The History of the English Bible

'The Christian can take the whole Bible in his hand and say without fear or hesitation that he holds in it the true Word of God, handed down without essential loss from generation to generation throughout the centuries.' " -- Philip W. Comfort, The Complete Guide to Bible Versions

What does faith require of the Bible?

• That it be an accurate reproduction of what was originally written in a language and verbiage that the reader can understand.

​

• Whether or not the originals were inspired of God is a matter of faith, what we do with it is a matter of discipleship, but how well they have been preserved is a question of history.

A story of copying and translating

• Copying the Bible: From one handwritten manuscript to another handwritten manuscript in the same language
• Issues: age, condition (completeness), accuracy (errors)
• Translating the Bible: From one language into a new language
• Issues: comprehendible, accuracy, bias/agenda

​

Every Bible in existence today, in every language is a story of both copying and translating (minus those in Hebrew for OT or Greek for NT).

From Autographs to Copies

• No original autographs of any ancient document exist, the Bible included.
• Any ancient document must therefore be the result of copying by hand.
• Does a miracle of inspiration require a miracle of preservation? Is a less than perfect text something to fear? {Bart Ehrman, and KJV Onlyism}
• No ancient document contains perfect copying

{Islam teaches that the Quran is a perfect copy, but the 3^rd Caliph, Uthman, burned all the source material, leaving only one text.}

​

​

Variants and Textual Control

• There was never a time when any one man, or group of men, had control over the whole text of the NT. Therefore, all assertions of adding/subtracting doctrines, changing theology, removing teaching, etc. are without merit.

​

• We don’t have to trust that “they” had perfect motives and ability, because there is no “they”, New Testament manuscripts were copied with multiple intersecting lines of transmission, there was no opportunity to edit them all.

Variants and Textual Control

• Like a 1,000 piece puzzle, we don’t have 375 pieces (like most ancient texts, requiring scholars to guess at what is missing), but instead 1,100, requiring us to weed out the extra.

​

• “The transmission of the NT textual tradition is characterized by an extremely impressive degree of tenacity. Once a reading occurs it will persist with obstinacy. It is precisely the overwhelming mass of the NT textual tradition…which provides an assurance of certainty in establishing the original text.” – Kurt Aland, The Text of the New Testament

-There are 400,000 variants in the NT manuscripts. The NT has 138,162 words� - More variants than words in the NT! Does this mean that each word has 3 possible choices??��- 99% of variations do not impact the meaning of the text (spelling, word order, synonyms, Gk. Movable nu {think “a car” vs. “an apple”})

In order to be significant, a variant must be both viable (with evidence to show it might be original) AND meaningful (impacting the meaning of the text).��- 1% of the 400,000 variants = 4000 meaningful textual variants (with 138,162 words = 2.9%, or one for every three pages), only half of the meaningful variants are viable, resulting in 1,500 viable & meaningful variants.

- “To be sure, of all the hundreds of thousands of textual changes found among our manuscripts, most of them are completely insignificant, immaterial, of no real importance for anything other than showing that scribes could not spell or keep focused any better than the rest of us” – Bart Ehrman��- The more manuscripts you have, the more variants exist. 1 manuscript = 0 variants (but no confidence in its accuracy, how can you know it wasn’t changed? Which is the Quran’s unanswerable question.)

How much manuscript evidence is there? (Manuscript Evidence document by Matt Slick)�(Manuscript Evidence for Caesar vs. Bible by Darrell Bock)��- There are over 5,800 NT Gk. manuscripts, the average length of which is 200 pages (125 papyri MSS. from the 1^st 3 centuries, 500 total MSS. before AD 900.) ��- Which equals 1.3 million pages of hand-copied Greek text spanning 1,500 years, spread throughout Christendom

�- There are also 10,000 Latin mss, and over 5,000 in other languages, plus 1 million quotations of the NT by the Church Fathers, nearly the entire NT could be reconstructed using only their quotes.��- Each book of the NT has its own textual history. For example: Revelation has the least number of extant manuscripts and a significant number of variants, whereas Hebrews has a very “pure” text.

