There ae those who object to the English wording of certain passages in modern New Testament translations as contrasted with those appearing in older ones. In general, the newer are based on the GNT (Greek New Testament) while the older come from the TR (Textus Receptus). Many objectionable passages can be traced to variants between the two texts. Others, however, owe their existence to translators who simply express them differently and/or use modern words.

This edition deals with a few of those apparent contradictions which some mistakenly ascribe to source text variants. In fact, they are there simply because of translation differences. Here we highlight the firmly established wording of the KJV (King James Version) in contrast with the NIV (New International Version). The included parallel Greek quotations demonstrate that the source texts are identical or almost identical. English translations, however, are often quite different from each other.

This edition demonstrates that the supposed contradictions do not always owe their existence to textual variants, but that responsibility instead often rests squarely on the shoulders of modern translators.

Additional:

Many KJV defenders have very little knowledge of, or interest in, Greek texts or manuscripts. They simply want to know what God has to say to them in the pages of scripture. Alternate translations are regarded as corrupted revisions of the KJV. They are often referred to as "perversions" or "false Bibles".

Uncomplicated KJV apologists should never be faulted for concentrating on far more important aspects of the Holy Bible. Some others, however, should be held responsible who knowingly distribute false or misleading information about alternate translations through books and other media.

Same but Different! (Release Five - 8/8/24)

Matthew 6:22-23

This is Matthew 6:22-23 in the KJV:

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

These are the same verses in the NIV:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

The word "single" has changed its meaning somewhat (as has the word "perfect"). Originally, it meant "full", "clear", or "healthy". It even had the meaning of "simple" or "easy to understand".

The word "evil" comes from the Greek word πονηρός (pon-ay-ROS), meaning "inoperative", "defective", or "useless". It can also mean "wicked" or "malicious" as the word is interpreted in modern times. It can also be used to describe a person who possesses those vices. (See verse 13 of the same chapter.)

Matthew 6:19

This is Matthew 6:19 in the KJV:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Here is the same verse in the NIV:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

The words "rust" and "vermin" both come from the Greek word βρῶσις (BRO-sis), which means "eat" or "eat into". KJV translators used an illustration alluding to corrosion, which "eats into" metal and creates rust. Modern translators pictured vermin (rats or mice) "eating into" the food supply.

The word βρῶσις is used in I Cor. 8:4, which translates to "eating and drinking food offered to idols".

Same but Different! (Release Four - 6/8/24)

Luke 2:7

This is Luke 2:7 in the KJV:

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

This is the same verse in the NIV:

and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

The Greek word ἐσπαργάνωσεν (es-par-GAN-o-sin) is translated "wrapped...in swaddling clothes" in the KJV. The same word is translated "wrapped...in cloths" in the NIV.

"Swaddling" is the action of wrapping a corpse tightly in strips of cloth. Mary wrapped the baby Jesus in the same kind of cloth strips. It is doubtful, however, that she wrapped Him tightly. (Some believe that occasionally infants were wrapped tightly to prevent crying.)

Acts 19:2

This is Acts 19:2 in the KJV:

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Here is the same verse in the NIV:

[He found some disciples] and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

"He" is the Apostle Paul. The expressions "since ye believed" and "when you believed" both come from the Greek word πιστεύσαντες (pist-YOU-sawn-tess). The word is a participle, which can be used as an action word as in "fall" in "The man is falling." or as an adjective as in "the falling man".

In Acts 19:2, πιστεύσαντες is more of an action word. A literal translation might say Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you [started] believing?. Paul was not asking whether they received the Holy Spirit at some unspecified point after their conversion.

Same but Different! (Release Three - 5/28/24)

Mark 4:28

Here's Mark 4:28 in the KJV:

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

Here's the verse in the NIV:

All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.

"of herself" and "all by itself" come from the word αὐτομάτη (aw-toe-MA-tay), which means "of it's own self". The English word "automatic" comes from the same root(s). "the earth" and "the soil" both come from γῆ (GA-ee) meaning "ground" or "earth". Words such as "geology" come from the same root(s). "blade" and "stalk" come from χόρτον (KOR-ton). "ear" and "head" come from στάχυν (STACK-hoon). "corn" and "kernel" come from σῖτον (SIT-on).

Luke 1:37

Here's Luke 1:37 in the KJV:

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Here's the verse in the NIV:

For no word from God will ever fail.

