"The King James Version Only?" by James Rochford

Here is my critique of "The King James Version Only?" written by James Rochford. His article is in red font, my comments are in brackets. 

Problems with Viewing the KJV as Inspired or Inerrant 

[Rochford titles this section with "problems with viewing the KJV as inspired". This is a dishonest title, because what he really believes is that no single book, manuscript, copy, translation, or Bible is inspired or inerrant. He does not believe that Stephanas (1550), RV (1881), Siniaticus (330), NIV (1973), Nestle/Aland 27th Edition (2006), nor the NKJV (1972) are inspired or inerrant. So why is he wasting time writing about why the KJB is not infallible? Why doesn't he just come out and say that he does not believe that any Bible is infallible? He must not want anyone to know what he really believes about inspiration and inerrancy.] 

Beyond the textual argument listed above, there are additional other problems with accepting the inerrancy or infallibility of the KJV:

REASON #1: Erasmus—the writer of the Textus Receptus—didn’t believe his manuscript was inerrant or infallible.

The Textus Receptus was Erasmus’ Greek publication that was used for the KJV translation of 1611. However, Erasmus himself didn’t believe his manuscript (the TR) was inerrant. He writes, “You must distinguish between Scripture, the translation of Scripture, and the transmission of both. What will you do with the errors of the copyists?” Elsewhere, he writes, “Whenever a catalog of nouns occurs, whether you consult the Greek or Latin exemplars, there are differences. This is due to the forgetfulness of the scribes, for it is difficult to remember these kinds of things.”

[First of all, what does Erasmus's theology have to do with Christians believing that the KJB is the word of God? Why would we let Erasmus be our authority and not God? I am a Christian, not a Roman Catholic. I wonder what Rochford is, since what man thinks about the Bible actually means something to him.

Second, Erasmus did not "write the TR", he compiled the manuscripts that make up the TR. Being a compiler and being a writer is entirely different.  

Third, the TR compiled by Erasmus was not what was used by the 1611 KJB translators. They used Stephanas and Beza (which is similar to Erasmus), but they also used Latin/French/Syriac/German/Spanish and other Bibles as well. That is why the KJB title page says "translated out of the original tongues AND with former translations diligently compared and revised".

Fourthly, whether Erasmus or anyone else makes "distinctions" between scripture and "translation of scripture", GOD makes no such distinctions...

There are hundreds of Old Testament quotes (originally written in Hebrew) that are found written in the New Testament (originally written in Greek). God inspired New Testament writers to quote Hebrew writings in Greek, those are inspired translations. [Note: some would contend that Jesus and the apostles did not quote Hebrew scriptures but rather a so called Greek "Septuagint". But there is no record of any Septuagint existing before 250-330 AD. Jesus quoted HEBREW scriptures, not a Greek translation according to Matthew 5:17-20.]

Acts 21:40-22:21 records an inspired translation. Notice that Paul speaks in HEBREW "And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,...." BUT Luke wrote Paul's words down in the New Testament in GREEK. God used Luke to write a perfect translation of what Paul said in Hebrew.

Here is a whole list of inspired translations found within the Bible:

A.) Ge 42:18-20; cf Ge 42:23: Joseph spoke in Egyptian; his words were recorded in Scripture in Hebrew
B.) Ezra 4: A Syrian letter. The “copy” follows Ezra 4:11 in Hebrew.
C.) Ps 110:1; cf Lu 20:42-43: A Greek translation of a Hebrew Psalm.
D.) Mark 5:41: Aramaic translated into Greek.
E.) Acts 22: Paul spoke to them in Hebrew (Ac 22:2); Luke recorded it in Greek.
F.) Acts 26:14: Paul recites to Agrippa what Jesus said to him in Hebrew, and it is recorded in Greek.
G.) Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34 : From Hebrew OT text (Ps 22:1) To Aramaic (in two spellings of the same word; Eli = Eloi) Transliterated from Aramaic into Greek. Translated right inside the verses from Aramaic into Greek.

(list given by Mr. Brandon Staggs of AV1611.com) ]   

REASON #2: The original KJV translators in 1611 did not hold their translation as inerrant or inspired.