Manuscript Evidence Conclusions:�-“Essential Christian beliefs are not affected by textual variants in the manuscript tradition of the NT.” – Bart Ehrman from Misquoting Jesus��- “nothing we believe to be doctrinally true, and nothing we are commanded to do, is in any way jeopardized by the variants. This is true for any textual tradition. The interpretation of individual passages may well be called in question; but never is a doctrine affected.” – D.A. Carson from The King James Version Debate: A Plea for Realism

Manuscript Evidence Conclusions:���- None of the papyri discoveries of the past 135 years has resulted in a single new reading, all were already in the NT text tradition.��- Manuscripts discovered in the last 10 years? 70, totaling 1,800 pages of text. As time goes by, the evidence for the Bible’s accuracy is only growing stronger.

Manuscript Evidence Conclusions

• “Though textual criticism cannot yet produce certainty about the exact working of the original, this uncertainty affects only about two percent of the text. And in that two percent support always exists for what the original said – never is one left with mere conjecture. In other words it is not that only 90 percent of the original text exists in the extant Greek manuscripts – rather, 110 percent exists. Textual criticism is not involved in reinventing the original; it is involved in discarding the spurious, in burning the dross to get to the gold.” – Daniel Wallace, ‘The Majority Text and the Original Text: Are They Identical?’ Bibliotecha Sacra, 1991.

Manuscript Evidence Conclusions:��The Bible has much older copies, far more reliable copies, and many, many more copies than any other ancient text. The accuracy of the NT text is not a matter of faith, it has been established by evidence, and is in every meaningful way, the same words as those of its original authors.

Above: Chart created by Matt Raja

The Septuagint�2^nd Century BC, also called LXX�- translation of Hebrew into Koine Greek, the lingua franca of much of the world at that time�- commissioned by Ptolemy II using 70 Jewish scholars working in Alexandria�- older than any surviving Hebrew manuscripts�- commonly utilized by NT authors and Church Fathers when quoting the OT

The Dead Sea Scrolls�- one of the most important archaeological finds in history

• Created by the Essene Jewish community (a separatist group)
• Included copies of every book of the OT except Esther and Song of Solomon, more than 900 documents total, tens of thousands of fragments containing both sacred literature as well as everyday writings of the Essenes.
• The Great Isaiah Scroll, text is identical (aside from minor scribal errors) to that of the oldest Hebrew manuscripts from AD 850, confirmation of extreme accuracy of OT copying process over an appx. 1,000-year period.

Dead Sea Scrolls – 1^st Century BC�discovered in 1947

DSC, fragment of papyrus, Hebrew, no vowels

• To view the Great Isaiah Scroll, complete with English translation as you hover over verses, go to:

The Digital Dead Sea Scrolls

Jerusalem destroyed by Roman army,� AD 70�- very few manuscripts survived

The Council of Jamnia, AD 100

• Jewish confirmation of the OT canon, Apocrypha not included
• When new copies of manuscripts were to be made, the old worn or tattered would be buried or destroyed! (increases importance of LXX & DSS)
• Until discovery of DSS, no Hebrew manuscripts before AD 850 existed

Aleppo Codex, complete Hebrew OT with vowels, 10^th Century AD�To view the Aleppo Codex go to: http://www.aleppocodex.org/

Uncial manuscript, all caps, no space, Greek, 4^th Century AD

Miniscule manuscript, Greek, cursive, beginning AD 635

Codex Vaticanus, Greek, AD 350��- In Vatican library since 1475�- Oldest, nearly complete Bible manuscript, missing Pastoral epistles and Revelation�- used extensively by Wescott and Hort, The New Testament in Original Greek, 1881

Codex Sinaiticus, 350 AD, unknown until 1844, discovered at Gk. Orthodox monastery of St. Catherine in the Sinai by Constantin von Tischendorf��- contains OT after the Pentateuch (LXX), complete NT

Vaticinus and Sinaiticus may have been 2 of the 50 Bibles commissioned by Constantine the Great

To view Codex Sinaiticus go to: http://www.codexsinaiticus.org/en/manuscript.aspx

