do much more than change “thee” and “thou”. Some change words and punctuation, which can change the meaning of a verse or passage. Some of the modern versions attack the deity of Christ, the Virgin birth, the atoning work of the blood of Christ, these are just a few of the examples for more information see the examples below or log on to: http://www.av1611.org/kjv/fight.html#fight10
I hope that at the least, this brief article will encourage you to do your own in-depth study into the Bible version issue. Jesus said, “the truth will set you free.” It does matter what you believe about the scriptures.
In this section, we have reprinted our Let's Compare Bibles tract. Here you will see several good examples of how modern Bible versions are attacking God's word. We have selected eight modern translations for evaluation. The translations evaluated are as follows:
NIV....... New International Version
NASB... New American Standard Bible
NRSV... New Revised Standard Version
REB...... Revised English Bible
LB......... Living Bible
NWT..... New World Translation
NAB ..... New American Bible
NKJV.... New King James Version
Although we have limited this study to eight new translations, you will find many of these attacks manifested in ANY new translation. You will find that some of the most important doctrines of the Bible are being attacked in the new versions. Whether you have a Living Bible, a New Century Version, a Revised Standard Version, or any of the other perversions of Scripture, you are going to see the Devil hard at work on the revision committees of the new translations. The King James reading will appear first, followed by a brief comment, and then the perverted readings of the modern perversions.
Psalm 12:6-7
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
The above promise from the King James Bible tells us that God intends to preserve His WORDS forever. Notice how the new versions destroy this promise by making you think the context is God's PEOPLE rather than His WORDS:
NIV....... you will keep us safe
NASB... Thou wilt preserve him
NRSV... You, O Lord, will protect us
REB...... you are our protector
LB......... you will forever preserve your own
NAB...... You, O Lord, will keep us
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Notice how some new versions attack the Virgin Birth of Christ by robbing Mary of her virginity. As anyone well knows, a young woman or a maiden is NOT necessarily a virgin:
NRSV... young woman
REB...... young woman
NWT..... maiden
Luke 2:33
And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
Here the new versions attack the Virgin Birth by telling us that Joseph was Christ's father:
NIV....... The child's father
NASB... His father
NRSV... the child's father
REB...... The child's father
NWT..... its father
NAB...... the child's father
I Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Notice how the King James is very clear in telling us WHO was manifest in the flesh: GOD was manifest in the flesh. Now watch the new perversions throw God clear out of the verse:
NIV....... He appeared in a body
NASB... He who was revealed in the flesh
NRSV... He was revealed in flesh
REB...... He was manifested in the flesh
LB......... who came to earth as a man
NWT..... He was made manifest in the flesh
NAB...... He was manifested in the flesh
Micah 5:2
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
This is a prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the verse tells us that He had no beginning. As the Second Member of the Trinity, He is ETERNAL, or from everlasting, but not in most modern translations:
NIV....... from ancient times
NRSV... from ancient days
REB..... in ancient times
NWT.... from the days of time indefinite
NAB..... from ancient times (vs. 1)
Isaiah 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Revelation 22:16 tells us that Jesus Christ is the "Morning Star". The King James Bible never gives this title to anyone else. However, in some new versions, Jesus Christ and Satan are the same, because some versions have taken the liberty to call Satan the "morning star" in Isaiah 14:12. Although some versions do not go so far as to call Satan the "morning star," they still throw out the name "Lucifer".
NIV....... morning star
NASB... star of the morning
NRSV... Day Star
REB...... Bright morning star
NWT..... you shining one
NAB...... morning star
Daniel 3:25
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
This is an excellent Old Testament verse which shows that Jesus Christ existed long before He was born in Bethlehem. Naturally, the new versions will pervert it with pagan foolishness:
NIV....... a son of the gods
NASB... a son of the gods
NRSV... a god
REB..... a god
LB........ a god
NWT.... a son of the gods
NAB..... a son of God (vs. 92)
Colossians 1:14
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Satan hates the Atoning Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, so we shouldn't be surprised to find the blood missing in modern translations:
NIV....... redemption, the forgiveness of sins
NASB... redemption, the forgiveness of sins
NRSV... redemption, the forgiveness of sins
REB..... our release is secured and our sins are forgiven
NWT.... we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of sins
NAB...... redemption, the forgiveness of our sins
Romans 14:10-12
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
If you'll read the above verses carefully, you will notice how it magnifies Jesus Christ. According to verse 10, we will stand before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST, and verse 12 says that when we do we will give account to GOD. When we stand before Jesus Christ we will be standing before God--an excellent text on the Deity of Christ. Now watch as the new versions throw Jesus Christ clear out of the passage by replacing the word "Christ" in verse 10 with "God:"
NIV....... God's judgment seat
NASB... Judgment seat of God
NRSV... judgment seat of God
REB...... God's tribunal
LB......... Judgment Seat of God
NWT..... judgment seat of God
NAB...... judgment seat of God
Acts 8:37
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.
