The New King James
Version
(A Little Leaven)
By Dr. Ray C. Meier
The scriptures have been given to us by our God for the purpose
of revealing Himself, His nature, and His will to man.
Repeatedly He warned us not to change, add to, nor to take away from His words.
As is his nature, the Devil has been busy about corrupting the words of God from
the beginning. He was in the Bible changing business in Genesis 3:4 when he told
Eve "Ye shall not surely die". He was still in the Bible changing business in
the days of the Apostle Paul when Paul wrote "For we are not as many, which
corrupt the word of God" (2Cor 2:17)
The Devil is still in the Bible corrupting business as evidenced by the new
bible versions.
One of the worst examples of deception is the New King James Version. The reason
this new version is so insidious is that it is much closer to God's word, the
Authorized King James Bible, than the gross corruptions of most of the other
versions.
There have been many good and sincere Christians who have been taken captive by
the deceit of the Nkjv. (New King James Version)
Part of the problem is that it has been promoted and peddled by Christian
celebrities who know better, simply for the love of money, under the guise of it
being easier to read.
Of course if the words are not there it is not easier to read. In the New King
James Version 2,289 words have been removed from the New Testament with over
100,000 word changes.
Of the words that are there....they are not always easier to read.
(New Kjv)
Num 21:14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: "Waheb in
Suphah, the brooks of the Arnon, 15 And the slope of the brooks that reaches to
the dwelling of Ar, and lies on the border of Moab."
(Authorized King James Bible)
Num 21:14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did
in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, 15 And at the stream of the brooks
that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab.
This verse should demonstrate that the New King James Version is not always
easier to read even when the words are there.
Ease of reading is not the real issue, however. The real issue is "the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth".
The faithful Christian will be able to perceive this attempt at deception if he
will remember the admonition of the Apostle:
(Authorized King James Bible)
1Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth
the whole lump?
He says it twice so that the faithful Christian cannot miss the warning.
(Authorized King James Bible)
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
This great truth is a general truth that applies to anything that is pure,
whether it be a loaf of bread, a glass of tea, or a bible text.
If there is a little something wrong, discard the entire mess.
In the case of the New King James Version, there is not a little something
wrong, there are some big somethings wrong.
This short tract will only deal with a few issues.
1. THE DEITY OF CHRIST.
One of the foundations of the Christian faith is the doctrine of the Deity of
Christ. The Deity of Christ is the Bible truth that teaches that Jesus Christ
was more than just a man, but was God in the flesh. If that doctrine can be
compromised, or diluted, or leavened then the next step would be to rob the
sinner of his Saviour.
If one is to believe the false witness of the Nkjv he would come to the
erroneous conclusion that the Saviour was a sinner Himself.
The Nkjv proves itself to be in league with the enemies of God's child in the
text of Acts 4:27-30. The selection of the words that are changed are too
devilish to just be the result of poor scholarship.
Let the reader compare the two readings, paying careful attention to the proof
text for the deity of Christ found in the words "child" in verse 27 and verse
30.
(Authorized King James Bible)
Acts 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed,
both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel,
were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel
determined before to be done. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and
grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By
stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by
the name of thy holy child Jesus.
(New KJV)
Acts 4:27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both
Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were
gathered together 28 "to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined
before to be done. 29 "Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your
servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 "By stretching out
Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of
Your holy Servant Jesus."
Why the change from "child" to "servant"? Actually, no error in grammar has been
made in the translation. The translation of the Greek word "paidos" can be
accurately translated "child" or "servant".
The translators of the Nkjv knew that it is commonly translated "child" since
they translated it "child" in Matthew 2:16. It's just that the New King James
Version has destroyed a reference that is a proof text to the Deity of Jesus
Christ; the fact that He is the sinless second Person of the Godhead, the Son of
God.
This conspiracy against God's Son is augmented by a careful reading of
Philippians 2:6 in most editions of the New King James Version.
(New KJV)
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with
God something to be grasped.
