Which Bible
Versions is close to original manuscripts?
Nowadays, we see many versions
of the Bible in the bookstore. The best version is still the King James Version
(KJV) because of its four-fold superiority in terms of (4Ts): (1) TEXTS (HEBREW
AND GREEK); (2) TRANSLATORS; (3) TECHNIQUE OF VERBAL & FORMAL EQUIVALENCE;
and (4) THEOLOGY.
According to Dr. Donald A.
Waite, in 1881 two theological heretics (posing as conservatives) from the
Anglican Church, B.F. Westcott and F.J.A. Hort, published their
Greek text that rejected the Textus Receptus (TR). These consisted of either
additions of Greek words, subtractions of Greek words, or changes of Greek words
in some other way. The Greek text of Westcott and Hort that underlies the Modern
Versions.
"The false Greek texts of
"B" and "Aleph" contradict one another in over 3,000 places
in the gospels alone. In the total numbers of manuscripts, you'll notice that
the Westcott-Hort type has only 45 manuscripts that go along with it as over
against 5,210 {manuscripts} that go along with the TR that underlies the
KJV. This 45 includes "B" (Vatican) and "Aleph" (Sinai) and
43 of their little heretical puppets that follow them. The theory behind the
acceptance of these less than 1% is that "The oldest are the best."
The oldest are not necessarily the best, especially if they have been tampered
with by heretics!"
The chart below shows that King
James Version is directly translated from Textus Receptus (Received Text)
manuscripts commonly used by early Christians in Antioch.
"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" (Psalms 12:6,7).
I shall adapt the excerpts from
the article entitled "God wrote only ONE Bible" by David Otis
Fuller, D.D. Grand Rapids, Michigan to justify that King James Version
(KJV) 1611 is the only English translation Bible to be kept for authority. The
other versions may be used for reference but not a version of authority because
of the numerous Scripture portions changed from the original reading of the
Textus Receptus.
"A version is that
which is translated, or rendered from one language to another. The Textus
Receptus is NOT a version. It is composed of basic manuscript copies from
which the King James Version was made. The Greek text of Westcott
and Hort changed the reading of the Textus Receptus in 5,337 places. The
Revision of 1881, the American Standard Version of 1901, and the Revised
Standard Version Bibles, are in no true sense a revision of the King
James of 1611. If they were, they would follow the same Greek text, the Textus
Receptus, and thus would contain the same verses.
"Textus Receptus is
the Latin for the Received Text. This is the Greek manuscript used
as a basis for the translation of the King James Bible in 1611. However,
this collection of canonical manuscripts, written in the Greek language, did not
receive the name 'Textus Receptus' until the days of the Elziver brothers in
1633. In the preface of their Greek New Testament they printed the following
words translated into English, 'Therefore thou hast the text (textum) now
received (receptum) by all, in which we give nothing altered or corrupt'."
"A number of textual
authorities state that the Bible of the Syrian Church, the Peshitta, was
translated from the Greek Vulgate into Syrian about 150 A.D. . . . This Peshitta
version is admired by Syriac scholars as a careful, faithful, simple, direct,
literal version, clear and forceful in style. These characteristics have given
it the title 'The Queen of the Versions'."
Antioch was the capital of
Syria where the early believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). In a
few years the Syrian believers could be numbered by the thousands. Their Bible,
the Peshitta, even today generally follows the Received Text (Textus Receptus).
This is another proof that the foundation for the King James Bible is older
and more reliable than the Codex Vaticanus which was elevated
to the chair of authority by Westcott and Hort.
Dr. Nolan, who acquired fame
for his Greek and Latin scholarship, spent 28 years in tracing the Received
Text (Textus Receptus) back to its apostolic origin. His searching led him
to investigate the Bible texts of the Waldenses who were the lineal descendants
of the Italic Church. This being done, Dr. Nolan says, "It has supplied me
with the unequivocal testimony of a truly apostolic branch of the primitive
church." This means that the Textus Receptus, the basis for the King James
Version, has been proven to be in harmony with translations which go back to
the second century. It is important to note here that the Sinaitic
(Aleph) and Vatican (B) MSS were not brought into
existence for many years following the Textus Receptus, when Eusebius copied
them for Constantine.
On July 22, 1604, King James of
England announced that he had appointed 54 Hebrew and Greek scholars to
produce a Bible, which we know today as the King James, or Authorised Version.
These men were organised into six groups which were to meet
separately. Two groups met at Cambridge, two at Oxford, and two at Westminster.
Each group was designated a certain portion of Scripture to translate into the
English language.
Each scholar first made his own
translation, then passed it on to be reviewed by each other member of his group.
When each section had completed a book of the Bible, it was sent to the other
five groups for their independent criticism. In this way each book went through
hands of the entire body of translators."
The transparency of the council
of King James Bible's translators are unequaled to other later versions.
The subtle method that Satan used to attack God’s Word can be unveiled from
the time he was in the garden of Eden. Satan and Eve managed in the first five
verses of Genesis chapter three to: cast doubt on God’s Word, twist
the Word, add to the Word, subtract from the Word, substitute
God’s Word, deny the words of God and finally to exalt man. God
has given us His written Word to counter satanic attack on the Word of God.
Jesus Christ overcame three temptations of Satan with the written word.
Therefore the word of God is important to be free from corruption. We would take
heed to the devils methods and that his influence on mankind continues eversince
the downfall of Adam and Eve. See the table below:
What God said:
|
What Eve/Devil said:
|
The attack on truth:
|
And the LORD God commanded the man,
Genesis 2:16a
|
Yea, hath God said…?
Genesis 3:1b
|
Satan is casting doubt on God’s Word.
|
Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely
eat:
Genesis 2:16b
|
We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Genesis 3:2b
|
"Freely" is omitted. This word reflects on
God’s nature and generosity.
|
the tree of life also in the midst of the garden,
and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:9b
|
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it,
Genesis 3:3a
|
The truth has been twisted! One of the trees in the
midst of the garden was permitted for them to eat. God is not withholding
something good but something that is evil!
|
thou shalt not eat of it:
Genesis 2:17b
|
Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it,
Genesis 3:3c
|
Adding to the Word of God. Here we see the roots of
many religions.
|
thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 2:17c
|
lest ye die.
Genesis 3:3c
|
Substitute with another word to alter the original
message.
|
thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 2:17c
|
Ye shall not surely die:
Genesis 3:4b
|
Denying the Word of God. Reincarnation is given an
option
|
Let us make man in our image
Genesis 1:26a
|
Ye shall be as gods
Genesis 3: 5b
|
Exaltation of man. Man is a created being.
|
This satanic interference is at
the root of all the corruption in the modern versions. Satan is still busy,
using modern day Eves, having had over four thousand years to refine and perfect
his talents.
"For the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelations 19:10). So prophecies of
the prophets are testifying about Jesus the Son of God. The Lord God gives stern
warnings about altering or corrupting His Word which the Scribes knew better
than any modern translators:
Revelation 22:18-19, For I
testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
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 shall take away
from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out
of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are
written in this book.
Proverbs 30:5-6, Every word
of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add
thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Psalms 119:89, Forever, O
LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Matthews 24:35, Heaven and
earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
The Book
of Revelation has sealed all prophetic messages and revelations. No man can add
or substract any words of the prophecy from the Bible. Any scholars who
have done so without the permission of God, has brought curse upon himself.
It is
recomended to keep to the King James Version for your authority. Accept the
work of Godly, consecrated, Bible-believing men who were true scholars,
in preference to the modernists of our day who claim the highest
scholarship and yet prefer to use corrupted manuscripts as the basis for Bible
translation.