Codex Alexandrinus, Greek, 5^th Century AD, ��-Uses LXX in OT�- brought by the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch, Cyril Lucaris from Alexandria to Constantinople, then given to Charles I of England in 17^th Century

-Originally contained the whole Bible in Greek, surviving leaves are incomplete.��-In 12^th Century, Ephraem the Syrian’s writings written on top of text after original was washed off�- John 7:53-8:11 is omitted, but Mark 16:9-20 was included�-Tischendorf deciphered the underlying text with the naked eye.�

Codex Ephraemi – 5^th Century Palimpsest

Coptic (Egyptian) manuscript

Syriac manuscript

Jerome’s Latin Vulgate, 380 AD�- direct translation from Gk. & Hebrew�- LXX consulted for OT, but basis of translation was Hebrew manuscripts

• Primary text of the Western Church until the Reformation
• First to designate portions of LXX as Apocrypha

Development of the English language��Old English (400’s to 1066)�- Beowulf, Lindisfarne Gospel {written in between lines of Latin, earliest translation of any portion of Bible into English}�Middle English (1066 to 1480)�- Chaucer, Wycliffe Bible�Early Modern English (1480 to 1650)�- Shakespeare, Tyndale Bible, KJV�Modern English (1650-today)

John Wycliffe,�1^st Bible in English, 1382, �-250 copies still exist�- Written in Middle English�-outlawed by the Church�- De Heretico Comburendo, 1401, King Henry IV: death by burning alive for any heretics, aimed at Lollards �-1408 Constitutions enacted by Archbishop Thomas Arundel, banning any new translation, English or any vernacular, of the Bible without express Church supervision�- no new English translations will be attempted until Tyndale in 1525

Fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Turks, 1453�- flood of Gk manuscripts into Western Europe��- revival of interest in study of NT in original Greek

Gutenberg Bible, 1455, Latin Vulgate, 1^st printed book, 47 copies remain

• By 1500, printing presses found in 17 European countries, 260 towns have printing presses, 1,120 printing offices, 40,000 different works printed, 10 million copies.

Desiderius Erasmus’ Greek New Testament, 1516��-based on limited # of available manuscripts, had to depend upon Vulgate in a few places�- basis of Luther’s German translation, Tyndale’s English translation, and the KJV��- corrections made in later additions, work continued by Robert Stephanus who published a standardized Erasmus text in 1546 and Theordore Beza (John’s Calvin’s successor in Geneva) who published five major editions of the Greek NT

Textus Receptus (Latin: "received text") is the name subsequently given to the succession of printed Greek texts of the New Testament which constituted the translation base for the original German Luther Bible, the translation of the New Testament into English by William Tyndale, the King James Version, and most other Reformation-era New Testament translations throughout Western and Central Europe. The series originated with the first printed Greek New Testament, published in 1516—a work undertaken in Basel by the Dutch priest/scholar and humanist Desiderius Erasmus. Detractors criticize it for being based on only some six manuscripts, containing between them not quite the whole of the New Testament. The missing text was back-translated from the Vulgate. Although based mainly on late manuscripts of the Byzantine text-type, Erasmus' edition differed markedly from the classic form of that text, and included some missing parts back translated from the Latin Vulgate. {Note: NOT the same as the ‘Majority Text’}

Complutensian Polyglot, 1520�- began in 1502, took 15 years to complete (NT completed 1514), publication delayed while waiting to finish OT work, for Papal approval, and because of Erasmus’ 4-year exclusive publishing deal with HR Emperor Maximilian.�- Created by a team working under Cardinal Francisco Ximenez de Cisneros (1436-1517)�- Contains Latin Vulgate (center), Hebrew, Greek (LXX in OT), in Pentateuch also contains an Aramaic Targum and a literal Latin translation.�- All typset by hand, 5 text blocks, 4 type faces, an interlinear and cross-reference notes.�- 600 copies made, 123 still exist

Martin Luther, German NT, 1522�- written in German of the common man�- helped standardize the German language�-completed in 10 months�- based on Erasmus’ Greek NT, the “Textus Receptus”