The Preface of the original KJV—entitled The Translators to the Reader—explains: “As Saint Augustine saith, that variety of Translations is profitable for the finding out of the sense of the Scriptures.” Moreover, the original version contained 6,637 marginal notes that explained a more literal rendering of the Greek or Hebrew.

[This reason is similar to the first one, Rochford is telling us that we must base our belief in the infallibility of scripture on what other men believe....God and His word have nothing to do with it. I don't know what type of "christian" Rochford is, but when it comes to belief in the word of God he is obviously Roman Catholic. No good Christian would base his belief in the infallibility of scripture on what other men believe. The Bible says that it is inspired and preserved--therefore I believe it.

This is what I believe about the Bible, from my statement of faith page:
{I believe that every word in the King James Bible is inspired and preserved (Joshua 1:8, Isaiah 30:8, 40:8, 55:10-11, 59:21, Psalms 12:6-7, 100:5, 117:2, 119:89-91, 119:160, 1 Peter 1:23-2:2, Matthew 5:17-18, 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33, John 6:63, 10:35, 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, and Ephesians 5:26-27). This has been proven in that the KJB is supported by the majority of manuscripts as well as supported by the best and most accurate manuscripts. The origin of the readings of the King James Bible come from Antioch, the place where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). The King James Bible was authorized by a King, therefore it has more authority and power than any other translation of its day (Eccl. 8:4). There are no errors in the King James Bible whatsoever. 

The italic words in the King James Bible are equally inspired as the rest of the text (Psa. 16:8 with Acts 2:25, Deut. 25:4 with 1 Cor. 9:9/1 Tim. 5:8, Psa. 82:6 with John 10:34, Isa. 28:16 with 1 Pet. 2:6, Isa. 65:1 with Rom. 10:20, Deut. 8:3 with Mat. 4:4). 

The Bible is a living book (John 6:63, 1 Pet. 1:23). It is God manifest in a Book, the Holy Ghost  is in it (Eph. 6:17). Therefore the Bible is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12). The word of God knows  thoughts (mental knowledge) and also the "intents of the heart" (heart belief). The Bible is also said be all knowing, even to the point of forseeing what God does (Heb. 4:12-13, Gal. 3:8).

The Bible is an eternal book, I believe there has always been a copy of the Bible in heaven (Ps. 119:89). This is evident by the fact that the scripture is said to have existed before it was actually written here on earth (Rom. 9:17, Gal. 3:8). You cannot separate God from His word, the Bible is a part of Him (Rom. 9:17, Eph. 6:17).

The King James Bible is one of the Books that will be opened at the Great White Throne Judgment (Matt. 24:35, John 6:48, Rev. 20:12).

The Bible should be glorified by believers since God has magnified it above all His name (Ps. 138:2, Acts 13:48). It is to be published by believers and the Bible itself is our ministry (Acts 6:4, 13:49)

The Bible is more sure than words directly spoken by God from heaven (2 Pet. 1:18-19).}

Now I suppose that Mr. Rochford is making the point that since the KJB translators did not necessarily believe that their Bible was inspired, then it cannot be inspired. But that is not true. Rochford did not provide quotes from the 54 KJB translators saying that their Bible was not perfect. Secondly the Bible itself testifies that a man does not have to know that he is speaking by inspiration in order to be speaking by inspiration. Caiaphas spoke by inspiration and did not even know it. 

John 11:
[49] And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
[50] Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
[51] And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

Thirdly, did the writers of Siniaticus and Vaticanus believe that there work was inspired? Did Nestle believe his Greek texts were inspired? Do the translators of the NIV, NKJV, ESV, etc. believe that their bibles are inspired? Of course not. In fact, there are many books in the Bible where the author did not claim to be inspired and did not claim that his books were scripture. Does Jude claim to be inspired? What about Ruth or Ester? There are plenty of books that do not claim to be inspired, should we reject their inspiration? Of course not, but for Rochford to be consistent he would. 

Rochford does not believe that any Bible, manuscript, translation, or copy is inspired. Man is his authority.]   

REASON #3: Not all King James Bibles are exactly the same with one another.

