In This Issue:
The Attack to Change God’s Word
False Statements about Modern Bible Translations and Versions
Can’t Silence Conviction
Volume: 929 October 23, 2023
Theme: Modern Bibles
Read the FREE typeset version of this newsletter at https://openthoumineeyes.com/views23/BibleView928.pdf. Use it for your church bulletin inserts or as a ministry handout.
The Attack to Change God’s Word
Bill Brinkworth
“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.” II Corinthians 2:17
The most important possession anyone can ever have is God’s Word — the Bible. His Word will save a person’s soul from Hell, help one live a successful and fruitful life, protect one from sin’s damage, and help one get eternal rewards. Because of its great importance, unfortunately, great efforts have been made to keep man from its truths and to change it. None of the interferences have been from God!
- In the Garden of Eden, the woman God created was first tempted to question and doubt God’s Word. It was Satan, using the serpent, who attempted to confuse Eve with what God had said. She fell for his trickery and allowed sin to enter the human race by disobeying God’s commandments.
“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? Gen. 3:1 - Satan’s tool of tempting others to question and disobey God’s commandments continued throughout the Bible. The enemy of God and His people was most likely behind much of Israel and its leaders’ sins of disobedience. Satan certainly was behind King David’s defiance of God’s commandments to him.
“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” I Chron. 21:1 - Early churches faced deceitful corruption of God’s truths and Jesus’ teachings. Some false preachers claimed to have seen Christ and other “ministers” of God’s work deceived their flocks.
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” II Cor. 11:13
“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:” Acts 15:24
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:” II Pet. 2:1-2 - Many tempted God’s people with their words rather than God’s.
“Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Gal. 1:7 The perversion of the Gospel is continuing in many of today’s churches.
“And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.” Col. 2:4 - Most that taught false doctrines and not what God’s Word says did it for their benefit and motives. Many false teachings continue today for the same reasons.
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Rom. 16:18
“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” Tit 1:10-11 Often these “deceivers” are “religious” (the circumcision).
“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:” Philip. 1:15
The main reason for all new “bible” perversions is to make money! That is why each version varies from another, so it can be declared different and abide by copyright laws. The KJV can be duplicated without paying royalties, whereas most modern “bible” owners are paid royalties when their revision is reprinted or even quoted, in some instances.
- In man’s last days, there will be an increase in the corrupting of God’s commandments. That occurs in ALL modern “bible” translations and versions.”
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” I Tim 4:1-2
A spiritual battle rages (Eph. 6:12) to turn many from obeying God’s Word. His Word is still being changed and hidden in all the new “bibles.”
With all the deception continuing today, how can one protect himself from those false teachings? Following God’s Word is the only protection from being a casualty in today’s spiritual war. It is preserved in the King James Bible for English-speaking people (the same Hebrew and Greek of the KJV is also preserved in Bibles in other major languages).
“Try” or test what is said about God, Jesus, or His Word to see if it aligns with God’s ruler — the Bible. If it does not line up, it is not the truth. It is a lie, and it is not of God!
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” I John 4:1
“People and organizations that declare to be of God are not always what they claim! Do not be deceived. Read and study your Bible to discern what is truly of God!” — Author Unknown
False Statements about Modern Bible Translations and Versions
Bill Brinkworth
“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 22:19
Much is said to sell new “bible” versions and their changed doctrines. However, much of what is said to convince readers to adopt their version of God’s Word is untrue. Here is a brief examination of incorrect statements said about the modern “bibles”:
- “They make the Bible easier to understand.” Much of the King James Bible is at a 5.8 grade reading level (1) (Flesh-Kincaid Grade level indicator). The New International Version is at 8.4 grade level, New King James is at 6.9, and the New American Standard Bible is at 8.12. Besides that, it is the Holy Spirit that allows anyone to know God’s Word, not man’s editing (I Cor. 2:14)!
