"3" Keys to Understanding Bible Versions

Bible Versions - Key 1

Know Biblical Source & Accuracy

An error has never been found in the Bible making it the only book of its
kind to have ever been written. It is a collection of 66 books, spanning
some 1500 years. These books vary in subject matter and the times in
which they are written. The Bible has many different writers. Yet, there is
one thing constant, they all agree. They agree because these books are if
fact “God breathed” or you may say that God directed the writings. Paul
tells us that all scripture is given by inspiration of God.

FACTS

• God - the Source of the Bible

• Inspired Writers - men guided by God to write His Word
• Original Manuscripts - written or dictated by inspired men
• Ancient Manuscripts - copied from original manuscripts or copies (in
Hebrew & Greek)
• Ancient Versions - translations from original manuscripts to other
languages
• Bede, King Alfred and Wycliffe - translations from the Latin alone
• Tyndale, Coverdale and Geneva Bible - translations from Hebrew,
Greek, Latin and earlier English versions
• King James Version - translation from Hebrew and Greek, Latin and
English and other versions
• English Revised Version, American Standard Version - used the
King James Version, ancient manuscripts and all its sources
• Twentieth Century English Versions - used English translations and
all available manuscripts
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." KJV
Hebrews 4:12

Bible Versions - Key 2

Know the origin of the versions in production:
We know you will agree that your Bible study and lesson preparation
should be from the mostaccurate Bible version.

There are a number of versions in publication today. Some of the versions

are the New King James, the New International Version, the New
American Standard Version, the Revised Standard Version and many
more.

Based on much study, we highly recommend the

King James Thompson Chain-Reference Bible.

Why the King James?

Origin of the King James

The King James Bible was translated from the original Greek and Hebrew
texts by 54 scholars. These scholars did compare the original to the
translations of that time (1604-1611). They used the Greek, Hebrew,
Syriac, Septuagint, and several Latin versions.

It is important to note that the King James is the work of many scholars
working collectively for one purpose, to translate the Greek into an
accurate English Language text of the scripture. The King James is a
translation and not a version. Most of the Bibles produced today are
merely versions, with the exception of the King James Bible, because they
are not translated from the original Greek text.

Using the most accurate version is important because it is God's Word and
God's Plan. No human is authorized to change what God has said.

Revelation 21:18-19 gives us this warning "...

If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the
plagues that are written in this book: And if any man take away from the
words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part of the
book of life, and out of the holy city and from the things which are written
in this book."

This warning from God to John is equally applied to all scripture.

Bible Versions - Key 3
Understand the underlying reasons for the
production of other versions

Unfortunately, the Bible, has been changed by some over the

years. An excellent example of this is the text of Westcott and Hort. This
Greek text is a corruption of the original Greek (Textus Receptus/Greek
New Testament still in use today by Orthodox Greeks). According to the
Westcott and Hort writers, their text was made up from more reliable
manuscripts. However, the majority of the Westcott and Hort text is taken
from Vaticanus B (a text kept at the Vatican and taken from Origen's
work who is deemed a heretic) of which 90% is word for word.

The King James Bible was translated from the Greek text called
the Stephens Text of 1550 or Authorized Version. This is very important
to know. The Authorized Version is the "KEY". With so many versions of
the Holy Bible available today, most people, Christians and those seeking
to know the Lord, are faced with a decision. These people are told that the
newer translations are easier to understand and are based on “older
manuscripts". These newer translations include- The American Standard,
Revised, New International (NIV), among others. Without any other
information, a person would select a newer translation, one that uses
modern English. However, a question should come to mind, are these
newer translations really based on older more reliable manuscripts of the
Bible? If we select a translation other than the King James, we are
selecting a translation taken from a different Greek New Testament and
not the Stephens Text.

Which Version is the Bible” by Floyd Nolen Jones - In 1881 part of the Church of England
(Anglican) decided to revise the King James Bible ( the Authorized Version). The Greek New
Testament upon which this translation had been based was the result of years of study and work by
the brilliant scholar, Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536). Being satisfied with the King James Bible,
the northern convocation of the Church of England did not want a revision. However, the southern
convocation favored a change and proceeded alone. A committee of Hebrew and Greek scholars was
selected and charged to change the obsolete spelling, update punctuations, change archaic words like
“concupiscence” to “unholy desires”, etc. and thus update the language. As the Southern convocation
was content with the text itself, no real overhaul of the version was intended. All changes were to be
of minor significance.

