KJV vs. NIV Bible Compare and Contrast
Rewritten and revised by Janis M. Betz, R.N., B.S.N.
In 1998, I went with a client to the Oasis of Hope Hospital in Mexico for alternative cancer treatment. The Sunday school message that week was on the differences between the New International Version (NIV) Bible and King James Version (KJV) Bible. The teacher was a doctor of Science and a former atheist. Someone challenged him to prove the Bible wrong, and as a result he became a Christian. During his spiritual quest to learn more, he noted stark differences between the NIV and KJV Bibles that disturbed him, so he set out to educate everyone he could. The following are some of his notes that he handed out. At that time, I was having my own spiritual aversion to the NIV, and this message and these notes helped me greatly, and I pray that they help you see the difference also. During continued study in the Comparative study Bible, I also found that the New American Standard Version (NASV) had many of the same NIV omissions. Please look up the verses and compare and contrast for yourself. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
The greatest fault that I have found with the NIV is the power of the Living and Written Word of God has been weakened. According to the Scientist’s handout, when the KJV was compared to the NIV, 64000 words were omitted, and 36000 changes were made concerning what God said regarding central doctrines of faith. The NIV completely removes the following verses from the Bible: Matthew 17:21; 18:11, and Mark 11:26. The Scripture in Rev. 22:19 is very clear that “if anyone takes away from the words of this prophecy/book, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life….”
| copySubject: BIBLE
Passage and NIV omission: Luke 4:4 – “but by every word of God”
Subject: Jesus being the only way Passage and NIV omission: 1 Peter 2:2 – “of the word” Comments: In the NIV, what is spiritual milk? Passage and NIV omission: John 6:47 – “on me” Comments: Believe what? Even Satan believes.
Subject: Trinity Passage and NIV omission: 1 John 5:7 – “Heaven/Father/Word (Jesus)/Holy Ghost” Comment: No Trinity statement in the NIV or NASV
Subject: Cross Passage and NIV/NASV omission: Mark 10:21 – “Take up your cross” Comment: Making this omission removes our part to die to self.
Subject: Devil Passage and NIV omission: Isaiah: 14:12 – “Lucifer, son of the morning” Comments: NIV and NASV just says “O Morning star, son of the dawn!” Rev. 22:16 refers to Jesus as the “Morning Star”– So who was cast down? Passage and NIV/NASV omission: Luke 4:8 – “Get thee behind me, Satan”
Subject: Jesus Creator and God Passage and NIV omission: Ephesians 3:9 – “Created by Jesus” Passage and NIV omission: 1 Tim. 3:16 – “God was manifest in the flesh” Comments: NIV and NASV only states, “He appeared in a body” Who appeared in a body?
|
Subject: Blood
Passage and NIV omission: Col. 1:14 – “Through his blood” Passage and NIV omission: Mark 11:26 – “But If ye (you) do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Comment: The NIV completely omitted this verse. It goes from verse 25 then to verse 27. Passage and NIV/NASV omission: Matthew 5:44 – “Do good to them that hate you”
Subject: Judgment Passage and NIV/NASV omission: Mark 6:11 – “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom, Gomorrah on Day of Judgment then for that city.”
Subject: Fornication Passage and NIV omission: Romans 1:29 – Fornication Comment: This verse has many other omissions, changes, and revisions. Passage and NIV omission: 1 Cor. 5:1 – Fornication was changed to sexual immorality; and Gentile was changed to pagan. The NASV just uses the word immorality. Comment: Immorality is a broad term for a multitude of sexual indiscretions. Fornication is a specific sexual indiscretion. Passage and NIV omission: 1 Cor. 6:13 & 18 and Rev. 9:21– Fornication is changed to sexual immorality.
Subject: Homosexual Passage and NIV omission: Deut. 23:17 – “Sodomite” changed to “temple prostitute”. Has different meanings. On the NIV Bible committee list is Virginia Mollenkott. She wrote two books: “Sensual Spirituality,” and “Is the Homosexual my neighbor?” She defends the homosexual lifestyle, feminism, reincarnation, and channeling. Virginia calls God a She and Jesus “elder brother” |
The Sharp, Two-edged Sword verses the Dull, Single-edged Sword
by Janis M. Betz, R.N., B.S.N.
I will be quoting from the New King James Version (NKJV) for this section of the document. A careful examination of the preface of both the NIV and the NKJV helps to understand how each version came about. The NIV states that it is an “idiomatic translation”, which means it was written according to the language peculiar to a person or group. The NIV had 100’s of contributors, and it went through multiple revision committees revising the revision of previous committees, and its final revision was further revised by a number of stylistic consultants. The NIV preface states that this is not a word for word translation of the original language. It is a thought for thought translation. The latest revision (2011) is now gender neutral. The NKJV states that it is a “complete equivalence” translation, which means the scholars sought to preserve accurately all of the information in the text while presenting it in good literary form. The theologian translators of the NKJV signed a statement to hold true to the definition and usage of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words in their contexts, and to use the manuscripts that are used by the majority of Bible scholars.
My contention with the NIV and other simplified versions (i.e. New Living Translation and The Message) of the Bible is the spiritual power of the words have been so diluted and weakened in meaning that they are less effective for Spiritual warfare. I refer to these spiritually diluted and weak versions as being like a dull, single-edged sword, and the KJV and NKJV as being a sharp, two-edged sword. The following verses are a few examples of this weakening so you can see the difference for yourself.
| NKJV – Double Edge Sharp Sword | NIV – Single Edge Dull Sword |
| Luke 10:19 – Jesus stated, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Comments: To trample means to destroy, this includes all the power of the enemy. |
Luke 10:19 – Jesus states, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
Comments: To overcome means to make helpless or exhaust all the power of the enemy. An exhausted power will get strong again and be back to harm you. |
| Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.
Comments: “Weapon formed” could be physical, chemical, biological, witchcraft, etc. To condemn means to declare or state emphatically to be wrong. |
Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
Comments: “Weapon forged” is limited to only physical. To refute means to prove to be false by argument. |
| Psalm 91:9-10 – Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
Comments: The conjunction “because” gives a strong reason and connection to the promise that no evil shall befall you. The word “evil” covers a broad scope of suffering, misfortune, wrongdoing, sorrow, distress, and/or calamity. The word “plague” means a disastrous evil and/or pestilence (destructive infectious disease). |
Psalm 91:9-10 – If you make the Most High your dwelling, even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
Comments: The conjunction “if/then” is a weak connection to the promise that no harm will befall you. The word “harm” is limited to physical or mental damage or injury. The word “disaster” is limited to a sudden or great misfortune.
|
| Psalm 91:14 – Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
Comments: To set on high means to lift safely above what I am being delivered from. To know God’s name is to have a close personal relationship with Him. |
Psalm 91:14 – Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
Comments: To protect is limited to being shielded from injury or to be guarded. To acknowledge God’s name is only to recognize and admit you know God. There is no relationship. |
| Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29 – Jesus’ statement about casting out a particular demon: “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Comment: Fasting is a requirement to casting out certain demons. |
Matthew 17:21 was removed from the NIV Bible.
Mark 9:29 – Jesus says, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” Comments: Fasting was eliminated as a requirement to cast out demons. |
