TABLES OF COMPARISON
OF SELECTED SCRIPTURES
AFFECTING FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES
OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
KING JAMES VERSION
ENGLISH REVISED VERSION
NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
NEW KING JAMES VERSION
The categories of tables were selected to represent the most significant areas of change in modern translations which affect fundamental Christian doctrine. This listing is only a portion of the overwhelming number of alterations to essential doctrines.
1. THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:5-7)
Modifications to key verses such as this one and others containing titles of the Lord Jesus Christ denigrate the doctrine of His deity.
SCRIPTURE / KJV / ERV / NASB / NIV / NKJVI Timothy 3:16 / God / He (margin note - God) / He / He / God
Daniel 3:25 / the Son of God / son of the gods / a son of the gods / a son of the gods / the Son of God
Acts 3:13, 26 / his Son Jesus / His Servant Jesus / His Servant Jesus / his servant Jesus / his servant Jesus
Philippians 2:6 / thought it not robbery to be equal with God / counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God / did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped / did not consider equality with God something to be grasped / did not consider it robbery to be equal to God*
Acts 8:37 / that Jesus Christ is the Son of God / omitted
(marginal note) / omitted
(marginal note) / omitted
(footnote) / that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
John 6:69 / thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God / Thou art the Holy One of God / You are the Holy One of God / you are the Holy One of God / you are the Christ, the Son of the living God
John 9:35 / Son of God / Son of God / Son of Man / Son of Man / Son of God
Matthew 20:20 / worshipping him / worshipping him / bowing down / kneeling down / kneeling down
John 4:42 / this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world / this is indeed the Saviour of the world / this One indeed is the Savior of the world / this man really is the savior of the world / this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world
Acts 15:11; 16:31 / Lord Jesus Christ / Lord Jesus / Lord Jesus / Lord Jesus / Lord Jesus Christ*
Romans 1:3 / Jesus Christ our Lord / omitted / omitted / omitted / Jesus Christ our Lord
I Corinthians 5:4 / our Lord Jesus Christ / our Lord Jesus / our Lord Jesus / our Lord Jesus / our Lord Jesus Christ
Ephesians 3:14 / of our Lord Jesus Christ / omitted / omitted / omitted / our Lord Jesus Christ
I Thess. 2:19 / our Lord Jesus Christ / our Lord Jesus / our Lord Jesus / our Lord Jesus / our Lord Jesus Christ
I Thess. 3:11 / our Lord Jesus Christ / our Lord Jesus / Jesus our Lord / our Lord Jesus / our Lord Jesus Christ
II Thess. 1:8 / our Lord Jesus Christ / our Lord Jesus / our Lord Jesus / our Lord Jesus / our Lord Jesus Christ
John 14:28 / my Father / the Father / the Father / the Father / My Father
Philippians 4:13 / through Christ / in him / through Him / through him / through Christ
Acts 7:59 / calling upon God / calling upon the Lord / called upon the Lord / omitted / calling on God
*NU - The most prominent modern critical text of the Greek New Testament, published in the 26th edition of the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament and in the 3rd edition of the United Bible Societies Greek New Testament. (New King James Version, Preface, "The New Testament Text").
2. THE INCARNATION
"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." (I Timothy 3:16)
New versions change "God" to "He" in this verse and omit other references to Jesus Christ coming in the flesh.
SCRIPTURE / KJV / ERV / NASB / NIV / NKJVI John 4:3 / that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh / omitted / omitted / omitted / that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh
Acts 2:30 / according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ / omitted / omitted / omitted / according to the flesh He would raise up the Christ
Ephesians 5:30 / of his flesh and of his bones / omitted / omitted / omitted / of His flesh and of His bones
3. THE VIRGIN BIRTH
"BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son; and he called his name JESUS." (Matthew 1:23-25)
In the prophecy as it was originally given in Isaiah 7:14, the Revised Standard Version changes "virgin" to "young woman" and the NASB has "maiden" in a footnote. In Matthew 1:25, new versions change "her firstborn son" to "birth to a son", casting doubt upon the virginity of Mary at Jesus’ birth.
Other verses are changed to indicate that Jesus was born of an earthly father. These alterations deny the role of the Holy Spirit in the conception of Jesus Christ and, therefore, His divine nature.