This verse is very important because it places a definite condition upon water baptism: one must first BELIEVE ON CHRIST. Many modern versions throw the entire verse out of the Bible:
NIV....... entire verse missing
NRSV... entire verse missing
REB...... entire verse missing
NWT..... entire verse missing
NAB...... omits entire verse, but re-numbers the verses so you won't miss it
II Corinthians 2:17
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
You can imagine how this verse must be a thorn in the flesh to the modern translators who are busy CORRUPTING the word of God day and night. So, do they repent of their sins and get right with God? Of course not:
NIV....... peddle
NASB... peddling
NRSV... peddlers
REB...... adulterating the word of God for profit
LB......... hucksters
NWT..... peddlers
NAB...... trade on the word of God
NKJV.... peddling
II Timothy 2:15
Studyto shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
This is the one command in the New Testament to "study" and "rightly divide" God's word, and the Devil does NOT appreciate it:
NIV....... Do your best...correctly handles
NASB... Be diligent...handling accurately
NRSV... Do your best...rightly explaining
REB...... Try hard...keep strictly to the true gospel
LB......... Work hard...Know what his word says and means
NWT..... Do your utmost...handling the word of truth aright
NAB...... Try hard...following a straight course inpreaching the truth
NKJV.... Be diligent...rightly dividing
I Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
Many lies are being propagated today in the name of "science" (evolution for example), but I Timothy 6:20 has been warning us about it all along - except in the new perversions:
NIV....... knowledge
NASB... knowledge
NRSV... knowledge
REB...... knowledge
LB......... knowledge
NWT..... knowledge
NAB...... knowledge
NKJV.... knowledge
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The New King James Version |
We will now give some special attention to one of the deadliest translations on the market--the New King James Version, first published in 1979. It 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:
1. The text of the NKJV is copyrighted by Thomas Nelson Publishers, while there is no copyright today on the text of the KJV. If your KJV has maps or notes, then it may have a copyright, but the text itself does not.
2. 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 was also used by satanist Aleister Crowley around the turn of this century. The symbol can be seen on the New King James Bible, on certain rock albums (like Led Zepplin's), or you can see it on the cover of such New Age books as The Aquarian Conspiracy. (See Riplinger's tract on the NKJV.)
3. 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. Where changes are not made in the text, subtle footnotes often give credence to the Westcott and Hort Greek Text.
4. While passing off as being true to the Textus Receptus, the NKJV IGNORES the Receptus over 1,200 times.
5. In the NKJV, there are 22 omissions of "hell", 23 omissions of "blood", 44 omissions of "repent", 50 omissions of "heaven", 51 omissions of "God", and 66 omissions of "Lord". The terms "devils", "damnation", "JEHOVAH", and "new testament" are completely omitted.
6. The NKJV demotes the Lord Jesus Christ. In John 1:3, the KJV says that all things were made "by" Jesus Christ, but in the NKJV, all things were just made "through" Him. The word "Servant" replaces "Son" in Acts 3:13 and 3:26. "Servant" replaces "child" in Acts 4:27 and 4:30. The word "Jesus" is omitted from Mark 2:15, Hebrews 4:8, and Acts 7:45.
7. The NKJV confuses people about salvation. In Hebrews 10:14 it replaces "are sanctified" with "are being sanctified", and it replaces "are saved" with "are being saved" in I Corinthians 1:18 and II Corinthians 2:15. The words "may believe" have been replaced with "may continue to believe" in I John 5:13. The old straight and "narrow" way of Matthew 7:14 has become the "difficult" way in the NKJV.
8. In II Corinthians 10:5 the KJV reads "casting down imaginations", but the NKJV reads "casting down arguments". The word "thought", which occurs later in the verse, matches "imaginations", not "arguments". This change weakens the verse.
9. The KJV tells us to reject a "heretick" after the second admonition in Titus 3:10. The NKJV tells us to reject a "divisive man". How nice! Now the Alexandrians and Ecumenicals have justification for rejecting anyone they wish to label as "divisive men".
10. According to the NKJV, no one would stoop so low as to "corrupt" God's word. No, they just "peddle" it (II Cor. 2:17). The reading matches the Alexandrian versions.
11. 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?