Another motive is also behind “making the ‘bible’ easier to understand.” That motive is to make money. If there are numerous changes, it can copyrighted, and its owner can earn money from its sales, as it is a new and different book. The King James Bible is not copyrighted, so no one makes any royalties from its sale!
- “They come from the originals” or “originate from more reliable manuscripts.” The originals were never assembled in one place together. What some call more “reliable” manuscripts were the ones that earlier believers rejected because of their corruption, errors, and were seldom used. That is one reason some of the older manuscripts were in good condition.
- “They change ‘archaic’ words.” They do, but in many places the words replacing them change the meaning of the verse. There are less than 20 words, not including verbs with “eth” added to them, in the KJV that are not commonly used today. It would make more sense to understand their meaning by using a dictionary rather than changing the Bible. Many modern books have words that the reader often has to look up in the dictionary, and no one even thinks of rewriting them to make them easier to understand.
- “Scholars now know more than they knew then.” Many of the authors and translators of the new versions did not even know Hebrew or Greek, nor were they experts in over 10+ ancient languages, as were many on the 1611 King James translating committee. The translators of the King James were some of the most outstanding scholars and Christians of all time.
- “They come from older manuscripts.” The Masoretic Hebrew Text and the Greek Textus Receptus used in the KJV are older and more reliable manuscripts, not what is used in most modern versions. Some of what are called the “older texts” are not reliable at all. Historically, they were avoided because of their known mistakes and alterations. Also, some “most ancient manuscripts” are over 100 years newer than those used in the KJV.
- “They are correcting errors.” There are no known errors in the King James Bible! Most of what people call errors are intellectual or spiritual problems people had with what God said and recorded. Changing His words may have eased their consciences, but it does not make it God’s Word, will, and way. If the new “bible” versions are correcting “errors,” why are all 300+ versions different from each other? Don’t they have it right yet? Why are they still changing them?
Several years ago, a website offered a large sum of money to anyone who could find an error in the KJV. As far as I know, no one has ever found an error and has never collected a cent from the site! - “The new versions are more reliable.” Most versions are written to teach the beliefs of the author(s), religion, or organization that produced the work. Scripture that was contrary to their beliefs was removed or changed. Also, the King James translators were honest enough that if they added words to make the context understood or to show what the Hebrew or Greek meant, they italicized the words. Most modern versions remove the italicized words or do not italicize them.
- “It is egotistical to think that only the King James in English is preserved.” There is a text that comes from the Masoretic Text and Textus Receptus for all the major languages, including English, Greek, Hebrew, French, and Spanish. Most of the major languages also have the preserved Word of God available to them.
Stick with the King James Bible! It is the reliable, preserved Word of God!
** The King James Bible has 783,137 words, whereas the New International Bible has only 727,969. **
1 Riplinger, G. A. New Age Bible Versions, Ararat, VA, 1995
“I notice if a man goes to cut up the Bible and comes to you with one truth and says, ‘I don’t believe this, and I don’t believe that,’ and doubts portions of the Word of God, he soon doubts it all.” — D. L. Moody
Can’t Silence Conviction
Author Unknown
A child was in the habit of going to room where there was a store of apples. She occasionally went to steal apples but encountered something that greatly troubled her.
There happened to be in that storeroom an old oil painting. It had a large face with eyes that appeared to be following her and a voice that seemed to say to her as she stole apples, “I see you. It is very naughty. I’ll tell on you. You are sure to be found out.”
That picture annoyed the little girl and she was determined to stop the convicting portrait. She got a small knife and struck the eyes out.
Two large holes remained in place of the eyes, and she never could look at them without thinking of what she had done and what they used to “say” to her. She had put out the eyes, but she had not, nor could she, get rid of her reminding conscience.
The same conviction of one’s sin is experienced after reading the real Word of God. One may find a modern “bible” translation that changes wording so one’s sin is no longer mentioned, but it is still remembered what the real Word of God said about one’s iniquity.
“God’s Word is meant to change the sinner, not for the sinner to change His Word to ease their conscience.”