William Tyndale, English NT, 1526�- 1^st mass produced English Bible�- based on Erasmus’ Greek NT, Erasmus’ Latin NT, Luther’s German NT, & Jerome’s Vulgate�- source for OT translation uncertain�- only NT and ½ of OT finished when Tyndale was martyred in 1536�- denied permission to publish in England, NT edition published in Worms�- Will heavily influence all subsequent English translations, basis of the Great Bible (1^st authorized translation), 1/3 of KJV is word for word use of Tyndale

Tyndale NT, Ephesians�Tyndale’s dying words: “Lord, open the eyes of the king of England!”��“Blessed are the poor in Spirit” “I am the good shepherd” “blessed are the peacemakers”�

• copies of Tyndale Bibles confiscated and burned in public
• Condemned as heretic while in exile in Antwerp, kidnapped by agents of Charles V, tried, strangled to death and burned at the stake in August 1536
• Charles V, Habsburg King of Spain, was the nephew of the recently divorced wife, Catherine of Aragon, of Henry VIII, king of England
• Attempts by Thomas Cromwell, English Chancellor (ancestor of Oliver Cromwell) and Henry VIII to obtain mercy for Tyndale rebuffed by Charles V.

-Parts of Tyndale translation that indicated he was a Reformer like Luther and upset Church authorities: “church, priest, do penance, charity” in Tyndale becomes, “congregation, senior/elder, repent, love”��-Tyndale’s translation theory: Didn’t feel compelled to use the same English word EVERY time for a given Gk/Heb word, “formal correspondence”, instead he used a meaning-for-meaning translation technique, today called “functional equivalence.”

Miles Coverdale, 1535, Coverdale Bible�-1^st complete English language Bible�- legally published by approval of Henry VIII�- Anne Boleyn was a supporter of Coverdale. Henry’s marriage to Anne was pretense for the creation of the Church of England�- Lost the support of Henry when Anne was executed in 1536�- Apocrypha placed in separate section�- Utilized Tyndale for most of NT translation, did OT work on his own using Luther’s German and Jerome’s Vulgate as he was not proficient in Greek or Hebrew.�-Exiled under Queen Mary

Matthew Bible, 1537 edited by John Rogers�- used the pseudonym Thomas Matthew�- edited version of Tyndale, used Coverdale for missing OT sections�- authorized by Henry VIII, fulfillment of Tyndale’s dying prayer as the king authorized essentially the same Bible he and the Church had tried to destroy�-notes in margin offended some officials in the Church�- arrested in 1553 for seditious preaching�- burned at the stake in 1555, the 1^st martyr under “Bloody” Queen Mary

The Great Bible, 1539, Miles Coverdale�- relied heavily on Tyndale, Erasmus’ Latin, and Matthew’s Bible�

The Great Bible� cover page�- Henry VIII on throne�- Bibles being given both to priests and laypeople�- allowed churches to obey 1538 decree that every church should have a public Bible�- chained to pulpits for use in worship and public reading�- crowds gathered around them to listen to anyone who could read

The Geneva Bible 1560�- published by Protestant exiles in Geneva Switzerland during the reign of Queen Mary�- 1^st English Bible to contain verse and chapter divisions�- 1^st English Bible to use Latin typeset (modern letter style)�- smaller size, cheaper to print, more affordable for the common man

The Geneva Bible�- a revision of Tyndale by William Whittingham, with assistance from John Calvin, John Knox, and Theodore Beza�- contained Reformed theology in its 250 notes�- the first “study Bible” due to its many notes and references�- the Bible of William Shakespeare and the Puritans who emigrated to America�- next to Tyndale’s version, the 2^nd most influential translation on the KJV which surpassed it in popularity by 1642�-1580, The Scottish Assembly requires every home to have a Bible, every home in the kingdom was searched to ensure compliance

The Bishop’s Bible, 1568�- team of translators under leadership of Matthew Parker�- left out the Calvinistic margin notes of the Geneva Bible that offended Anglican clergy

- 1568 edition uses “love” in 1 Corinthians 13, 1572 revision changed to “charity”; KJV followed and used “charity”

- Accepted by church officials, never as popular as the Geneva Bible with the people

