In the 1800’s B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort examined many manuscripts, made decisions where the manuscripts differed, and published a Greek New Testament of their results.
According to some KJV-Only defenders Westcott and Hort were heretics who are now roasting in hell, with none of their work fit to be used in any way. (Hence, all English translations of the Bible except the King James Version are works of the devil.)
Can other English translations of the Bible be trusted, besides the KJV? Were Westcott and Hort indeed deniers of the deity of Jesus, His resurrection from the dead, and the divine inspiration of Scripture, as some have asserted?
Per the videos below, some KJV-Only people knowingly misrepresented Westcott and Hort to make these claims about them. If you have time just for one video, watch the second.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV
32 “Now learnthis parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So you also, when you see all these things, knowthatit is near—at the doors!34 Assuredly, I say to you,this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV
34 “Buttake heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down withcarousing, drunkenness, andcares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, andpray always that you maybe countedworthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, andto stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 NKJV
The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. Psalms 119:130 NASB
How would employees respond to this request from their boss?
Get me a calculator!
The Boss
The response depends on when the boss is speaking. If it is January, 1960, Andy from the Calculations Department might show up with his slide rule, notebook and sharpened pencils, ready to do the calculations the boss needs done. I’m not kidding. Once upon a time in American English a calculator was a person who did calculations! Here is the 1828 definition.
CALCULATOR, noun One who computes or reckons; one who estimates or considers the force and effect of causes, with a view to form a correct estimate of the effects.
If instead it is January, 1980 when the boss says, “Get me a calculator!” someone may hand him a handheld device for performing mathematical calculations. (I bought this model, an HP 25, the summer of 1976.)
If “Get me a calculator!” is said in January 2023, the boss is likely to be handed a smartphone opened to a calculator app.
This shows how the first thing a person thinks of when the word calculator is used in a sentence has changed in my lifetime. So if you encounter the word calculator in a book or article it can mean different things depending on when the book or article was written.
Technical words are often short-lived. In 1981 I had a 300 BAUD acoustic modem to connect my H-19 terminal to the college mainframe. Nobody in 1960 and very few in 2023 know what that means.
The word conversation is in the KJV and many do not understand what conversation meant in 1611. Since its 1828 definition includes the word intercourse I write about them both in this 2020 post.
Today I watched again Mark Ward’s video on Noah Webster and his revision of the KJV. Highly recommended! The screenshot is from about the 10 minute point where Ward is discussing Webster’s revising of usury to interest because in 1611 usury just meant interest; the definition of usury as excessive interest developed later.
Language change affects how easily we understand the Bible. I benefit by reading translations in my modern English language. I’m so glad to no longer be a KJV-Only person! 😊
Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV
32 “Now learnthis parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So you also, when you see all these things, knowthatit is near—at the doors!34 Assuredly, I say to you,this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV
34 “Buttake heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down withcarousing, drunkenness, andcares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, andpray always that you maybe countedworthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, andto stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 NKJV
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV
If you have followed this blog for years, you may have noticed it has been a long time since I have written anything about Greek and Hebrew. This is due to teaching by Mark Ward. He has a Ph.D. in New Testament Interpretation and a mission to educate people that changes in the English language since 1611 have made some of the KJV passages difficult to understand, and therefore translations of the Bible into modern English are very beneficial. For example, many people know this verse.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
Study in this verse does not mean now what it meant in 1611. Ward discusses this False Friend in this delightful video. (A False Friend is a word that we don’t know that we don’t know, because of change in the English language.)
Besides these False Friends – words I did not know that I didn’t know because the English language changed – Ward’s videos have educated me on Bible manuscripts and translation principles. I learned I was at least somewhat guilty of using the Strong’s definitions as a buffet, inappropriately selecting meanings to make a particular theological point. Ward insists that context determines meaning, and I think I finally have an English-only illustration of this concept. See if this is helpful.
My mother had a saying about her vegetable garden that I’ll shorten to this.
We will eat what we can, and can the rest.
My mom 😊
The single word can has two different meanings in this short sentence. Using the definitions of can from Dictionary.com, this is what my mother meant.
We will eat what we are able to, and preserve the rest by sealing in jars.
What my mom meant 😊
How well does “We will eat what we can, and can the rest” automatically translate? Here it is translated into Latin by Google’s Translate.
The Swap Languages button translates the Latin back into English. This essentially tests the translation.
Does the original English meaning come back? No. “we can do the rest” does not connote to me preserving food in jars.
Here is the translation into Norwegian.
Does the original English meaning come back when we swap languages? Again, no.
The Thai language round-trip translation is no better.
I checked about a dozen languages, and none were translated into anything like, “We will eat what we are able to eat, and preserve the rest in jars.” Klingon was the biggest failure.
But wait, it gets worse!
The word can has another possible meaning in the sentence.
