Perfectly Preserved

Perfectly Preserved

Picture of a Holy Bible

In the Garden of Eden, Satan convinced Eve to alter the very words of God. Unfortunately, he has now found some new and very willing accomplices in the publishing houses and seminaries. Through the modern versions, men's thoughts have been replacing God's words at an alarming rate. As men keep changing the word of God to gain their copyrights and earn their royalty payments, whole verses are now being deleted from the Bible. For example: For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost (Matthew 18:11) has been completely removed from most modern versions.

The goal of each believer should be to stand forth and hold fast the word of God. But where is it to be found? Believing that the KING JAMES BIBLE (AV 1611) is the perfectly preserved, final authority for the English speaking people, the following proofs are set forth for your consideration.

Satan's Line of Manuscripts

In 1475, a manuscript was logged into the Vatican Library known as Codex Vaticanus. It dates to circa A.D. 350.

In 1844, a second Alexandrian manuscript, called Codex Sinaiticus, was discovered in a monastery at the foot of Mt. Sinai. This manuscript also dates to about A.D. 350. Many scholars believe that these copies are two of the 50 copies that the Emperor Constantine instructed Eusebius to prepare for the new churches he planned to build in Constantinople. Thus, Origen (the Gnostic) influenced Eusebius (his favorite student); Eusebius influenced the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts; and — in turn — every modern version taken from these two manuscripts was corrupted! Neither the Vaticanus nor the Sinaiticus was accepted as a “received” text. Thousands of changes have been noted within their pages by many different scribes throughout history.

In 1853, two men named Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort set out to write a Greek text based on these two Alexandrian texts (Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus). Since these two texts by then disagreed with each other in some 3,036 places in the four Gospel books alone, the two men had to come up with a completely subjective text influenced by their views. Consequently, they wrote an “eclectic” text, meaning they preferentially chose certain portions of scripture from the Vaticanus and other portions from the Sinaiticus until they produced a rendering that satisfactorily conveyed their personal doctrinal views.

In 1898, a revision of Wescott and Hort's Greek Text was made and called “Nestle's Greek Text.” The majority of Bible colleges today use Nestle's Greek Text although it differs greatly from the Textus Receptus. Despite this fact, the new versions arise from these corrupted texts, while the King James Bible stands alone in its exclusive use of the Textus Receptus and its rejection of the readings from the corrupted texts. Westcott and Hort had an unusual rule of thumb for determining which Greek text to choose when there was a variant reading. They chose the “neutral” approach. Basically, their method entailed choosing to use the variant (the difference between the Greek texts) that reflected the least doctrinal bias. Why? Wescott and Hort believed that it was more likely to be God's servants who corrupted the text rather than Satan's henchmen! (OBSA, pgs. 285-286).

The English Bible — Purified Seven Times?

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (KJB) Psalm 12:6

The SEVEN stages of purification in the Bible for the English language can be outlined as follows:

1. Tyndale (1525) — William Tyndale was known as the “Father of the English Bible.” He was the first translator to return to the original languages of Hebrew and Greek. All of the English versions before Tyndale were translations of a translation, derived from the Vulgate or older Latin versions. William Tyndale was the sole translator of the first printed English New Testament.

2. Cloverdale (1535) — Produced the first complete printed English Bible. His work consisted primarily of Tyndale's New Testament and Pentateuch, with the remaining Old Testament books rendered primarily from Luther's German translation.

3. Matthews (1537) — John Rogers (pseudonym of Thomas Matthews) continued Tyndale's work while Tyndale was imprisoned in a dungeon.

4. Great (1538) — (also Whitchurch & Cranmer's Bible) Named the Great Bible because of its exceptional size. It has the distinction of being the first Bible officially authorized for public use in England's churches.

5. Geneva (1560) — Theodore Beza, John Knox, William Whittingham and Miles Coverdale labored six years to produce the Geneva Bible. This was the first English Bible translated entirely from the original languages, featuring numbered verses and italics.

6. Bishops (1568) — The changes instituted in the Bishops Bible were mostly cosmetic, including many pictures and thicker, more expensive paper.