12. The NKJV gives us no command to "study" God's word in II Timothy 2:15.
13. The word "science" is replaced with "knowledge" in I Timothy 6:20, although "science" has occurred in every edition of the KJV since 1611! How say ye it's a King James Bible?
14. The Jews "require" a sign, according to I Corinthians 1:22 (and according to Jesus Christ - John 4:48), but the NKJV says they only "request" a sign. They didn't "request" one when signs first appeared in Exodus 4, and there are numerous places throughout the Bible where God gives Israel signs when they haven't requested anything (Exo. 4, Exo. 31:13, Num. 26:10, I Sam. 2:34, Isa. 7:10-14, Luke 2:12, etc). They "require" a sign, because signs are a part of their national heritage.
15. The King James reading in II Corinthians 5:17 says that if any man is in Christ he is a new "creature", which matches the words of Christ in Mark 16:15. The cross reference is destroyed in the NKJV, which uses the word "creation."
16. As a final note, we'd like to point out how the NKJV is very inconsistent in it's attempt to update the language of the KJV. The preface to the NKJV states that previous "revisions" of the KJV have "sought to keep abreast of changes in English speech", and also that they too are taking a "further step toward this objective". However, when taking a closer look at the language of the NKJV, we find that oftentimes they are stepping BACKWARDS! Please note a few examples of how well the NKJV has "kept abreast of the changes in the English language":
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SCRIPTURE |
KJV |
NKJV |
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SCRIPTURE |
KJV |
NKJV |
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Ezra 31:4 |
little rivers |
rivulets |
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Luke 19:11-27 |
pounds |
minas |
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Psalms 43:1 |
Judge |
Vindicate |
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John 19:9 |
judgement hall |
Praetorium |
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Psalms 139:43 |
thoughts |
anxieties |
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Acts 1:8 |
bowels |
entrails |
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Isaiah 28:1 |
fat |
verdant |
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Acts 18:12 |
deputy |
proconsul |
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Amos 5:21 |
smell |
savor |
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Acts 21:38 |
uproar |
insurrection |
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Matthew 26:7 |
box |
flask |
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Acts 27:30 |
boat |
skiff |
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Luke 8:31 |
the deep |
the abyss |
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Hebrews 12:8 |
bastard |
illegitimate |
Quick Comparison of Bible Versions
It is often said that all Bible versions are basically the same, that their differences are just minor wording changes. Read the following comparison between the King James Version and the best-selling modern Bible translation, the New International Version, and then decide for yourself whether or not this is true. We have added bold text to assist the reader in recognizing changes.
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KING JAMES BIBLE |
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NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION |
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Why did Jesus come to earth? |
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Luke 9:56 |
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Luke 9:56 |
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For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's
lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. |
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and they went to another village |
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Matt. 18:11 |
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Matt. 18:11 |
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For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. |
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(missing) |
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Is repentance important? |
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Matt. 9:13 |
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Matt. 9:13 |
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...I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. |
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...I have not come to call the righteous, but
sinners. |
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For whom did Jesus die? |
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I Cor. 5:7 |
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I Cor. 5:7 |
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...Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: |
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...Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. |
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In Whom must you believe to be saved? |
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John 6:47 |
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John 6:47 |
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Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on mehath everlasting life. |
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I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlastinglife. |
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Was Joseph really the father of Jesus? |
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Luke 2:33 |
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Luke 2:33 |
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And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. |
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The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. |
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Did Jesus give His disciples power to heal? |
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Mark 3:15 |
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Mark 3:15 |
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...power to heal sickness, and to cast out devils. |
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...authority to drive out demons. |
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If it's hard to do, should we just remove it? |
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Mark 11:26 |
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Mark 11:26 |
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But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. |
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(missing) |
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Who is in charge? |
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I Cor. 10:28 |
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I Cor. 10:28 |
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But if any man say unto you, This is offered in
sacriface unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for consince sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof: |
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(last part of verse missing) |
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How must we deal with our enemies? |
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Matt. 5:44 |
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Matt. 5:44 |
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...Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. |
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...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. |
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Where did Jesus go? |
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John 16:16 |
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John 16:16 |
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A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. |
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In a little while you will see me no more, and then aftera little while you will see me. |
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Question: Aren't some of these things included in the NIV in the footnotes? |
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Answer: That is not the same as including them in the text. When a young Christian sees these
passages have been moved to the footnotes, he or she will assume that they are probably not really part of God's Word. After all, the translators did not include them in the text, but simply implied that "some" manuscripts include them. What they are not told is that the vast majority of texts used by the early church included these words. They are God's Words! |
