The New King James Version editors cast grave doubt on the
accuracy of the KJV by stating that it does not follow "major textual
traditions" in certain places and for this reason, footnotes were used in
the NKJV:
The tendency of recent revisers has been to
remove words and phrases from the text of Scripture, based on critical
studies of the most recently discovered extant manuscripts. In using the
Greek text underlying the King James Bible, these words and phrases were
retained. And, in those few places where the majority of the manuscripts did
not support a word or phrase, that fact could best be indicated in a
footnote.
(The New Testament of the New King James
Version shows in its footnotes those places where the major textual
traditions differ from the language of the King James Bible.) (1) [bold
emphasis added]
The New King James Version editors want you to investigate the recently discovered
extant manuscripts (the NU-Text and Majority Text) so you can discover what they
believe the Bible really says:
It was the editors' conviction that the use
of footnotes would encourage further inquiry by readers. (2)
The NKJV editors wanted to make it as easy as
possible for the average reader to become a modern
textual critic:
They also recognized that it was easier for
the average reader to delete something he or she felt was not
properly a part of the text than to insert a word or phrase which had
been left out by the revisers. (3)
The New King James Version editors' words
clearly sent the message that
all the passages in the King James 1611 are not authoritative and because what
they consider to be questionable
texts were carried over to the New King James Version, the reader
must make educated guesses regarding which scripture verses he should retain or delete
from the NKJV text.
God promises a severe penalty to those who add
or take away from his words:
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: (Rev. 22:18)
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. (Rev. 22:19)
After the NKJV editors claimed the King James
Bible contains words or phrases that critical studies of the most recently
discovered extant manuscripts determine should not be there, they directed the
reader to
decide whether or not to take away those allegedly false readings that were carried over
to
the New King James Version.
Do you really believe God is giving his church
more authentic manuscripts in these last days which serve to "prove" that we
still don't have the Holy Bible at this stage in history? This is not indicative of the
character of the God of the Bible. God is not the author of confusion or the god
of relativism. The real Holy Bible is not to be regarded as the word of men
that may be edited at the will of man:
"... when ye received the word of God which
ye heard of us, ye
received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of
God..." 1 Thessalonians 2:13
The NKJV editors are sending the message
that the Bible is not fixed, but rather, is in a state of flux. There is no
such thing as fluctuating truth or a self-edited Bible.
The Spirit of the LORD has lifted up the Holy
Bible, King James 1611 against the enemy of fluctuating "truth."
notes:
(1), [The History of the King James Bible, page
1234-1235 New King James Version Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982.]
(2) ibid page 1235
(3) ibid page 1235
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