The reader might wonder why the "servant" of the New King James Version didn't
think he could "grasp equality" with God. He didn't think it was possible.
God's sinlessness and holiness is a hard thing for sinners to grasp sometimes.
The following point should explain to the reader the reason the "savior" of the
New King James Version has such a hard time grasping his position.
2. THE SINLESSNESS OF CHRIST
If the suspicious change in Acts 4 is not enough, and if the wording of
Philippians 2:6 is not enough, let the reader examine the wording of Titus 3:10,
comparing it with the old King James Bible, the Authorized Version. This New
King James Version reading actually states that the "savior" presented in this
corrupt text is to be included in a group of sinners.
(New KJV)
Titus 3:10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11
knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
If one were to read this verse in the New King James Version, and remember the
reading of Luke 12:51, the reader would conclude that he should reject this
warped, sinning, and self-condemned "savior" presented in the Nkjv.
(New Kjv)
Luke 12:51 "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on the earth? I tell you,
not at all, but rather division.
Let the reader understand, no error has been made in translation by the New King
James Version translators. The word "hairetikon" is properly translated into
English as "divisive". It is just that in choosing that word they include their
"savior" in sin. I am sure that this choice made the Devil very happy.
A proper translation of the word "hairetikon" is also "heretic". That is
the first definition of the Greek word, whereas "divisive" is a secondary
translation. Jesus Christ was divisive, but He was not a heretic. Translated
"heretic" justifies Christ's righteousness, and translated "divisive", the way
the New King James Version translates it, condemns His righteousness. Any book
containing this amount of leaven, that condemns the righteousness of Christ,
would be considered wholly leavened by God of heaven.
(Authorized King James Bible)
Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition
reject; 11Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being
condemned of himself.
Again, the New King James Version, and all the hereticks who promote and peddle
it, fulfill the verse in promoting it's heresy.
3. THE SALVATION BY CHRIST
Of course, a sinning "savior", as presented in the Nkjv would present a
difficult salvation to a seeking sinner.
The New King James Version does not miss the opportunity to tell the sinner how
hard it is to get saved by this sinful "savior" that it presents.
(New Kjv)
Matt 7:13 "Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the
way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because
narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are
few who find it.
An explanation of just how difficult salvation can be in a Nkjv can be found in
reading 1Peter 3:21 in most editions.
(New Kjv)
1Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not
the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
The New King James Version states clearly that the salvation it presents is
found in the waters of baptism. This is heresy. It is also very difficult to get
saved by baptism. No one who teaches this heresy of baptismal regeneration knows
for sure whether they are actually saved or not.
CONCLUSION:
The Devil's purpose in producing and promoting the New King James Version is to
restore the "seven salient readings" from the Egyptian manuscripts that were
rejected as corrupt readings by the translating committee of 1611. The New King
James Version is the Devil's recent attempt to reinsert his corrupt readings
into God's Holy word, while at the same time providing a handsome profit for the
apostates who would promote and peddle it.
Those readings are Acts 4:27, 30
Romans 1:25
1Corinthians 2:17 1Timothy 6:5
Romans 1:18
1Timothy 6:20
1Timothy 2:15
The changes don't look like very much. What difference does it make to change
"child" to "servant", or "heretic" to "divisive"? Perhaps the reader can
now see how much a little change can come to.
The faithful Christian should remember the words of his sinless, Holy Saviour
found in His book, the Holy Bible, the Authorized King James Bible, as
pronounced by His apostle:
1Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
If you want a leavened, counterfeit, version, get the New King James Version; if
you want the pure word of God, THE SCRIPTURES, get the Authorized King James
Bible.
It is "able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus". (2Tim 2:15)
For more information on this matter please feel free to contact us.
Liberty Baptist Church
P.O. Box 19236
Amarillo, Texas 79114
Located at 1201 W. 8th Street
806-371-0404
libertybaptistamarillo.org
Dr. Ray C. Meier, pastor