We will eat what we are able to, and throw the rest in the garbage.
What my mom might have meant 😊
How can you tell the true meaning of the 2nd can and accurately translate the sentence? You can’t, without more context. You need something like this …
We will eat what we can, and can the rest. Believe me, those vegetables will taste good when snow is on the ground.
… or this.
We will eat what we can, and can the rest. Take out the garbage before it starts to stink.
Hopefully this post explains Mark Ward’s teaching of context determines meaning for those of us who don’t know much about translating languages. It has helped me understand why some Greek and Hebrew words have many different meanings.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV
32 “Now learnthis parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So you also, when you see all these things, knowthatit is near—at the doors!34 Assuredly, I say to you,this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV
34 “Buttake heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down withcarousing, drunkenness, andcares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, andpray always that you maybe countedworthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, andto stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 NKJV
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 ESV
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 NKJV
Back in June 2020 I wrote the post Why I Decided Not To Buy An ESV Bible. The gist of the post was I didn’t think that the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts used for the ESV were accurate. An example is shown above, Romans 8:1 in both the ESV and NKJV. They use different Greek texts.
I watched many of Mark Ward’s videos, including the 7-video series, “The Textual Confidence Collective.” I realized I simply do not have the training to make Bible manuscript decisions. I have to trust the work of others, and ultimately trust God.
I read from the ESV a while on my iPhone and iPad and decided it did help me understand the Bible better. So I bought a copy that doesn’t need recharging. It didn’t hurt that it was on sale. 😉
I don’t expect to read it cover-to-cover before the rapture, but it should be precious to someone left behind. I put a copy of my Left-Behind Letter in it.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV
32 “Now learnthis parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So you also, when you see all these things, knowthatit is near—at the doors!34 Assuredly, I say to you,this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV
34 “Buttake heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down withcarousing, drunkenness, andcares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, andpray always that you maybe countedworthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, andto stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 NKJV
“It is the Spirit who gives life; theflesh profits nothing. Thewords that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63 NKJV
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27 NKJV
12 “I still have many things to say to you,but you cannot bear them now.13 However, when He,the Spirit of truth, has come,He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:12-13 NKJV
And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Luke 24:45 NKJV
Much more effort and meditation went into this article than is apparent from my few words. As a young Christian I became KJV-Only because a pastor told me the Textus Receptus (TR) was the only reliable manuscript, and the KJV had used the TR for its translation.
In time I rejected KJV-Only and now use many English translations. Yet the controversy continues, in my view damaging the Christian witness to unbelievers. One can find many videos like this on YouTube. (No, I am not including the link to the video.)
Mark Ward Video
In my view if there is just one error in the TR then the whole KJV-Only position should be discarded. This video discusses one such possible error, and it well illustrates why I gave up trying to evaluate the Bible’s underlying manuscripts – I just don’t have the time, training and resources required for such textual criticism. I have to trust that God is able to get me the Bibles He wants me to use.
(The video is just a few hours old, yet it has many sharp comments. 😟 😢 )
I am glad to use any English translation I believe God is ok with. The English language has changed much in 400 years, and the KJV is full of words whose meaning has changed – words I don’t know that I don’t know. I misunderstood parts of the KJV through no fault of my own, and no fault of the KJV translators. Using modern translations helps me understand.
Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV
32 “Now learnthis parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So you also, when you see all these things, knowthatit is near—at the doors!34 Assuredly, I say to you,this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV
34 “Buttake heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down withcarousing, drunkenness, andcares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, andpray always that you maybe countedworthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, andto stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 NKJV
Mark Ward has both a Ph.D. in New Testament Interpretation and a passion to free people from the error of KJV-Only. He believes people should use Bible translations written in their own language. Spoken and written English was very different in the 1600’s, and for many people the changes get in the way of understanding God’s Word. As a former KVJ-Only person I really appreciate the breadth and depth of his research, as well as his engaging and often humorous presentations.
He has many videos on False Friends, which are words that you don’t know that you don’t know. For example, consider the word Study in 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 2:15 KJV
Study in this context does not mean what it did in 1611. It has nothing to do with “hitting the books.” This is what it might as well say.
Grunlice to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
As these modern translations show, in 1611 Study in this context had the meaning of working hard, of being diligent.
I’m out of time so this post will have a sequel. Is anyone curious why a former KJV-Only person would watch hours of Mark’s videos? There are reasons. 🙂 Plus there are KJV-Only issues I have that he has not covered AFAIK.
(Isaiah 45:11 KJV messed me up for a while.)
Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV
32 “Now learnthis parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So you also, when you see all these things, knowthatit is near—at the doors!34 Assuredly, I say to you,this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV
34 “Buttake heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down withcarousing, drunkenness, andcares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, andpray always that you maybe countedworthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, andto stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 NKJV
Lift Up Your Eyes! 