The Douay-Rhemes Bible, 1582�- A English Catholic response to the influence of the margin notes of the Geneva Bible, thus it included Catholic margin notes instead�- translated by Gregory Martin from the Louvain edition of Jerome’s Vulgate�- also consulted Coverdale’s and Geneva’s English versions but not Greek or Hebrew texts�- The Catholic/Protestant divide now entered into arguments between English translators

The King James Bible, 1611�-“Authorized” by James I in 1604 because he disliked the anti-monarchy tone of the Geneva Bible and that of Douay-Rhemes�- 1604 The “Gunpowder Plot”, attempt to blow up Parliament and the King by Catholic radicals (Guy Fawkes), resulting in extensive persecution�- James also continued to persecute Puritans, many of whom left England with their Geneva Bibles in hand�- A team of 54 translators working in 6 teams who worked on different sections of the Bible and then met to evaluate their work�- guided by earlier English versions, with the Bishops Bible as a foundation, consulting the Greek and Hebrew

The King James Bible�- Bancroft developed 15 guidelines for translation technique�- rule #1, Bishops Bible would only be altered when evidence demanded it�- rule #15, previous translations used when they agree with Gk/Heb text instead of focusing on modernizing the language�(including: Tyndale, Matthew’s, Coverdale’s The Great Bible, and the Geneva Bible)�- marginal notes omitted, except for notes relating to explanations of Gk/Heb words

The King James Bible�- 1631, printing of the “wicked” Bible by KJV printer Robert Barker, with error in Ten Commandments, “though shalt commit adultery.” (oops!)�- fined 300 pounds, died penniless

• Printing of the KJV amounted to 5 folio editions, 1611, 1613, 1617, 1634, and 1639/40, 59 lines per page, 738 pages
• Took 30 years to replace Geneva as the Bible of the common man
• Reasons for eventual acceptance: literary emphasis of translators, flowing patterns and rhythmic style, it was embraced by English clergy because of the LACK of margin notes
• Became the dominant translation in the English speaking world, no new translation for 270 years

The King James Bible�- followed the same pattern as Jerome’s Vulgate:�skeptical, accepted, loved, revered, all-but worshiped, and eventually defended as the final translation ever needed.

King James Onlyism

1 2 3 4 5

​

1. Prefer the KJV, but willing to use other translations, and/or not upset with others who do.
2. Believe that the KJV is the best, unwilling to use other translations, but not hostile towards others who do.
3. Believe the KJV is the only legitimate English version, hostile toward other English translations and those who use them. (for some, includes the NKJV).
4. Believe the KJV is the only legitimate version in any language, hostile toward all other versions (including the NKJV).
5. Believe the KJV is a 2^nd act of inspiration, the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts are unnecessary, even unwanted. All other versions, in any language, are of the devil. (including the NKJV).

* Textus Receptus Onlyism typically follows a similar pattern, minus the antagonism toward the NKJV, which like the KJV, is based upon the TR.

​

Examples of KJV Only polemics�When the KJV is assumed to be the standard, accusations of “changing” the God’s Word and “removing” doctrines abound.

An Eisegetical use of I Corinthians 14:33, was Paul talking about unison reading in a largely illiterate society?�Out of context quotations of Scripture ought not to be the basis of Christian belief.

An example of the absurdity of KJV Only claims by putting the shoe on the other foot.

KJV Only chart: Facts don’t matter, full of insults and innuendo toward even Wycliffe & NKJV�- The use of Psalm 12:6-7 is a prime example of eisegesis; David is not talking, in any way, about translations of Scripture.

The dangers of “King James Only” dogma:�� from “The Answer Book” by ‘Dr.’ Samuel Gipp, all quotes from this website: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Bible/1611_authorized_king_james.htm��“Thus, since we have the text of the "originals" preserved in the King James Bible we have no need of the originals, even if they were available.”��“The English language had been developing for many centuries until the late sixteenth century. About that time it finally reached a state of excellence that no language on earth has ever attained. It would seem that God did the rest. He chose this perfect language for the consummation of his perfect Book.”�

“The new versions are only supported by about five of the over 5,000 manuscripts of Bible text. Critics of the Bible claim that these manuscripts are better than those used by the translators of the Authorized Version. This is not so.”�“destroy their faith in the perfect Bible and show that the ‘good old King James’ is full of errors”��“QUESTION: Where was the Bible before 1611?    �ANSWER: In the available Antiochian manuscripts.”�“QUESTION: Will a Bible college education clear up the controversy over the issue of a perfect Bible'? ANSWER: No. About ninety-nine out of one hundred times a Bible college education will either confuse or destroy a student's faith in the perfect Bible.”

