It Does Make a Difference Which Version You Use

KJV: Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life . . . 

NIV, RSV: Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life . . .

KJV: Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats.

NIV: For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body. (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") RSV: since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on? (Thus He declared all foods clean.)

KJV: Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

RSV: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

KJV: And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

NIV: Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone." RSV: (similar)

KJV: I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem . . . 

NIV, RSV: (omit)

KJV: 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.

NIV: And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever. RSV: (similar)

KJV:  . . . God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

NIV, RSV: God, who created all things.

KJV: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist . . . 

NIV: but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist . . . 

KJV: 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. [see Riplinger, below, pp. 352-353.]

NIV: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. RSV: He was manifested in the flesh . . . 

KJV:  . . . Bethlehem . . . out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting.

NIV:  . . . Bethlehem . . . out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. RSV: origin

KJV: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection . . . 

NIV: No, I beat my body and make it my slave . . . 

KJV: I would they were even cut off which trouble you. [those who preach circumcision, verse 11]

NIV: As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! RSV: I wish those who unsettle you would mutilate themselves! [See Riplinger, pp. 129-131.]

KJV: How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [Riplinger, pp. 40-55]

NIV: How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! RSV: O Day Star.

KJV: And Jesus answered and said unto him [the devil, verse 2], Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written . . . 

NIV: Jesus answered, It is written . . .  RSV: (also omits reference to Satan)

These citations are only a few instances which demonstrate the superiority of the Received Text, upon which the KJV is largely based, and the corruption of the Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, and other corrupt minority Greek texts, upon which the Revised Standard Version and New International Version, are based. For further study, see New Age Bible Versions, by G.A. Riplinger.

While the excellent book, Our Authorized Bible Vindicated, by B.G. Wilkinson ($6.00 donation from Giving & Sharing) gives historical background for the "Battle of the Bible" controversy, Riplinger’s book gives a point-by-point analysis of specific textual differences between the two competing streams of Biblical source texts. In some cases, Riplinger’s pro-trinity bias clouds her analysis. An example is the "Trinity proof text" verses of I John 5:7, 8, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." I disagree with Riplinger, who maintains that this phrase is part of the inspired text.

It does make a difference which Bible text you use! If you accept the NIV and RSV texts versus the Received Text of the KJV, then the above examples would lead you to believe the following errors: commandment-keeping isn’t all that important; the Savior did away with the Old Testament food laws prohibiting eating unclean foods; Mary might not have been a virgin; is not essential to live by every word of God; Paul didn’t advocate Feast keeping; God’s words are not really preserved in the Bible; the Messiah was not the Creator; Jesus did not come in the flesh; Jesus is not God (He is just an elevated human being); Jesus had origins (He is a created being, and is not God); it is all right to mutilate oneself like the Catholics do; Paul wanted preachers of circumcision to emasculate themselves; Isaiah 14 does not describe the history of Lucifer who became Satan, instead, it is speaking of Christ, the Day (Morning) Star; Satan is not a person, but a force; Lucifer and the devil are separate entities; Lucifer is the Christ (new age philosophy).

Perhaps the most disgusting perversion in the NIV and RSV, is their rendering of Galatians 5:12. Would an apostle of God wish that false teachers castrate (emasculate) themselves? Riplinger notes that self-mutiliation, including castration, was a Babylonian religious virtue. The group, "Heaven’s Gate" who recently committed mass-suicide in California, had traits of Babylonian New Age cults. Several of these men had castrated themselves as part of their religious rites.

Riplinger’s book should NOT be read by those weak in the faith. Perverse teachers have produced corrupt Bible translations to foster their hope for a Babylonian "new world order." While this is unsettling information, we should take heart that "the foundation of God standeth sure," II Timothy 2:19.

The following verses should help shore up our faith:

Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.

John 6:63,  . . . the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Philippians 2:16, Holding forth the word of life . . . .

II Samuel 22:31, As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him. See also Proverbs 30:5.

I Peter 1:25, But the word of the Lord endureth forever . . . .

John 5:24,  . . . He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:39, Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life . . . .

II Timothy 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

II Timothy 3:15-17,  . . . the holy scriptures, which are able to make the wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Jeremiah 23:29-30, Is not My word like as a fire? Saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbor.

II Corinthians 2:17, For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God . . . .

Psa. 119:11, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

The whole Church should have a direct part in proclaiming the word of the Lord to the world, I Thessalonians 1:8. Although false teachers and corrupters of the Word of God abound, we should abound much more, with His help! W