7. King James (1611) — The seventh purification of the English translation. Dr. John Reynolds, president of Corpus Christi College at Oxford, suggested to King James that a translation be produced that the common people could understand, read and love. Approximately 1,000 ministers sent a petition to King James. It was finally agreed that a new translation, absolutely true to the original Greek text, be made which would not include any marginal notes or comments except for explanations of Greek or Hebrew words and the provision of cross-references.Consequently, the King James Bible became the 7th translation/purification directly from the Greek in prophetic fulfillment of Psalm 12:6! (OBSA, pgs. 282-285)

What Happened to the Originals?

The Bible contains 53 instances in which the words scripture or scriptures are used. In every instance, the word scripture(s) refers to a copy and not to the original autographs. Not even the critics claim that Timothy, Paul, Apollos, the Bereans or Christ Himself had the original autographs. Yet, the copies that each of these men read are referred to as scripture. Interestingly, not even one of these individuals ever claimed the need to correct or change his respective copy. What does God think of the beloved originals to which all of the Ph.D.'s refer?

He is the One Who ensured that the originals would not endure so that man could not worship the paper on which the originals were written. God has no use for the so-called originals, and anyone who tries to recover or idolize them is not led of God. Consider the short life span of the original Ten Commandments, which Moses immediately destroyed. The fact that God could use men to do anything perfect should amaze us all. If He could lead men to write perfectly in the originals, what limits God from insuring a work of perfection in their translation into another language? With this thought in mind, consider now some of the many problems associated with these modern versions that do not exist in the King James Bible. (OBSA, pgs. 239-254).

Jesus — the Morning Star

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

(KJB) Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

The book of Revelation correctly identifies Jesus as the morning star. Now, look at the One the NIV blasphemously cites as having fallen from heaven. It is no longer Lucifer but Jesus Christ, the morning star!

(NIV) Isaiah 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! (OBSA, pg. 28).

Deity Denied

Despite the immense doctrinal variations between the King James and the other versions, many of the modern version proponents fail to admit the problems associated with these differences. Some of the least honest Bible critics go so far as to claim that the modern versions are doctrinally superior in their treatment of the deity of Christ (the fact that He is God). However, as the references below reveal, various editions of the modern versions eliminate the virgin birth and make Joseph the father of Jesus Christ. These versions also obscure the fact that He was God manifest in human form. Instead of representing Christ as the Creator, He is reduced to a created being. The Son of God in Daniel is replaced by a son of the gods. According to many of these versions, we will no longer stand before the judgment seat OF CHRIST and now Christ has a God! (OBSA, chapters 2 and 3, pgs. 13-51).

King James Bible Ref. Deity of Jesus Christ Denied in the Modern Versions
Behold, a virgin shall conceive... Isa 7:14 Behold, a young woman shall conceive... (RSV)
.. seeing I know not a man? Lk 1:34 ... since I have no husband? (RSV)
... and Joseph and his mother Lk 2:43 ... while his parents...(NASV,NIV, etc.)
... and Joseph and his mother Lk 2:33 The child's father...(NASV,NIV, etc.)
...God was manifest in the flesh ... 1 Iim 3:16 ... He appeared in a body... (NASV, NIV, etc.)
... and the Word was God. Jn 1:1 ... and the Word was a god. (NWT)
...who created all things by Jesus Christ. Eph 3:9 ...God , and who created all things...(NASV, NIV, etc.)
... from everlasting. Mic 5:2 ...whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. (NIV)
...is like the Son of God. Dan 3:25 ...looks like a son of the gods. (NASV, NIV, etc.)
... the love of God, because he laid down his life for us 1 Jn 3:16 ...Jesus Christ laid down his life for us...(NASV, NIV, etc.)
the judgment seat of Christ. Rom 14:10 God's judgment seat.(NASV, NIV, etc.)
...unto God and his father Rev 1:6 His God and Father ... (NASV, NIV, etc.)

These examples should suffice to prove that the King James Bible is superior to the modern versions in its treatment of Christ's deity, as well as other critical doctrines. Nevertheless, the following passage is often used to assert that the modern versions more clearly portray Christ's deity:

(NIV) Titus 2:13 ...the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

(KJB) Titus 2:13 ...the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

In the King James reference above, the is used in reference to “the great God” because there is only one great God. This fact holds true whether a person accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour or not. The word our is used in reference to the Saviour because, although He is the great God, He may not be an individual's personal Saviour. Therefore, Paul proclaims that we are looking toward the day when the great God and our Saviour returns. Jesus is the great God, but a personal, conscious decision must be made to make Him one's personal Saviour (the our in the verse).