SCRIPTURE / KJV / ERV / NASB / NIV / NKJVMatthew 1:25 / her firstborn son / brought forth a son / birth to a Son / birth to a son / her firstborn Son
Luke 2:33 / Joseph and his mother / his father and his mother / His father and mother / The child’s father and mother / Joseph and His mother
Luke 2:43 / Joseph and his mother / his parents / His parents / his parents / Joseph and His mother
4. THE SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13,14)
New versions remove reference to the blood atonement in this and other verses. Words are also omitted or changed which show that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ is the full atonement for our sins.
SCRIPTURE / KJV / ERV / NASB / NIV / NKJVColossians 1:14 / through his blood / omitted / omitted / omitted / through His blood
Colossians 1:24 / that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ / that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ / that which is lacking in Christ’s afflictions / what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions / what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
I Corinthians 11:24 / broken for you / is for you (margin note) / for you (marginal note) / for you / broken for you
I Cor. 5:7; I Peter 4:1 / for us / omitted / omitted / omitted / for us
Ephesians 1:14 / purchased possession / God’s own possession / God’s own possession / God’s possession / purchased possession
Hebrews 1:3 / by himself / omitted / omitted / omitted / by Himself
5. THE RESURRECTION
"Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene...After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country . . .Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." (Mark 16:9,12,14)
New versions isolate Mark 16:9-20 with the misleading disclaimer that it is not contained in the earliest manuscripts. They also question almost every appearance of Jesus after his resurrection, causing doubts concerning His bodily resurrection and deity.
SCRIPTURE / KJV / RV / NASB / NIV / NKJVMark 16:9-20 / Appearances of Jesus after His resurrection / marginal disclaimer / marginal disclaimer --verses replaced with: "And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation." / parenthetical disclaimer / Appearances of Jesus after His resurrection
Luke 9:31 / his decease / his decease (margin) / his departure / his departure / His decease
Acts 1:3 / infallible proofs / by many proofs / convincing proofs / convincing proofs / infallible proofs
Ephesians 5:30 / of his flesh and of his bones / omitted / omitted / omitted / of `His flesh and of His bones
Luke 13:32 / the third day I shall be perfected / the third day I am perfected / The third day I reach my goal / the third day I will reach my goal / the third day I shall be perfected
Luke 24:12 / Peter at the empty tomb / marginal disclaimer / Parenthetical disclaimer / Peter at the empty tomb / Peter at the empty tomb
Luke 24:40 / he showed them his hands and his feet / he shewed them his hands and his feet / omitted
(marginal note) / he showed them his hands and his feet / He showed them His hands and His feet
6. THE ASCENSION
"So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." (Mark 16:11)
The ascension proves that Jesus Christ is now in heaven. Almost every mention of the ascension is omitted in some new versions.
SCRIPTURE / KJV / ERV / NASB / NIV / NKJVJohn 16: 16 / because I go to the Father / omitted / omitted / omitted / because I go to the Father
Luke 24:51 / carried up into heaven / carried up into heaven
(marginal disclaimer) / omitted
(marginal note) / taken up into heaven / carried up into heaven
Mark 16:9-20
(verse 19) / received up into heaven / marginal disclaimer / parenthetical with marginal disclaimer / parenthetical disclaimer / received up into heaven
John 3:13 / which is in heaven / which is in heaven
(marginal disclaimer) / omitted
(marginal note) / omitted
(footnote) / who is in heaven
7. THE TRINITY
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." (I John 5:7)
This is the famous Trinitarian proof text which F.J.A. Hort hoped to remove from the New Greek Text. (see Life and Letters of Fenton John Anthony Hort) It is missing from the New Greek New Testament Text, the English Revised Version and most modern translations.
SCRIPTURE / KJV / RV / NASB / NIV / NKJVI John 5:7 / For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. / omitted / omitted
(marginal disclaimer) / omitted
(footnote) / for there are three who bear Witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit and these three are one.
Isaiah 48:16 / the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me. / the Lord God hath sent Me, and His Spirit / the Lord God has sent Me, and His Spirit / the Sovereign Lord has sent me, with his Spirit. / the Lord God and His Spirit have sent Me.
Romans 1:20 / Godhead / divinity / divine nature / divine nature / Godhead
Acts 17:29 / Godhead / Godhead / Divine Nature / divine being / Divine Nature
Colossians 2:9 / Godhead / Godhead / Deity / Deity / Godhead
8. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE
"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." (Acts 8:37)
New versions omit this verse and alter others to change justification by faith to salvation through works. Many versions delete "by himself" in Hebrews 1:3 to permit faith in another mediator, such as Mary. The omission of "on me" in John 6:47 allows any belief.
