Herb Evans on the NKJV vs KJB

Used by permission of Dr. Herb Evans.

THE NKJV versus the KJB

The New King James Version starts of with the lie that it is a King James Version; it is not. The second lie is that it is faithful to the traditional Received Text or TR. It is not! Still, this is the translation that some say is BETTER than the AV KJB and is more faithful to the Greek. The NKJV also claims to make the "old" KJB "much clearer" by "updating obsolete words" (New King James Version, 1982 e. p. 1235). And if you think the NKJV just "innocently" updated the "obsolete words," removing the "thee’s and thou’s" - here's what the translators proudly admit: “IT IS CLEAR that this revision REQUIRED more than the dropping of "-eth" endings, removing, "thee's" and "thou's," and updating obsolete words." (The New King James Version, 1982e. p. 1235).

The Thomas Nelson Publishers have the audacity to claim in an ad for the NKJV (Moody Monthly, June 1982, back cover), "NOTHING HAS BEEN CHANGED except to make the original meaning clearer." In just the New Testament alone the NKJV removes 2,289 words from the KJV! The NKJV makes over 100,000 word changes! And many changes match the NIV, NASV, RSV, or RSV. The New King James is a COUNTERFEIT! It's NOT NEW! Many of the changes are already in the NIV, NASV, NRSV, or RSV! It is not the King James Bible!

The KJB versus the NKJV and the Godhead

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead (G2304) is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. -- Acts 17:29 (KJB)

Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine nature is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. – Acts 17:29 (NKJV)

[γενος ουν υπαρχοντες του θεου ουκ οφειλομεν νομιζειν χρυσω η αργυρω η λιθω χαραγματι τεχνης και ενθυμησεως ανθρωπου το θειον ειναι ομοιον ] --Acts 17:29 GNT

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: -- Rom. 1:20 (KJB)

For since the creation of the world His invisible things attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse, -- Rom. 1:20 NKJV

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. – Col. 2:9 (KJB)

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; – Col. 2:9 (NKJV)

According as his divine (G2304) power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine (G2304) nature (G5449), having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. -- 2 Pet. 1:3, 4 (KJB)

. . . as His divine (G2304) power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine (G2304) nature (G5449), having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. -- 2 Pet. 3, 4 (NKJV)

Taking great liberties with a Greek derivative (THEIOS) of the Greek THEOS (GOD), the New Age NKJV replaces "Godhead" with "Divine Nature" in Acts 17:29, as does the NIV. The pre KJB English Bibles say GODHEAD except for the Rheims bible which says “DIVINITE.” The RSV says “DEITY.” The JW bible outdoes the NKJV and the Rheims bible by rendering it “DEVINE BEING.”

How could the NKJV excuse something like the NKJV's use of "Divine nature" in Acts 17:29? Well, by referring to 2 Peter 1:3 and 4 in the KJB, which has “divine power” and “divine nature” in those passages. In the KJB “divine” is used as an adjective and “power” and “nature” as the nouns with both underlying words found in the Greek.

In Acts 17:29 "Theios" is the Greek noun without any underlying Greek “nature.” Still, the NKJV does reluctantly allow GODHEAD to remain in Romans 1:20 and Colossians 2:9. The Rheims goes with "Divinitie" in Rom. 1:20 and strangely with "GODHEAD" in Col. 2:9, while the ASV/RV goes with "divinity" (uncapitalized) in Romans 1:20 and Godhead in Col. 2:9. The RSV sticks with an uncapitalized “deity” in Romans 1:20 and Col. 2:9 but a capitalized Deity in Acts 17:29.

The NKJV Removal of Worship

The NKJV agrees with the AV in regard to worship in Matt. 15:25; 18:28; 289, and Acts 10:25 in regard to the translation of the Greek word. However, it makes a switch and follows the RSV in Matt. 20:20

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. -- Matt. 20:20 (KJB)

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him, with her sons, KNEELING DOWN, and asking something from him. -- Matt. 20:20 (NKJV)

The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord . . . -- Matt. 18:26 (KJB)

The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, Master . . . -- Matt. 18:26 (NKVV)

There are Greek words for kneeling, which are not found here. So, where does Tim get his Greek support for kneeling here? From the RSV, of course! Of course, the NKJV and others agree with the AV’s”worship” in Heb. 11:21 and 1 Cor. 14:24, for it is pretty hard to kneel while worshipping on your staff or falling on your face. The NKJV does not agree with the KJB in Matt. 18:26 and in fact REMOVES the word “worshipped” to which there is Greek support. Again, the NKJV follows the RSV while ignoring the Greek support. Actually, the JW bible does a better job than either by telling us that the servant fell down and did obeisance. What is the moral of this story? This version game is NUTS! Stick with your King James Bible!

VERSE COMPARISON of the KING JAMES BIBLE with the NEW KING JAMES bible

(1.) And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. -- Matt. 11:23 (KJB)

And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. -- Matt 11:23 (NKJb)

(2.) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. -- Matt. 12:40 (KJB)

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. -- Mat 12:40 (NKJb)

(3.) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. -- Matt. 16:18 (KJB)

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. – Matt. 16:18 (NKJb)

(4.) The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. -- Matt. 18:26 (KJB)

The servant therefore fell down (worshipped missing) before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' -- Mat 18:26 (NKJb)

(5.) Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. -- Matt. 20:20 (KJB)

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. -- Mat 20:20 (NKJb)

(6.) Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? -- Matt. 23:33 (KJB)

Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? -- Matt. 23:33 (NKJb)

(7.) But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: -- Mark 3:29 (KJB)

. . . but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation; -- Mark 3:29 (NKJB)

(8.) Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. -- Mark 12:40 (KJB)

who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation. -- Mark 12:40 (NKJb)

(9.) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. -- Mark 13:6

For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many. -- Mark 13:6 (NKJb)

(10.) . . . Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. -- Luke 10:15 (KJB)

. . . Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. -- Luke 10:15 (NKJb)

(11.) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. -- Luke 16:23 (KJB)

And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. -- Luke 16:23 (NKJb)

(12.) Abstain from all appearance of evil. -- 1 Th. 5:22 (KJB)

Abstain from every form of evil. -- 1 Thess 5:22 (NKJb)

(13.) 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. -- 1 Tim. 6:10 (KJB)

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. -- 1 Tim 6:10 (NKJb)

(14.) . . . keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: -- 1 Tim 6:20

. . . Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge . . . -- 1 Tim 6:20 (NKJb)

(15.) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. – 2 Tim 2:15 (KJB)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. -- 2 Tim 2:15 (NKJb)

(16.) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, -- 2 Tim. 3:3 (KJB)

. . . unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good . . . -- 2 Tim 3:3 (NKJb)

(17.) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. -- 2 Pet. 2:1 (KJB)

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. -- 2 Pet 2:1 (NKJb)

(18.) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. -- 1 John 3:16 (KJB)

By this we know love [of God missing], because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. -- 1 John 3:16 NKJb)

(19.) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. -- 1 John 5:13 (KJB)

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.- 1 John 5:13 (NKJb)

(20.) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. -- Rev. 1:18 (KJB)

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. -- Rev 1:18 (NKJb)

(21.) I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. -- Rev. 2:13 (KJB)

I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. -- Rev 2:13 (NKJb)

(22.) And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. -- Rev 6:8 (KJB)

So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. -- Rev 6:8 (NKJB)

(23.) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. -- Rev. 20:13 (KJB)

The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. -- Rev 20:13 (NKJb)

(24.) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. -- Rev. 20:14

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. -- Rev 20:14 (NKJb)

-- Compiled by Herb Evans