When the NIV and other modern versions change the passage to read: our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, the personal pronoun is placed before great God. According to the KJB, when the Lord returns, He will be THE great God, but He will be OUR Saviour only to those who have trusted in Him for salvation. To the lost, He will be THE great God AND JUDGE — not their Saviour!

Who Killed Goliath?

(NIV) II Samuel 21:19

In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Ethanon son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's rod.

(KJB) II Samuel 21:19

And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. (OBSA, pgs. 252).

Salvation Sure and Simple

Listed in the following chart are two of the many verses completely omitted in the modern versions. In so doing, these versions eliminate the fact that Christ came to save the lost and that one must believe on Him in order to be saved.

According to these versions, salvation is now hard and one must generically believe — without attention to the object of his belief (“on me,” Christ said). Now, one is simply included in Christ without having to TRUST in Him. Even the gospel no longer stresses the importance of HOW Christ died, nor is it through the blood that brings redemption. The supremacy of preaching is replaced by emphasizing the message, and people are no longer saved but are BEING SAVED as if over a period of time! Finally, there is no Calvary to be found anywhere in the modern versions! (OBSA pgs. 53-73).

King James Bible Ref. Salvation Attacked in the Modern Versions
... to save that which was lost. Mat 18:11 VERSE OMITTED!
... not come to destroy... but to save them. Lk 9:55-56 ...they went to another village.
... how hard it is for them that trust in riches Mk 10:24 ... how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God.
... believeth on me hath everlasting life Jn 6:47 He who believes has everlasting life.
... in whom ye also trusted... Eph 1:13 ... you also were included in Christ...
...If thou believest with all thine heart... Acts 8:37 VERSE OMITTED!
...gospel... how that Christ died for our sins... 1 Cor 15:1-4 ...gospel... that Christ died for our sins...
...redemption through his blood... Col 1:14 ...redemption...
preaching of the cross... unto us which are saved 1 Cor 1:18 ...message of the cross... to us who are being saved
... made the righteousness of God. II Cor 5:21 ...might become the righteousness of God
... the blood of Jesus Christ... 1 Jn 1:7 ... the blood of Jesus...
... come to the place... called Calvary Lk 23:33 ... came to the place called the Skull

Thee's & Thou's

The second person pronoun in all modern versions is eliminated and replaced with the generic “you” with no distinction for singular or plural. The King James Bible, faithful to the original language distinctions, uses “you,” “ye” and “your” as plural pronouns. “Thee”, “thou,” “thy” and “thine” are always singular. Remember: “Y”=plural, “T”=singular!

Oswald T. Wallis wrote: “It is incorrect to claim that the 'thou' represents the usage of the 1611 period when the AV (King James Bible) was prepared and that that usage is out of date and should be rejected for that very reason. Such a claim misrepresents the facts. The AV usage is not Jacobean or 17th century English. It is biblical English. The Greek of the New Testament distinguishes between the singular and the plural forms of the second person. The AV makes this distinction simply because NT Greek does so, and because that is the only way to translate the Bible correctly.” (OBSA, p. 152, quoting: Oswald T. Wallis, The New English Bible, The New Testament of 1961, A Comparative Study, n.p., 1963, p.69.)

Copyright

There are hundreds of copyrighted versions of the Bible today, each trying to grab a share of this billion dollar industry. In order to warrant a new copyright, every modern translation must have enough changes. By law, new versions of the Bible cannot be copyrighted unless they are derivative works (new works). Enough changes must be made to legally qualify for copyright protection. Every publisher knows that no copyright means no money or royalties. This love of money has deceived far too many for far too long.

The King James Bible may be freely copied, printed and published without permission from anyone.

To order this tract or the book:

One Book Stands Alone (OBSA — 434-page hardback)

Dr. Douglas D. Stauffer - 866-344-1611 (toll free)

www.McCowenMills.com - P.O. Box 1611

Millbrook - AL 36054

A special thanks to Candace Jones, Michelle Goree and Janet Teem for their help in publishing.

© 2007 McCowen Mills Publishers LLC

Tract# OBSA 07-1004