�“The translators of the King James Bible did not need the Dead Sea Scrolls since they already had the Textus Receptus which they match.”�“QUESTION: What about a contradiction that can't be successfully explained? ANSWER: You will have to accept the perfection of the Authorized Version by faith.”�“QUESTION: Who were Westcott and Hort? ANSWER: Two unsaved Bible critics.”�“QUESTION: Aren't modern English translations easier to understand?   ANSWER: No. Some may seem easier to read, but none are easier to understand.”

Brian Walton’s Polyglot, 1657�- six volume edition�- included Latin, Ethiopic, Greek, Syriac, Samaritan, Chaldean, Arabic, and Persian

• Consulted Codex Alexandrinus which had just come into possession of the Royal Library and put variant readings in the margins
• Archbishop James Ussher prepared the 6^th volume, a critical analysis of Erasmus’ and Stephanus’ Greek NT
• Critics claimed the scholarly debate over variant readings was a threat to the doctrine of inspiration. {Not a new argument, still a flawed one though}

John Mill’s Greek New Testament, 1707�- not a new text, a critical analysis of Stephanus’ 1550 edition�- consulted all available Greek manuscripts, early versions of Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, the church fathers, and all 32 printed editions of the Gk NT�- introduction explained the canon, transmission, and his theory of evaluation of the manuscripts�- took 30 years to complete, finished just two week before his death

- And Codex Sinaiticus, which Tischendorf had uncovered at St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai�- His discovery was part of a quest to prove the reliability of the NT by finding older manuscripts than those available in the 19^th century. His story that the monks were burning leaves of the Codex prior to his arrival has been proven to be a mistake/fabrication. Many of the missing leaves were found in a walled-off room in the 1970’s along with 5000 manuscripts, several hundred of which were Biblical

Constantin von Tischendorf’s New Testament, 1869�- critical analysis still valuable for textual criticism to this day

Included the Codex Ephraemi palimpsest (a manuscript writtenover an erased text) which he had deciphered

Westcott and Hort New Testament, 1881

• Arch villains of KJV Only believers (especially for their high evaluation of Codex Vaticanus)
• Developed the history of the early transmission of the NT text
• Classified the manuscripts into various families, giving more weight to age than number of manuscripts
• By this time, most scholars no longer accepted Erasmus/Stephanus (i.e. the TR) as the authentic NT text

Chart created by Pastor Powell and Pastor Woodlee

The Eclectic & Critical Text of the NT

With new manuscripts such as Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, and Alexandrinus being rediscovered, among many others, and with the work of Tischendorf, Westcott, and Hort in the understanding of the history of the text, a new critical NT text emerged that wasn’t exclusively Byzantine, Western, or Alexandrian, but a combination of the best readings from all sources, including the Church Fathers and other early language translations. The critical text contains a scholarly apparatus which footnotes the major textual variations with specific identification of particular ancient manuscripts.

The Greek text which underlies most modern translations is currently published as the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament, 5th edition, 2014 (usually cited UBS5), and the essentially identical Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th edition, 2012 (usually cited NA28).

​

How different are the Greek texts?

According to Daniel Wallace:

• The ‘Majority’ Text differs from the Textus Receptus 2,000 times for greater than 99% agreement
• The Nestle-Aland and United Bible Society’s eclectic texts differ from the ‘Majority’ 6,500 times, for 98% agreement.

How significant are these disagreements?