The KJV itself has undergone many changes since it was first printed in 1611. White writes, “Most people are not aware of the substantial use of textual notes and alternate readings in the original 1611 KJV—most modern editions do not contain these items. Finally, we will note that not all King James Bibles today have the same text; that is, printed editions of the KJV differ from one another, presenting additional difficulties for the most radical proponents of a human translation’s infallibility.” He adds, “The KJV carried by the average KJV Only advocate today looks very different than the edition that came off Robert Barker’s press in 1611. Not only do many printings of today’s KJV lack the marginal notes and references, but the form and the wording of the text has undergone change over time.”

[Classic. What Rochford is leaving out is the fact that the only changes made in the KJB text  have been in font, spelling, and the removal of thousands of typos and misprints. One such misprint is the removal of "not" in "thou shalt not commit adultery". For a thorough look at these different editions I recommend Dr. D.A. Waite's The King James Bible Defended and A Visual History of the King James Bible by Donald Brake.

Secondly, the editions of the NIV and NASB differ in hundreds of places. See Dr. Laurence Vance's NASBU Double Jeopardy and David Daniel's Missing in Modern Bibles.

Here is an example of a modern translation having different editions:

King James Bible Judges 1:14 And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?

New English Bible (1970 edition, later revised in 1989) Judges 1:14 "As she sat on the ass, she broke wind, and Caleb asked her, What did you mean by that?"

Modern NEB's don't say "broke wind", the edited that later.] 
 

One of the primary reasons for the changing of the KJV over the years is the disagreement in the Byzantine text. Carson writes, “No two manuscripts in the Byzantine tradition agree perfectly.” For this reason, translators need to constantly revise and update their conclusions and interpretation, trying to constantly represent the original manuscripts of the apostle’s as faithfully as possible.

[This is a blatant lie. The KJB has never changed on the basis of manuscript evidence and the Byzantine Text. The translators of the KJB never updated the KJB readings never retranslated. Carson is being dishonest, perhaps he is mistaking the King James Bible with the NEW King James Version.]

Of course, these variants are minimal. As we’ve argued elsewhere, the textual variants in the NT are very minor, representing only one percent of the text. In fact, even biblical critic Bart Ehrman admits, “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.” Christian textual critics Darrell Bock and Daniel Wallace write, “We noted the kinds of errors that are to be found in the copies. The vast majority of them are quite inconsequential. And less than 1 percent of all textual variants both affect the meaning of that verse (though none affects core doctrine) and have some plausibility of authenticity.” Therefore, we shouldn’t think that the differences in manuscripts nullify our ability to know what the apostles wrote.

[What Rochford is trying to say is that the changes made between the KJB and the modern versions do not really matter and we shouldn't worry about it. He wants us to just ignore the differences and get along. But you can't ignore the differences, two bibles that say different things cannot be the same....

The underlined PHRASES are DELETED in the New International Version. (not counting the entire verses that the NIV omits)

From my notes taken from The Understandable History Of The Bible (Sam Gipp), If The Foundations Be Destroyed (Chick Silliby), and Jack Moorman's Early Manuscripts, Church Fathers, And The AV, and Dr. Floyd Nolen Jones's Ripped Out of the Bible.. 

Matthew 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her  firstborn son. 

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Matthew 9:13 For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 

 Matthew 16:3 O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. 

Matthew 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. 

Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first and the first last: for many be called but few chosen. 

Matthew 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows'  houses,  and for  a pretence make  long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 

Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 

Mark1:14     Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
1:31     and  immediately the fever left her.
2:17     I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
6:11     Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in   the day of judgment than for that city.
7:8       Ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other   such like things ye do.
7:16     If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
9:44     Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
9:46     Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.9:49     For every one shall be salted with fire and every sacrifice shall be salted       with salt.
10:21   come, take up the cross, and follow me.
10:24    Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God.
11:26    But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
13:14    But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet.
13:33    Take ye heed, watch and pray.
14:68    And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
15:28    And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

Luke
1:28     the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
2:43     Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
4:8       And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan:
9:54     Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
9:55     But he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
11:2-4  When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth…but deliver us from evil.
11:29   they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
17:36   Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
22:31   And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you.
22:64   And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face.
23:17   For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.
23:38   And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

John 1:27     He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me.
3:13     And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
5:3-4    In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water:  whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
6:47     He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
11:41   Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.
17:12   While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name.

