This issue of Bible translations has become a sensitive one among professing Christians. Satan looks for every opportunity to cause confusion and often for those who won’t go along with his original plan he will implement an extreme in the other direction. As long as he can cause confusion he is happy to play both ends against the middle. Such is the case with the Bible translations. There are those who claim the translators of the KJV were divinely inspired, that the KJV is more accurate than the original texts, that salvation can only be found through the KJV, and on and on it goes. Because of these false teachers, people are afraid to tell the truth regarding the Bible translations for fear of being associated with these people. Satan is shrewd.

Nevertheless, although Satan has tried to distort God’s word in many translations, God’s word will still not return unto Him void, (Isaiah 55:11). I personally came to know the truth and be saved through a New International Version. It was not until I was saved and desired to study and learn as much as I could about God’s word that I became aware of the problems with most of the newer translations. These problems are important and sincere students should not overlook them, however you should not be driven from being a student over this issue either. If you must study a different translation, go ahead. Just be aware of the possible problems. God’s word will still get through and people will still be saved. That is what is important. Actually, serious students will want to have access to the original Greek and Hebrew texts for clarifications as well. It is only the original texts that were inspired and yes, I am aware that there are different texts which are also hotly debated. It’s just that the KJV, for many reasons including those discussed below, is the most accurate English translation.

Think about the victories Satan has made with the Bible translation issue:

1. He has put translations into the hands of many that, through errors and omissions, undermine the deity of Jesus, the virgin birth, the Gospel and man’s need for repentance, among other things.
2. He has developed false teachings based on a cult like following of the best English translation, the KJV, claiming divine inspiration of the translation and a myriad of other misleading and untrue claims.
3. By so doing he has also caused people to be cautious of those who contend for this translation, for fear they might be these false teachers when really they just want people to know the truth.
4. He has influenced some to be afraid to contend for the accuracy of the KJV for fear of being associated with these false teachers.
5. He has put believers at odds with one another over God’s word and in so doing damages the credibility of any version of the Bible, (even the original texts), in the minds of on-looking unbelievers.
6. He has caused the saints to waste countless hours bickering over the confusion he has created when they should be dedicating their time to learning God’s will and preaching the true Gospel to lost souls, (which despite his best efforts can still be found in all the common translations).

I have written this foreword because a sincere Brother voiced concern that the following article may be misunderstood as part of the dangerous "KJV only-ism" that is presently being promoted. After reviewing the article I decided not to change a word for I believe it to be accurate and true. I did decide to preface it however in the hope of avoiding further confusion. Please read the original article that follows with an open mind that you might be informed or at least forewarned. Then study and teach God’s Word, (from the translation of your informed choice), prayerfully and sincerely. Do not get mired down in this controversy and waste time and effort that could be spent developing a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and leading lost sinners to Him.

If you know there is a God and you know He provided His inerrant Word to guide us, in the form of the Bible, you might now find yourself confused by the multitude of English translations. Nearly all of these translations have been done in the last 200 years or so. Considering the "artistic license" taken with all but the King James Version they are better referred to as "interpretations" than translations. People say they have created these other Bible versions for the sake of making them more understandable to the average person by putting the Bible in our modern language. Putting them in our modern language is one of the major reasons these versions should be avoided! You see contrary to popular belief, the translators of the 1611 KJV Bible did not translate into the common verbiage of their day. Great care was taken to translate the original Greek and Hebrew texts maintaining the specificity and accuracy of those languages which are far beyond that of our modern day English, and even beyond what was commonly spoken at the time of the KJV translation. Why when God took such great care to be this specific would we accept anything less? Only the KJV retains this accuracy.