• Most of the disagreements in the underlying Greek text, whether ‘Majority’, TR, or N-A/UBS do not affect the translation of the text into English.
• “Bible readers may be assured that the most important differences in English New Testament of today are due, not to manuscript divergence, but to the way in which translators view the task of translation. How literal should the text be rendered?” – Thomas Nelson, KJV/NKJV Parallel Reference Bible

Questions facing the Modern Translations:�1. Which Greek New Testament text is the most accurate? The Textus Receptus of the KJV or the critical text that included modern scholarship and manuscript discoveries?��- TR represents (it does differ from the ‘Majority’ text) a greater NUMBER of Greek manuscripts, but not the OLDEST manuscripts (because of the ongoing copying in Constantinople until 1453, but the switch to Latin in the West 1000 years earlier, and spread of Islam in Egypt and Syria).

��2. Should we read the Bible in modern English or retain the 400 year old traditional language?��3. Which is more important, Formal Equivalency (being as ‘literal’ as possible) or Dynamic (aka Functional) Equivalency (seeking to convey meaning)?��{No translation is entirely one or the other, even the KJV is Dynamic at times, and even the NLT can be Formal.

The Revised Version, 1885 - policy of always translating a Greek word with the same English word, “strong in Greek, weak in English” – Charles Spurgeon��The American Standard Version, 1901- designed as revisions of the KJV text, to both fix errors and update the English��The Revised Standard Version, 1952��The New American Standard Version, 1971 - attempts to be more of a “literal” word-for-word translation��The New International Version, 1978 - the most popular modern English translation�� The New King James Version, 1982- primarily an attempt to update the language to conform to modern usage (i.e. changing “ye” and “thou” to “you”)��The New Living Translation, 1996- a dynamic equivalent translation��English Standard Version, 2001- more “literal” than the NIV

Mark 16:9-20 & John 7:53-8:11

• The Longest textual variant in the NT
• Found in almost all NT manuscripts
• NOT found in Codex Sinaiticus, or in Codex Vaticanus (although room is left for it at the end of Vaticanus), and one other, 304.
• If textual evidence is overwhelming, why is authenticity questioned?
• Some of the manuscripts have asterisks or other marginal marks, some have a shorter version of the ending
• Internal evidence: “different form” in vs. 12, Jesus upbraids the disciples in vs. 14, connection between baptism and faith in vs. 16, odd “signs” of vs. 17 and 18
• Conclusion: Include, but with notation of doubts about authenticity

• 2^nd longest variant, the “Pericope De Adultera”
• Omitted from a diverse group of ancient manuscripts, including: P66, P75, Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, along with the majority of lectionaries, Latin versions, Syriac versions.
• Of those containing, can be found: after 7:36, after 7:44, after 21:25, or after Luke 21:38; copyists struggled to figure out where the passage “fit”.
• With such weak textual evidence, why not remove it entirely?
• The story itself is in harmony with the ministry and teaching of Jesus, and it has a strong emotional pull.
• Conclusion: It was likely part of the oral tradition about Jesus, likely authentic, but NOT part of the original text of John; due to translator “timidity” it has not been removed from any translations.

Bible Translation comparison

Romans 6:23 (Near total agreement)

• King James Version (KJV, 1611/1769) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• American Standard Version (ASV, 1901) For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• New American Standard Bible (NASB, 1971)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• New International Version (NIV, 1978/2011) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord. Footnotes Or through
• New King James Version (NKJV, 1982) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• New Living Translation (NLT, 1996/2004) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Only differences? “in” vs. “through” and use of “free” in front of gift

Bible Translation comparison

I John 5:7-8 The Johannine Comma (textual issue)

• King James Version (KJV) ⁷ For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.⁸ And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
• New King James Version (NKJV) ⁷ For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. ⁸ And there are three that bear witness on earth:^[a] the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. Footnotes: NU-Text and M-Text omit the words from in heaven (verse 7) through on earth (verse 8). Only four or five very late manuscripts contain these words in Greek.