Acts 10:6     he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
20:32   And now, brethren, I commend you to God.
24:6-8  Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, Commanding his accusers to come unto thee.
24:15   there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust.
28:16   And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard.
28:29   And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had great reasoning among themselves.

Romans 1:16     I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.   
9:28     For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
10:15   How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace.
13:9     Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness.
14:6     He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks.
14:21   whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
15:29   I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

I Corinthians 5:7        For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
7:5       that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer.
7:39     The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth.
11:24   Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you.

Galatians 3:1        who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth.

Ephesians 5:30     For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
6:10     Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord.

Philippians 3:16     Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Colossians 1:14     In whom we have redemption through his blood.
3:6       the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.

II Thessalonians 1:8        In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God.

I Timothy 1:17     immortal, invisible, the only wise God.
4:12     in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
6:5       destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

II Timothy 1:11     I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Philemon 1:12     Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him.

Hebrews 1:3      when he had by himself purged our sins.
2:7      thou crownedst him with glory and honour and didst set him over the works of thy hands.
7:21     Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
10:34    knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

I Peter 4:1      Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh.
4:14    on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
5:11    To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

II Peter 2:17    to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

I John 2:7      The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
5:7,8    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.

Jude 25       To the only wise God our Saviour.

Revelation 2:13     I Know thy works, and where thou dwellest.
6:1       one of the four beasts saying Come and see. Also in verses 3, 5 and 7.
11:17   Saying, We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come.
12:12   Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea.
16:17   there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven.
21:24   And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

This is why the NIV is missing 64,000 words and 15 entire verses! ] 

REASON #4: Since the KJV of 1611 was published, several thousand more Greek manuscripts have been found—even in the Byzantine family.

Erasmus published the TR with only six Greek manuscripts in 1516. Since then, thousands of Greek manuscripts have been found. Carson writes, “To keep a correct perspective it is important to note that the TR is not exactly the same as the Byzantine tradition. The Byzantine text-type is found in several thousand witnesses, while the TR did not refer to one hundredth of that evidence.” The translators of the KJV did the best with the manuscript evidence that they originally had. However, thousands of manuscripts have been discovered since they made their translation! We should utilize all of these manuscript discoveries in order to better understand what the original autographs contained.

[Classic. What Rochford failed to mention is that while there have been new manuscripts discovered, there has not been any new READINGS discovered. The readings we have today are the same available readings that we had in 1611.]

REASON #5: The apostles valued the MESSAGE of the Bible more than a specific TRANSLATION.

When the NT authors cite the OT, they use a variety of translations. They never cite the OT in its original Hebrew. Instead, they quote from a popular—though surely flawed—translation called the Septuagint (LXX). They also quote from other OT translations, so that they could write to their Greek speaking, contemporary audience. If the apostles didn’t believe in one dogmatic translation of the Bible, why should we?

[First of all, the apostles valued the WORDS of God more than anything else. You cannot have a "message" without the WORDS OF GOD. How could Rochford make such as statement when the Bible only uses the word "message" 7 times??? According to Acts 13:48, "they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord".

Secondly, there is no evidence that Jesus and the apostles quoted any "Septuagint". The latest copies of any complete Greek OT are dated in 330 AD....long after the time of the apostles. A B.C. Septuagint that the apostles quoted from is a figment of Rochford's imagination. 

Jesus used a HEBREW Old Testament (Matt. 5:18) and that is how He spoke to Paul (Acts 26:14). Paul preached in Hebrew (Acts 21:40).

Besides that, the apostles used Bibles that they believed were HOLY (not "surely flawed"), SURE, FAITHFUL, GIVEN BY INSPIRATION, QUIK, POWERFUL, LIVING, TRUTH, ALL AUTHORITY, etc.

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.  

Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:
[15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

1 Peter 1:
[23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
[24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
[25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
 
We might also point out that the KJV is difficult to read for newer readers who haven’t grown up with it. More colloquial translations should be used for this reason alone, if it will make the message of God clearer (1 Cor. 9:20-22).