Consider some examples. Verbs ending in "est" are always applied to the second person while verbs ending in "eth" always refer to the third person. "Thee, thou, thy, thine" are second person singular and "you, your" are always second person plural. These may sound like minor things but are often significant in accurately understanding what is being said and who is being addressed or referred to. For example consider Luke 22:31-32; "The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have YOU, that he may sift YOU as wheat: but I have prayed for THEE, that THY faith fail not: and when THOU art converted, strengthen THY brethren." In most, if not all, modern translations we would not know that Satan desired all the apostles and Jesus prays for each individually. Consider John 3:7; "Marvel not that I said unto THEE, YE must be born again." Without the accuracy of the KJV or the original Greek texts how would we know with certainty that when Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus He was saying everyone must be born again to be saved? We see this again in verse eleven when Jesus says "Verily, verily, I say unto THEE, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and YE receive not our witness." Jesus is telling Nicodemus that many have not listened.

Interestingly you will also find that many of the new translations still use "Thee" or "Thou" in reference to God in order to show respect while replacing all other second person singular references with "you". Okay, what are they trying to subtly say then when they refer to Jesus with "you". Are they denying His deity by treating Him differently than God the Father? For example, in Matthew 16:16 in response to Jesus' question of the apostles as to who they believed Him to be Peter responded with "Thou art the Christ, Son of the living God", but in most if not all modern versions it is translated as "you". For a couple more examples check out Matthew 14:33 and 20:21.

To see Satan's hand at work in the modern translations one need only consider the selective and significant nature of the changes and omissions:

It is no coincidence "firstborn" is left out of Matthew 1:25 thereby clouding the issue of Mary's virginity. Nor is it any accident that "Jesus" is left out of Matthew 8:29 where His name is used in conjunction with "Thou Son of God" by the demons Jesus cast out of the two men in Gergesenes. By the way, this is another example where Jesus is referred to as "you" in the newer translations.

In Matthew 13:51 which correctly reads "Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord", does it not serve Satan's purpose well when the new versions drop the word "Lord"?

In this day of humanism where society wants to hold no one accountable and ecumenical leaders tell us we cannot correct or rebuke anyone with false beliefs, the new translations promote this worldly view by removing "without a cause" from Matthew 5:22. This leaves it to read; "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother...shall be in danger of the judgement".

Do you really want to leave "For thine is the Kingdom" out of the Lord's Prayer as many new translations do in Matthew 6:13?

Matthew 6:33 correctly reads "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you." Doesn’t it sound a little more like a message from Satan who desperately is seeking a kingdom to call his own, when the new translations leave out "of God"?

One thing that doesn't sell well in today's "Christian churches" is repentance. People may not pay the money if you tell them they have to change their lifestyle. The last thing Satan wants is for you to repent of your sins. Isn't it convenient then that "to repentance" is dropped off the end of Matthew 9:13 which reads "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners..."?

Why do you suppose they remove the word "Hell" from Matthew 11:23?

Four of the new translations change "one greater" to "something greater" in Matthew 12:6 which correctly reads "But I say unto you, That in this place is ONE greater than the temple", effectively making what would otherwise be a clear reference to Jesus look like a reference to "something".

Satan loves and promotes materialism and greed so when "of the heart" is taken out of Matthew 12:35 which correctly reads "A good man out of the good treasure OF THE HEART bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things" it makes it sound like both treasures are material, just that one is "evil" and the other "good". Clearly the "treasure of the heart" Jesus actually refers to is not a materialistic treasure.

Have you noticed that I have only addressed, (and without even pointing out all the errors there), the first few verses in Matthew? In the New Testament there are about 300 examples such as these. There are 31 verses that are removed entirely from some or all of the new translations, including the entire story of the woman who had been brought out to be stoned but Jesus interceded saying "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her". This also includes, as far as I know, the only recorded instance of Jesus writing, when he wrote in the dirt. Also excluded is Mark 16: 9-20, which is an account of Jesus appearing to people after His resurrection! Granted, in some of the translations these omissions are mentioned in footnotes, but you know how often those first reading the Bible who are already largely overwhelmed, heed footnotes.