​

• New American Standard Bible (NASB) ⁷ For there are three that testify: ^8 [a]the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. Footnotes: A few late mss add ...in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit
• New International Version (NIV) ⁷ For there are three that testify: ⁸ the^[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. Footnotes: Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. ⁸ And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the fourteenth century)

Bible Translation Comparison

Mark 10:21 (textual differences)

• King James Version (KJV) ²¹ Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
• New International Version (NIV) ²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

KJV has the phrase “take up the cross” in Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23, Mark 3:34, and Mark 10:21. The NIV, and other modern translations, have the phrase in each of the first three verses, but not Mark 10:21

- “take up the cross” is NOT found in Codex Sinaiticus or Vaticanus (among others) at Mark 10:21 {these texts were not available when the KJV was translated}

Example of phrase added by copyist to “harmonize” verses that sound the same.

• One of the most common errors in copying, the copyist remembers what it “should” be and changes the text as he copies it.

Bible Translation comparison

I Timothy 6:10 (translational differences)

• Geneva Bible (GNV, 1599) For the desire of money is the root of all evil, which while some lusted after they erred from the faith, and ^[a]pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Footnotes: Sorrow and grief do as it were pierce through the mind of man, and are the harvest and true fruits of covetousness.
• King James Version (KJV, 1611/1769) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {NKJV same as NIV}
• New American Standard Bible (NASB, 1971) For the love of money is a root of all ^[a]sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Footnotes: Lit the evils
• New International Version (NIV, 1978/2011) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
• New Living Translation (NLT, 1996/2004)  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
• The Greek reads “a root of all the evils”, no def. article before root is plural

​

Bible Translation Comparison

II Timothy 2:15 (translational differences)

• 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)  ^[a]Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, dividing the word of truth ^[b]aright. Footnotes: A. The fifth admonition: A minister must not be an idle disputer, but a faithful steward in dividing aright the word of truth, insomuch that he must stop the mouths of other vain babblers. B. By adding nothing to it, neither overslipping anything, neither mangling it, nor renting it in sunder, nor wresting of it: but marking diligently what his hearers are able to hear, and what is fit to edifying.
• King James Version (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
• New American Standard Bible (NASB) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
• New International Version (NIV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
• New King James Version (NKJV) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
• New Living Translation (NLT) Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

The usage of the word “study” has shifted to as mostly academic application with the advent of public education.

​

Bible Translation Comparison

Psalm 8:5 (translational differences)

• King James Version (KJV) ⁵ For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
• New International Version (NIV) ⁵ You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.
• New Living Translation (NLT) ⁵ Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
• English Standard Version (ESV) ⁵ Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
• English Revised Version (ERV) ⁵ But you made them almost like gods and crowned them with glory and honor.

The Hebrew word is Elohim, which is correctly translated as God, god, angels, or heavenly beings, depending upon the CONTEXT. Hebrew uses the same word, Elohim, when talking about the God of Abraham and the gods of other peoples.

** The Septuagint (LXX) uses the Gk. “angelos” in its translation, Hebrews 2:7 quotes this verse using the LXX (a translator’s choice) instead of the Hebrew.

*** Do the differing translational choices affect the meaning of the verse?

Bible Translation Comparison

II Timothy 3:16 (translation differences)

• King James Version (KJV) ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
• New American Standard Bible (NASB) ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
• New International Version (NIV) ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
• English Standard Version (ESV) ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

The Greek is a compound word, found only here in all of ancient Greek literature (hapax legomena), literally “God” and “breathed”. Should the metaphor be kept in the translation, or should the translators try to determine what it is that Paul meant when he invented this term? NOTE: KJV and NASB are more “free” with the translation, while NIV and ESV are more “literal”.

Bible Translation Comparison

Isaiah 7:14 (Footnote differences)

• New Living Translation (NLT) ¹⁴ All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin^[a] will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). Footnotes:(a) Or young woman.
• New International Version (NIV) ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you^[a] a sign: The virgin^[b] will conceive and give birth to a son, and^[c] will call him Immanuel.^[d] Footnotes: (a)The Hebrew is plural. (b) Or young woman (c) Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls son, and he or son, and they (d) Immanuel means God with us.
• New American Standard Bible (NASB)¹⁴ Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a ^[a]virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name ^[b]Immanuel. Footnotes: (a) Or maiden (b)I.e. God is with us
• New King James Version (NKJV) ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.^[a] Footnotes: (a) Literally God-With-Us