[Had you rather read a pure Bible that is "difficult to read" or a corrupt bible that is easy to read?]

Before we conclude, let’s consider popular arguments of the KJV Only position:

ARGUMENT#1: The Byzantine text has far more manuscripts than other families.

CLAIM: KJV Only advocates argue that 80% of the manuscripts come from the Byzantine text. Why, they ask, would we not use the textual family that contains the main source of our manuscripts?

[Here is the "claim" in more detail...

Modern versions of the bible are based on Greek manuscripts from Alexandria, Egypt. No more than 50 Greek manuscripts represent the Alexandrian Text (also known as "critical text"). These are the manuscripts by which  the Catholic bibles and the Jehovah's Witnesses "New World Translation" come from. The two most famous of these manuscripts are Aleph (Siniaticus--discovered in 1844) and B (Vaticanus--discovered in the Roman Catholic Vatican library in 1481). Both teach that Jesus Christ was the "begotten God" (just like the Watch Tower Society) in John 1:18 instead of the "begotten Son" as it says in the King James Bible. The Vaticanus and Siniaticus manuscripts differ in 3,000 places in Gospels alone, and then they differ 4,000 more times in the rest of the New Testament. They both call Joseph the "Father" of Jesus Christ in Luke 2:33 where the King James Bible says "Joseph".

Vaticanus omits the books: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews 9:15-13:25, and Revelation.

Vaticanus lacks these verses: Matthew 12:47; 16:2b-3; Matthew 17:21; 18:11; Matthew 23:14; 7:16; 9:44.46; 11:26; 15:28; Mark 16:9-20; 17:36, 22:43-22:44|44; 5:4, John 7:53-8:11; Acts 8:37; 15:34, 24:7; 28:29; Romans 16:24.

Vaticanus lacks major phrases from these verses: Matthew 5:44, Matthew 10:37, Matthew 15:6, Matthew 20:23, Mark 10:7, Mark 10:19, Luke 9:55-56, Luke 11:4, Luke 23:34, Acts 27:16.

Vaticanus adds these books: Maccabees, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Judith, Tobit, Baruch.

Siniaticus adds the epistle of Barnabas and the shepherd of Hermes to the New Testament and it adds Maccabees, Judith, Tobit, Sirach, and Wisdom to the Old Testament. 

Siniaticus omits Genesis 23:19-24:46, Numbers 5:26-7:20, 1 Chronicles 9:27-19:17 from the Old Testament. It also omits the following verses from the New Testament: Matthew 12:47, 16:2b-3, 17:21, 18:11, Mark 7:16, 9:44, 9:46, 15:28, 16:9-20, Luke 17:36, 22:43-44, John 5:4, John 16:15, 20:5b-6, John 21:25, Romans 16:24.

Siniaticus also omits major phrases from these verses: Matthew 6:13, Matthew 13:35, Mark 1:1, Luke 23:34.

Vaticanus omits 2,877 words from the New Testament and Siniaticus omits 3,455 words from the New Testament.

The manuscript evidence for the Alexandrian Text of Egypt are these:

Papyrus: 15%  support the Alexandrian Text (or 13/88 manuscripts)
Unical: 3% support the Alexandrian Text (or 9/267 manuscripts)
Cursive: 1%  support the Alexandrian Text  (or 23/2764 mansucripts)
Lectionary: 0%  support the Alexandrian Text  (0/2143 manuscripts)


On the other hand, there is the "Textus Receptus" (Received Text) of Antioch, Syria (Antioch was the head quarters of the apostles and prophets in the New Testament--Acts 11:19-27, 13:1, 15:35, etc.). The Textus Receptus is what the Luther Bible was translated from, and also the Tyndale/Coverdale, Matthew's, Geneva, Bishop's, and finally the King James Bible.

The manuscript evidence for the Textus Receptus and King James Bible are these....