SCRIPTURE / KJV / ERV / NASB / NIV / NKJVActs 8:37 / If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. / omitted (marginal note) / omitted (marginal note) / omitted (footnote) / "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
Romans 11:6 / but if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. / omitted / omitted / omitted
(footnote) / but if it is of works, it is no longer grace: otherwise work is no longer work.
Romans 11:30-32 / not believed
unbelief / Disobedient
Disobedience / disobedient
disobedience / disobedient
disobedience / disobedient
disobedience
Hebrews 3:18 / believed not / disobedient / disobedient / disobedient (footnote) / did not obey
Galatians 5:22 / faith / faithfulness / faithfulness / faithfulness / faithfulness
John 6:47 / believeth on me / that believeth / believes / believes / believes in Me
Hebrews 1:3 / by himself / omitted / omitted / omitted / by Himself
Mark 10:24 / for them that trust in riches / for them that trust in riches / omitted / omitted / for those who trust in riches
Matthew 6:22 / thine eye be single / thine eye be single / your eye is clear / your eyes are good / your eye is good
9. INERRANCY OF SCRIPTURE
"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." (Psalm 12:6,7)
In this important verse, new versions change "them" referring to the Scriptures to "us" referring to people. Other alterations and omissions diminish the authority of Scripture and discourage confidence in its divine inspiration and preservation.
SCRIPTURE / KJV / RV / NASB / NIV / NKJVLuke 4:4 / but by every word of God / omitted / omitted / omitted / but by every word of God*
Psalm 12:6, 7 / The words of the LORD are pure words...Thou shalt keep them, O LORD. Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. / the words of the Lord are pure words…Thou shalt keep them O Lord, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. / The words of the Lord are pure words...Thou, O Lord, wilt keep them; Thou wilt preserve him from this generation forever. / And the words of the Lord are flawless...O Lord you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever. / The words of the Lord are pure words...You shall keep them, O Lord, you shall preserve them from this generation forever.
II John 9 / doctrine of Christ / teaching of Christ / teaching of Christ / teaching of Christ / doctrine of Christ
II Corinthians 2:17 / corrupt the word of God / corrupting the word of God (marginal note) / peddling the word of God / peddle the word of God for profit / peddling the word of God
10. MASCULINE DEITY
"He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but onhim that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth himthat sent me. (John 12:44,45)
New versions frequently change masculine words referring to God to the neuter "One". False religions of this world often identify their god as "the One". The new "Politically Correct" bible calls God, "Father-Mother", and Christ, "the human one." (41)
SCRIPTURE / KJV / RV / NASB / NIV / NKJVJohn 7:18 / his glory / the glory of him / the glory of the one / the honor of the one / the glory of the One
Colossians 3:10 / the image of him / the image of him / to the image of the One / the image of its Creator / the image of Him
John 6:69 / Christ, the Son / the Holy One / the Holy One / the Holy One / Christ, the Son
Revelation 1:18 / he that liveth / the Living one / the living One / the Living One / He who lives
John 12:45, 15:21 / him that sent me / him that sent me / the One who sent Me / the One who sent me / Him who sent Me
Matthew 13:37 / He that soweth / he that soweth / the one who sows / The one who sowed / He who sows
11. SATAN
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning, how thou art cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations." (Isaiah 14:12)
"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Revelation 22:16)
In the only passage of Scripture which describes Lucifer’s iniquity and fall into hell, most new versions omit the name Lucifer and confuse his identity with Jesus Christ.
SCRIPTURE / KJV / RV / NASB / NIV / NKJVIsaiah 14:12 / O Lucifer, son of the morning / Daystar, son of the morning / O star of the morning / O morning star / O Lucifer, son of the morning
Luke 4:8 / Get thee behind me, Satan / omitted / Omitted / omitted / Get behind me, Satan*
12. MAN
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. (Psalm 8:4,5)
New versions exalt man to being "a little lower than God" and omit many references to his fallen spiritual condition. Cults, the New Age and false religions also raise mankind to the level of being divine or in the process of evolving into gods. (42)
SCRIPTURE / KJV / RV / NASB / NIV / NKJVPsalm 8:5 / the angels / God
(marginal note - angels) / God / the heavenly beings
(footnote -- than God) / the angels
Matthew 18:11 / that which was lost / that which was lost / Parenthetical / omitted / that which was lost
Colossians 3:6 / children of disobedience / sons of disobedience / omitted / omitted / sons of disobedience
Mark 15:28 / transgressors / (in margin) / omitted (marginal note) / omitted / transgressors
13. SANCTIFICATION