That is not what the committee did. The men composing the revision
committee went against the directive which the Anglican church had given
them. Without authorization and in total direct insubordination, rather
than merely improve the English they produced a radically different Greek
text upon which the King James was based. Cast aside as been founded,
yet these very mss (Greek minuscule -manuscripts in lower case letters)
were the basis for the many other English bibles which had preceded the
King James (Great Bible, Bishops’, Matthew’s, Geneva etc). The committee
thus produced an entirely different “Bible”. This is one of the least known
facts and greatest guarded secrets within the confines of Christendom.
Few people, laymen or pastors, are aware of these happenings.

We must understand that if we have a version other than the King James,
it has been based upon a Greek text different from the one used to produce
the King James Bible. Although it was misleadingly named the “Revised”
Version, it was not a revision. Instead, the committee altered the original
Greek and substituted a radically different Greek text- introducing c.5,337
alterations - yet almost no one is cognizant of this!

In order to better understand where the “other” text, used by Westcott and
Hort came from we must look back in church history. Origen Adamantius
compiled an Old Testament called the Hexapla (c.245 A.D.)It was, in
eddect, a parallel Bible which had six columns. The first column was the
Hebrew Old Testament. Three other columns portrayed Greek
translations by men who were Ebionites. They believed in the ethical
teachings of Jesus but did not believe in Paul’s doctrines of grace. Indeed,
they called Paul an apostate and wholly rejected all his epistles. Origen
held to many pagan beliefs such as purgatory, non-baptized infants would
go to hell, that the soul sleeps in the grave and does not go to paradise and
many other distinctly Catholic beliefs.

In about 288 A.D. Constantine became emperor of Rome and eventually

became a Christian. He ordered 50 very expensive bibles to be translated
and given to the churches. The person charged with this task was a man
by the name of Eusebius an Arian. Arians believed that Jesus was not God
come in the flesh - that he was only a created being, and not God. So what
did Eusebius use to prepare the 50 bibles? He collected 800 of Origen’s
letters and used his Hexapla. He also used Origen’s edited New
Testament.

From these 50 bibles come the Vaticanus B and Sinaiticus Aleph

manuscripts. Also Jerome’s Latin Vulgate is a version derived from
Origen’s fifth column and his edited New Testament. What was the Greek
Text used by Westcott and Hort? It was taken directly from Origen as 90%
is word for word from Vaticanus B and, of the remaining 10% about 7% is
Sinaiticus Aleph. In other words , Westcott and Hort come to the 1881
Revision Committee, having worked in secret for over twenty years on a
Greek text which was derived from manuscripts having been produced
from Origen’s work! Westcott and Hort succeeded in getting the committee
to accept almost word for word this Greek text, replacing Erasmus’ Greek
Text of the Reformation.

Thus we see that the text of Westcott and Hort, from which Nestle’s text is
derived and all the modern translations have as their foundation, is the
same as the Catholic Vulgate - for Jerome, like Eusebius, relied upon
Origen’s work! The point being made is that equals of equals are equal.
Thus, the readings in the new Protestant Bibles are almost the same as
the Roman Bible and most of the passages that militate against much of
the Roman heresies and errors are either altered or omitted, greatly
facilitating the ecumenical efforts to bring about the return to Rome.
So, how did the Textus Receptus come into being? At this time I will quote from “Which Bible” by David Otis Fuller. First,
it should be pointed out that a large number of Greek manuscripts of the New Testament survive today. A recent list

gives us these figures:

Papyrus manuscripts, 8 majuscules ( manuscripts written in capital

letters ), 267 minuscule (manuscripts written in smaller script) 2,764. Of
course, many of these are fragmentary and most of them do not contain
the entire New Testament. It is also well known among students of textual
criticism that a large majority of this huge mass of manuscripts - between
80 and 90% contain a Greek text which in most respects closely resembles
the kind of text which was the basis of our King James Version.

Who were the men who were responsible for the translation of the King
James Bible. The most learned men in the land were chosen for this work,
and the complete list shows a high proportion of men with a profound
knowledge of the languages in which the Bible was written. Of the fifty-
four who were chosen, a few died or withdrew before the translation was
started and the final list numbered forty-seven men. They were divided
into six companies, and a portion was assigned to each group. Everyone in
each company translated the whole portion before they met to compare
their results and agree upon the final form. They then transmitted their
draft to each of the other companies for their comment and consent. A
select committee then went carefully through the whole work again, and
at last two of their number were responsible for the final checking.

The Authorized Version was translated in 1611, just before the Puritans
departed from England, so that they carried it with them across stormy
seas to lay the foundation of one of the greatest governments the world
has ever known. The Authorized Version of God’s Holy Word had much to
do with the laying of the foundation of our great country.