Papyrus: 85%  support the Textus Receptus (or 75/88 manuscripts)
Unical: 97% support the Textus Receptus (or 258/267 manuscripts)
Cursive: 99%  support the Textus Receptus (or 23/2764 mansucripts)
Lectionary: 100%  support the Textus Receptus (2143 manuscripts)

Also, most ancient translations support the Textus Receptus. This includes the following:
 
The Peshitta Version (AD 150), 
The Italic Bible (AD 157), 
The Waldensian (AD 120 & onwards), 
The Gallic Bible (Southern France) (AD177), 
The Gothic Bible (AD 330-350), 
The Old Syriac Bible (AD 400), 
The Armenian Bible (AD 400 There are 1244 copies of this version still in existence.), 
The Palestinian Syriac (AD 450), 
The French Bible of Oliveton (AD 1535), 
The Czech Bible (AD 1602), 
The Italian Bible of Diodati (AD 1606), 
The Greek Orthodox Bible (Used from Apostolic times to the present day by the Greek Orthodox Church). 

There are 86,000+ citations from scripture by the early "church fathers", most of these quotations support the Textus Receptus. 

In total, the Textus Receptus is supported by 95% of the available information from the ancient translations, Greek manuscripts, and "church father" quotations.

Modern bible versions are based off the Egyptian Greek manuscripts that are highly corrupt. 
 
Here are verses omitted in the ESV, NASB, NIV, and most other Alexandrian text-based versions. Matthew 17:2, Matthew 18:1, Matthew 23:14, Mark 7:16, Mark 9:44, Mark 9:46, Mark 11:26, Mark 15:28, Luke 17:36, John 5:4, Acts 8:37, Acts 15:34, Acts 24:7, Acts 28:29, Romans 16:24, I John 5:7.]
 

RESPONSE: A number of observations can be made:

First, textual scholars DO utilize the Byzantine family. Because the Byzantine family contains ancient manuscripts, textual critics of course utilize this group of manuscripts. However, they do not favor this family—as KJV Only advocates do—nor do they refuse to look at other families of manuscripts. Instead, textual scholars utilize all existing manuscripts.

Second, textual scholars often favor other textual families, because the Byzantine family was developed later in history [LOL]. As we have already seen, the Byzantine family is later than the other manuscript families [LOL]. Even if there are more Byzantine manuscripts, this doesn’t mean that these are more accurate to the original NT autographs. As one scholar argued, would you rather have one real hundred dollar bill or five fake ones? Since the other manuscript families were written earlier, we should consider these as more reliable.

[Actually, the Byzantine readings are much earlier than the Alexandrian. The Old Latin and Old Syriac (150 AD) both support the Byzantine readings as well as other early manuscripts.

Secondly, what does AGE have to do with accuracy? Paul said that MANY people were CORRUPTING the word of God in his day (2 Cor. 2:17, 4:2). 

What makes a manuscript accurate is #1 WHO is doing the copying, #2 WHY the copy was made, and most importantly #3 WHAT is it a copy of?]

Many wonder why there are more Byzantine manuscripts than any other. This is no doubt due to the fact of Christian persecution in the first three centuries of the church. Once Christianity became legal in the fourth century under Constantine, thousands of manuscripts were made. White writes, “After the faith became legal at the beginning of the fourth century, more accurate methods of copying and more professional copyists helped to ‘freeze’ the readings of the text, keeping variation due to unprofessional scribal work down to a minimum in the centuries that followed.” However, if the manuscripts had been slightly corrupted before this time, then this could have produced various errant texts.

[You speak of this as if it were about any other book. However, we are talking about a living eternal Book that can foresee what God does and knows the heart of man...

The Bible is a living book (John 6:63, 1 Pet. 1:23). It is God manifest in a Book, the Holy Ghost  is in it (Eph. 6:17). Therefore the Bible is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12). The word of God knows the  thoughts (mental knowledge) and also the "intents of the heart" (heart belief). The Bible is also said be all knowing, even to the point of foreseeing what God does (Heb. 4:12-13, Gal. 3:8).

