In the previous article, we showed why the King James Version (kjv) is the Bible you should use as your primary reference. Now let’s take a look at some of the alarming, deliberate differences between the kjv and the New International Version (niv).
Faith IN Christ, or Faith OF Christ
Mainstream Christianity would have you think that all you have to do to be saved is believe in Jesus Christ. The Bible indeed teaches that faith in Christ is the first step toward being saved. But it is not the final step. Therefore, the translation of those two little words, IN and OF , are very important!
The kjv mentions the faith OF Christ on nine different occasions throughout the New Testament. The niv? Not once. In fact, the niv only uses the words “faith OF” four times in its version. It is interesting to note how the niv translated these four verses: Romans 4:16 (faith of Abraham); Philippians 1:27 (faith of the gospel); 2 Timothy 2:18 (faith of some); Titus 1:1 (faith of God’s elect).
Curiously, the niv translators rendered “faith of” exactly the same as the kjv when it didn’t refer to Christ. But when it did refer to Christ, they changed it to “faith IN ”—every time!
What Is the Gospel?
For over 50 years, Herbert W. Armstrong made it quite clear that the true gospel was a message about the Kingdom of God—the ruling Family of God.
Mr. Armstrong wrote in the June 24, 1985, Worldwide News: “By a.d. 51, much of the Church in Galatia had turned to another gospel (Galatians 1:6-7). A violent controversy arose over whether the gospel to be preached was the gospel of Christ or a gospel about Christ. The latter won out.” Sadly, the latter also won out in the Worldwide Church of God, after Mr. Armstrong died. Should we expect any changes concerning the true gospel in these newer Bible translations? It’s only fitting.
Many, many times in Scripture (both kjv and niv) it just simply refers to “the gospel”—without really defining it. That makes the very few verses where the true gospel is actually defined very critical!
Notice this blatant error forced into the niv by its “scholarly” translators. Mark 1:1 reads, in the kjv, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ …,” and in the niv, “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ ….” Verse 14 reads (kjv): “… Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.” The niv: “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.”
The niv blatantly changed both of these verses to suit what is more popular today. Their word choice is an all-too-convenient way of hiding the real gospel from the average reader. The word gospel is only used in conjunction with the Kingdom of God in three other verses besides Mark 1:14. They are Matthew 4:23; 9:35; and 24:14. Together, these four verses provide overwhelming proof that the true gospel Jesus preached is about the Kingdom of God.
You have already seen how the niv translators changed Mark 1:14. It is also interesting to note that they changed gospel to good news in Matthew 4:23 and 9:35 as well. That leaves Matthew 24:14 as the only scripture left in the niv that accurately reads, “the gospel of the kingdom.” Perhaps that one might even be changed in a future revision of the niv.
Just as the Apostle Paul warned, they have subtly changed from the gospel of Christ to a gospel about Christ. It should come as no surprise then that the word Jesus appears 291 more times in the niv than it does in the kjv.
Other Major Changes
The instructions concerning Christian living, especially instruction against breaking God’s law, have become more vague and obscure in the newer translations. For instance, verses that used to warn against fornication in the kjv now warn against sexual immorality in the niv.
The word fornication appears 39 times in the kjv while not appearing once in the niv. Conversely, immoral or immorality appear 33 times in the niv while not appearing once in the kjv!
Another area of a more watered-down translation is in the omission of several references to fasting. This is a very important part of Christian growth. Yet it would seem to be not too important to the hundreds of scholars who translated the niv.
Notice Acts 10:30. The kjv translates it: “… Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house ….” The niv reads: “… Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon.”
In Mark 9:29, Christ says, “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” The niv quotes Christ as saying, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
Matthew 17:21, which says something very similar to Mark 9:29, is completely omitted from the niv! Hard to believe—but true. If you have an niv, you will notice that it just skips from verse 20 to 22. Other verses that omit fasting in the niv include 1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 6:5; and 11:27.
Who Is the Real Culprit?
Much has been said about the many scholars who put together the mis translation of the niv. But Satan the devil is the one who is actually behind this systematic tearing down of truth. Rejecting the King James Version of the Bible, which is based on the most accurate Hebrew and Greek texts, in favor of newer translations based upon corrupted texts, is exactly what Satan wants.
Satan has even managed to omit himself from certain passages in these new translations. In Luke 4:8, where Christ is speaking to Satan himself, the kjv says, “And Jesus answered, and said unto him, get thee behind me Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” The niv: “Jesus answered, ‘It is written, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”
Another glaring omission. But perhaps no omission is as tragic as this one in Isaiah 14:12 which reads: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! …” The niv reads: “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! …”
In many new translations, Satan has successfully omitted the only reference to Lucifer in the entire Bible. But even more amazing is what they replace Lucifer with: morning star, which is what Jesus Christ is referred to in Revelation 22:16. Satan’s goal is to get people to believe that he is God! (2 Corinthians 4:4).
What Should You Do?
Does this mean you should immediately throw away your niv if you own one? No. I have one myself, though I admit, I rarely used it until I wrote this article! The niv, even though a very poor translation in many areas, still has some value, as long as your primary Bible is the King James.
It should also be stated that the New American Standard Version, another very popular translation today, is very similar to the niv in its many changes and errors. Be especially careful with these two translations. In addition, any Bible version with a “new” in its title is guaranteed to be a less accurate translation than the kjv. The New King James Version is not nearly as full of errors as many other “new” translations. But it still is not nearly as good as the old kjv.
If you are thinking about purchasing a Bible or selecting a default for your Bible software, we recommend the King James first. From there, two good choices to complement the kjv are the Revised Standard Version and the Moffatt. Mr. Armstrong used both of these on occasion. The Revised Standard is a good translation. But even the translators of that version have since come out with a “New” Revised. Stay away from that one.
Be very careful about which Bible you use for your primary study. The changes in the new translations can distort your understanding in many areas without you even realizing it. Used improperly, we can be deceitfully led in the wrong direction. If we use different translations properly, we can enhance and invigorate our Bible study!