I have always been partial to the King James Version Bible.
As I was a teenager, I recall that we had many different versions of the Bible in the house. We had converted from a religion based on superstition and fear, and were experimenting with our new-found-freedom of researching God’s word. At the time, I didn’t attempt to try to analyze my disinterest for the NIV or the NASB; I simply chose the KJV while others in my family entertained using other versions, including the NIV.
Years later, I again found both versions in my household. My wife rather liked the NIV and my children were too small to make an informed decision. We were proud owners of both versions.
Then about 10 years ago, my brother sent me a book that he asked me to read. I have long respected my brother’s opinion when it came to scripture. He was the one that influenced my family to start relying on the God’s Word, in the first place.
The book was called “New Age Bible Versions” by G.A. Riplinger. Now, Riplinger is an author with a colorful past and some of her predominately Southern Baptist views eke out. Overlooking these biases, the book is an extremely well-researched piece of art.
She refers to the NIV, NASB, Living Bible, etc as New Age Bibles. At the onset, I was expecting this to be an interesting read, but was unaware of the profound effect that her research would have on me.
Interesting facts, such as 5 authors of these "New Age Versions" lost their ability to talk, and the fact that some were institutionalized as they were overwhelmed with derangement and hallucinosis, added to the intrigue when reading about the authors of the “New Age Versions”.
I knew that the NIV appeared to deemphasize the concept of fasting. One of my points of contention with the NIV was easily seen in the book of Mark.
KJV - Mark 9:29 – “And he said unto them, “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” The words “and fasting” are omitted from the NIV.
Other verses where “fasting” is omitted, include Matthew 17:21, 2 Corinthians 6:5, and 2 Corinthians 11:27.
I always wondered how the authors could justify their changes in the verbiage of the two Gospels, as the warning in the book of Galatians is rather clear.
Galatians 1:6-9: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Of course the authors of the NIV make statements that their translations are a result of using the “most reliable” resources. They refer to Aleph and B manuscripts. History shows that the Aleph and B are among the most unreliable sources. In fact Moody Vice President, Alfred Martin, called these two manuscripts, “depraved”.1
My concerns were heightened when I read Hebrews 9:10 in the NIV and compared it to the KJV.
NIV: They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
KJV: Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Could the New World Order, CFR, internationalists, whatever you would like to call them, have infiltrated the Bible writing industry? After all, the NIV was first published in 1973, not long after Tragedy and Hope was written by Carroll Quigley and not long before George H. Bush first publically announced the “New World Order”. This thought becomes a bit scary for the politically savvy Christian.
I started reading more about Wescott, Hort, the Council of Twelve, New Age Christianity, Zondervan publishing and other material.
Riplinger’s book became a reference of greater value than Strong’s Concordance.
I used the first 100 pages of Riplinger’s book and did a comparison study. I had my wife’s NIV and my KJV side by side. I went through chapter and verse to see where the differences were.
Finally, when comparing Revelation, chapter 14, my decision was made.
I would rid my household of NIV Bibles based on what may appear to be a rather small difference.
Revelation 14:19 – NIV - The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath
Revelation 14:19 – KJV - And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
My entire decision came from comparing the prepositions “on” and “into”, and my attempts to cross-reference these verses to other verses in the Bible.
It was enough for my family and for myself.
We replaced my wife’s NIV, the children’s Bibles (based on the NIV) with the King James Bible.
No, we did not put the NIV versions in the yard sale box, we threw them away. I did not want to be responsible for anyone being misled by this new age version.
References:
NEW AGE BIBLE VERSIONS by G.A. Riplinger. ISBN # 0-96355845-0-2
KING JAMES BIBLE – Thomas Nelson Publisher
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION Bible – Zondervan Publishing
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