The Bible is an eternal book, I believe there has always been a copy of the Bible in heaven (Ps. 119:89). This is evident by the fact that the scripture is said to have existed before it was actually written here on earth (Rom. 9:17, Gal. 3:8). You cannot separate God from His word, the Bible is a part of Him (Rom. 9:17, Eph. 6:17). The King James Bible is one of the Books that will be opened at the Great White Throne Judgment (Matt. 24:35, John 6:48, Rev. 20:12). The Bible is more sure than words directly spoken by God from heaven (2 Pet. 1:18-19). The Bible is divinely preserved by God (Joshua 1:8, Isaiah 30:8, 40:8, 55:10-11, 59:21, Psalms 12:6-7, 100:5, 117:2, 119:89-91, 119:160, 1 Peter 1:23-2:2, Matthew 5:17-18, 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33, John 6:63, 10:35, 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, and Ephesians 5:26-27).]
 
ARGUMENT#2: Modern translations remove the deity of Christ from the Bible. 

[CORRECTION: Our argument is that the modern versions water down the doctrine of the Deity of Christ, not that it is removed altogether. The modern versions have contradictory statements on the Deity of Christ.]

CLAIM: KJV Only advocates often claim that modern translations corrupt essential Christian doctrines like the deity of Christ. Is this the case?

RESPONSE: Modern translations do disagree with certain passages—just as they disagree on other non-essential passages. However, modern translations like the NASB often contain strong translations on the deity of Christ that the KJV does not [LOL.]. Just compare these verses between the two translations:

Comparison of Deity Passages
NASB	KJV
(Jn. 1:18) No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.	(Jn. 1:18) No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
(Titus 2:13) Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.	(Titus 2:13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
(2 Pet. 1:1) To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.	(2 Pet. 1:1) Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

When we compare these passages, we quickly see modern translations often teach the deity of Christ in passages where the KJV does not. Therefore, it is unfair to say that modern translations distort key doctrines like this.

[First of all John 1:18 is not a statement FOR the deity of Christ in the NASB, it is AGAINST it. The New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses was the first ones to say that Jesus was a "begotten God" and the NASB is the only other translation that does that. The JWs and the NASB are the only translations that I can find that contain that reading. It is heretical, Jesus was not a "begotten GOD", you cannot beget God. However, you can beget a SON as all other versions read. The NASB and the NWT create two Gods, one that is begotten and one that is unbegotten. All Christians have recognized this as an error in the NWT and the NASB and most KJB Only books point out this error. 

Secondly, anyone with common sense can read 2 Peter 1:1 and Titus 2:13 and see the Deity of Christ. I don't see how either one is more clear than the other. I have always used both verses against the Unitarians and JWs. 

Now, here are some verses that Rochford wouldn't show you.....

Who was manifest in the flesh? The King James Bible makes it clear that Jesus Christ was GOD!

KJB

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

ESV (also NIV, RSV, NRSV, NASB, etc.)
1 Timothy 3:16

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world,  taken up in glory.

 

Who did Stephen call on? Again, the King James Bible refers to Christ as GOD!

 

ESV (also NIV and NASB)

Acts 7:59​ And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

KJB

Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

 

Who laid down His life for you? AGAIN the King James Bible is the one that says it was GOD who did that!

KJB

1 John 3:16 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.

 

NIV (also NASB, NKJV, and ESV)

1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

 

Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16--KJB) and He has been around from "everlasting" (Micah 5:2)....but not according to the NIV and ESV!

 

KJB 

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

NIV (also ESV)

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

 

Jesus Christ did NOT have "origins" from "ancient times" or "ancient days", He was "FROM EVERLASTING". 

 

Did Christ think that being equal with God was not a thing to be grasped like the ESV says? NO! He did not have to "grasp" being equal with God because He was already God, that is why the KJB says that He did not think it was robbery to be equal with God!

 

KJB

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

 

ESV

Philippians 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 

 

Was Joseph Christ's father? No! Christ was virgin born, but not according to the PERVERSIONS.

 

KJB

Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

 

NIV (also NASB, ESV, etc.)

Luke 2:33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

 

Now look at the Old Testament appearence of Christ in the Daniel 3:25., "He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." The modern versions change "the Son of God" to "a son of the gods"!!! 

 

There are hundreds more, but those are enough to prove the point.]

Mr. Rochford had a few other points, but I don't have time to go through them now. See his full article here
http://www.evidenceunseen.com/theology/scripture/the-king-james-version-only/

--Eli Caldwell