This page is written to examine some of the differences in the King James Bible and the New King James Bible. The NKJV markets itself as mainly only chaning the "thee's and thou's" but is this the truth?

 

Lets look at verses in the New King James Version where it isn’t just a matter of a word change but that when they change the word or phrase it also changes the meaning:

 

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (KJV)

John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- (NKJV)

 

Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. (KJV)

Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; (NKJV)

 

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (KJV)

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV)

(Commendeth means to commit or entrust; demonstrate means to show, prove. Although I believe God did both in Christ dying for us, commendeth is the stronger, more vivid word)

 

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (KJV)

1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (NKJV)

(There is a huge difference between the two verses. In the KJV it is speaking of the method – that is – preaching, which some might have considered foolishness. The NKJV refers to the message as foolish and NEVER is the Gospel message foolishness!)

  

2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. (KJV)

2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. (NKJV)

(There is a vast difference between corrupting the word of God and selling it. Which do you think they have done?)

 

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. (KJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil. (NKJV)

(It goes without saying we are to abstain from every form of evil. In the uncorrupted Word,  our instructions go farther than that – we are to abstain from the “appearance” of evil – if we obey that it would save us a lot of trouble!)

 

 1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: (KJV)

1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge-- (NKJV)

(Considering how much “science” today is false I believe the Lord knew what He was saying when He put science not just knowledge Example: evolution)

  

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. (KJV)

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

(Study can mean to “be diligent” but if taken in context it doesn’t it make sense it is telling us to study the word of God to be able to rightly divide it? Therefore the KJV has used the stronger, better word.)

 

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. (KJV)

1 John 3:16 By this we know love (OMITTED), because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (NKJV)

( Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, dying for us shows us not just “love” but the LOVE OF GOD. The NKJV chose to leave out something very important!)

 

1 John 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (KJV)

1 John 3:4  Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. (NKJV)

(The KJV is much clearer as to what law –“the law”- that is- the law of God.)

 

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (KJV)

John 1:3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (NKJV)

(Is He the Creator or not? The NKJV weakens the verse)

 

Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. (KJV)

Acts 3:13  "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. (NKJV)

  

And again in

Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. (KJV)

Acts 3:26 "To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." (NKJV)

(To what purpose did the NKJV change Son to Servant? It weakens the verse and attacks the diety of Jesus Christ in so doing. Would it surprise you that the NIV, RSV etc make the same change? Could the NKJV be coming from the same corrupt manuscripts at times? YES!)

 

Acts 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (KJV)

Acts 4:27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together (NKJV)

 

Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; (KJV)

Titus 3:10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, (NKJV)

 

Act 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: (KJV)

Acts 24:14 "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. (NKJV) 

 

This is not all the changes but I think it is enough to show that the NKJV is as guilty of corrupting verses as the other so-called new versions. Sometimes "new" is not better but rather is WRONG!