A literal rendering for this verse is "because not impossible with God all word". Here, the NIV is more literal because it uses "word" (from ῥῆμα).

"nothing" is "no-thing".   "no ... impossible" and "no ... fail" both come from the words οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει meaning "not no power". "thing" and "word" both come from ῥῆμα (HRAY-mah), meaning "word".

ἀδυνατήσει is a negated form of the Greek verb δυνατέω. A noun form is δύναμις meaning "power". See Romans 1:16.

John 14:2

This is John 14:2 in the KJV:

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Here's the verse in the NIV:

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

The words "mansions" and "rooms" both come from μοναὶ (mo-NAI). It is a plural form of the word μονή (mo-NAY) meaning "staying" (used in verse 23 as a noun and translated "abode").

(μονή is not a place in God's house. It is more like a purchased priviledge to be there.)

The rest of the verse (after "mansions" or "rooms") can be interpreted legitimately as an interrogative (question) or as a pair of indicatives (statements).

Luke 11:34

This is Luke 11:34 in the KJV:

The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

Here's the verse in the NIV:

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.

The words "single" and "healthy" both come from ἁπλοῦς (hap-LOOSE) meaning "sincere", "clear", or "without distortion".

The words "evil" and "unhealthy" both come from πονηρὸς (pon-aye-ROSS) meaning "useless" or "unserviceable".

I Timothy 6:10

Here's I Timothy 6:10 in the KJV:

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Here's the verse in the NIV:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

The expressions "all evil" and "all kinds of evil" come from the same words in Greek sources, πάντων τῶν κακῶν (PAN-tone tone kah-KONE). The TR and GNT Greek texts are identical for this verse. The modern translators and the 17th century translators simply interpreted the phrase differently. It's also possible that "all evil" meant the same as "all kinds of evil" back in the early 1600s when the KJV was first published.

Revelation 3:14

This is Revelation 3:14 in the KJV:

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Here's the verse in the NIV:

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

The word translated "beginning" in the KJV is the same one translated "ruler" in the NIV. In fact, the two dominent Greek texts (GNT and TR) are identical for the entire verse except for the way in which the Laodicean church is identified. The word is ἀρχή (ark-HAY). It is used many times in the KJV New Testament. It carries the concept of "primary" or "prominant". It can be applied in relationship to time and also to the rank (of a person). Modern related words include "archbishop" and "archangel".

In John 1:1, ἀρχή is translated "beginning" just as in Rev. 3:14. (It tells us there, in essence, that "the Word" (Jesus Christ) has always existed.) In Luke 12:11, the word is "magistrate". In Luke 20:20, it's "power". In Ephesians 3:10, Ephesians 6:12, and Colossians 2:15, it's "principality".

Matthew 23:24

Matt. 23:24 in the KJV reads thus:

Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Here's the verse in the NIV:

You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

The word "at" or, "out" comes from the Greek word διϋλίζω (dee-oo-lid'-zo). It means "to filter". The word is related to the modern word "dialysis". The GNT and TR Greek texts are identical for this verse.

I Corinthians 3:15

I Cor. 3:15 in the KJV reads thus:

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Here's the verse in the NIV:

If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

The words "by fire" come from the Greek διὰ πυρός (dee-ah poo-ros). It is a literal translation. "escaping through the flames" is a dynamic equivalent chosen by the translators, who were looking for a modern expression which had the same meaning.

In contrast to the NIV, many alternate translations, including the NASB and ESB, use the literal rendering.

The word πυρός can be associated with words like "purify" or even "pyrotechnics".

John 3:16

John 3:16 in the KJV reads thus:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Here's the verse in the NIV:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The expression "one and only" is a dynamic equivalent for the Greek word μονογενής (mon-og-en-ACE) meaning "only-born". "Only begotten" is a literal translation (of the same word) in the old English.

The KJV uses a similar dynamic equivalent in Luke 8:42 where it uses the expression "one only daughter", also from μονογενής. If translated literally as in John 3:16, it would say "only begotten daughter".

μονογενής is an adjective form of the Greek word translated "beget" or "begat", used many times in the KJV. An example is "Jacob begat Joseph" (Matthew 1:16). There seems to be no simple equivalent in modern English. The passage from Matt.1:16 in the NIV is "Jacob (was) the father of Joseph". Another construction may be "Jacob fathered Joseph" or "Jacob became the father of Joseph".