Bible Translation Part 4: Modern Versions Considered

Note: The personal opinion contained in this post is intended neither to represent nor to undermine the position of any organization of which I am or have been a part; neither is my purpose to create controversy with those of differing opinions. Rather, I desire to provide interested parties with relevant information to aid in objective analysis and potential decision-making.

The KJV translators recorded in their preface: "How shall men meditate on that which they cannot understand?" These men hit upon a central teaching found in I Corinthians 14:1-19. As Paul addresses the speaking of tongues (known languages) in this passage, his emphasis is on understanding. "Edification and exhortation and consolation" (v. 3) cannot happen without understanding. Only those who understand the language can profit from it (v. 4). Without interpretation, so that the listeners know the essence of the communication, there is no edification (v. 5). Edification is again emphasized in vs. 12 and 17, with the prerequisite being that listeners "know what you are saying" (v. 16).

Languages constantly change in both structure and vocabulary. For many years the King James Version was updated in order to remain current with changing speech. When Blayney produced a best-to-that-point edition in 1769, known errors had basically been corrected and language had been updated repeatedly; however, the practice of revision essentially stopped there. Since then, successive generations of KJV readers have found the wording to be increasingly antiquated.

A survey in the late 1900s found that 90% of Americans had a Bible. Respondents owning a Bible were asked if they read it. Those who answered negatively were asked why they didn't, and 40% said it was because they didn't understand it. Obviously, there are other factors involved, such as the natural man not understanding the things of God, but there is also a language barrier that is part of the process when people are reading a Bible with dated language and style.

I have personally seen the following examples of difficulty modern readers have with the KJV text. People don't know what to do with "thee" and "thou"; schoolchildren finding the words in assignments substitute wrong pronouns. Children memorizing verses substitute words for what are non-words to them. People are confused by "-est" verb endings and irregular verb forms like "dost," "hast," and "wilt." Long-time Christians admit to not reading the Bible at home because they don't understand it. Some people adapt by using old dictionaries for clarification. The spiritual insights of some teachers are primarily limited to their learning the meaning of archaic English words. Even preachers base messages on modern meanings of outdated words, sometimes changing the flavor of the passage. Preaching requires extra time to explain words that are no longer current.

Many KJV words are unknown to modern readers: "wrought," "draught," "shamefacedness," "dissimulation," "mammon," and "lucre." The meanings of some words have changed: "charity," "conversation," "temperance," "let," and "prevent." Some words have changed so much that we don't want to have to explain to our children why they shouldn't say them: "ass," "gay," or "piss." While many people have grown up with these KJV words and have been taught their meanings over time, there are still many cases in which long-term churched people read over such words without understanding. The challenges to anyone new to the KJV are incredibly greater, and each new generation is further removed from ready understanding.

In addition to the reality of changing language, the discovery of new manuscripts also legitimizes new translations. Thousands of additional manuscripts have been discovered since 1611. Three important discoveries involve ancient Bible texts, each of which includes the New Testament and at least large portions of the Old Testament: the Alexandrinus codex, dated the fifth century AD; the Vaticanus codex, dated the fourth century AD; and the Sinaiticus codex, dated the fourth century AD. Additionally, the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the 1940s, provide hundreds of manuscripts dating back to the third century BC. While there is little variation in these newly discovered ancient texts, in some cases they have provided clarification, improved accuracy, or presented alternate readings.

Changing to a modern translation is not always easy for various reasons. People feel comfortable with the style of what they have grown up with. They cherish the familiarity of memorized verses. They are facilitating institutional conformity. There can be time, cost, and inconvenience involved in choosing and buying a new Bible and then in transferring notes. Many Bible study resources are designed around the KJV.

For these reasons and more, some people prefer to continue with the KJV. They want to stick with the language and style that is familiar to them, whereas they may find the difference of modern language to be distracting. A modern version may seem common and ordinary, rather than reverent or holy in its language. Many people consider a change unnecessary, having grown up with the KJV and having years of experience and teaching to help them understand it. For some the deciding factor is simply sticking with what they know to be good among all the questionable options. Sometimes fear-based teaching or false information have made the KJV seem like the only viable translation.

The KJV translators stated, "We affirm and avow that the very meanest [most common] translation of the Bible in English set forth by men of our profession containeth the Word of God - nay, is the Word of God." This is true for any translation sincerely done, which definitely includes the non-modern KJV. If the KJV were the only English translation available, we would still have a good and usable translation, but much depth of Scripture remains unexplored while effort is expended in sifting through the surface. Many people have profited greatly from changing to a modern translation.

Those who choose to continue with the KJV should be left in peace. Those who choose an accurate modern translation should also be left in peace. Compassion and realism must be exercised in allowing an accessible and understandable Bible for the un-churched and for younger generations, lest they reject the Bible as obsolete.

God wants His Word to be understood. Rather than literary or high Greek, the New Testament was given in common Greek. The Bible should be accessible to individuals, not church-dependent as the Catholic church has historically promoted.

(Some of this material was gleaned from teaching by Dr. Mark Minnick. For additional resources, visit www.mountcalvarybaptist.org, choose the Resources tab, then Translations.)