Which Bible Should We Read 
A reader asked me which Bible (version) is the truth.
I can remember when I was a child thinking that the King James Version was the only Bible... period.
I also had the childish notion that the church I grew up in - I had to remain in or I would not make it to Heaven.
There are people today that are die hard King James readers and this is ok. I still quote the King James Version too.
What is not ok is to think that a person cannot come to salvation in Jesus unless he is reading the King James Version.
Let's remember that newer english versions have helped many to understand more clearly the Word of God in the english grammar that is spoken today, as compared to the grammar back in 1611.
I am reminded of when Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3;
" And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto 'babes' in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and 'strife', and 'divisions',
are ye not carnal, and walk as men? "
When I was a child I grew up reading the King James Version. Back then there were not as many english translations as there are today.
I can remember when the newer english translations came out I wondered in the back of my mind if they were really the word of God.
Even though I had difficulty as a child understanding some, not all but some of the words and phrases in the King James Version I still read it but would never admit to anyone that I had trouble with some of the old 1611 english grammar.
When I read my first newer english version I was surprised to see that it was still the Word of God, even though it was not the King James Version.
As a matter of fact, I found that it was easier for me to understand certain words and phrases that I had trouble with in the King James Version, in these newer english translations than it was for me in reading the King James Version.
When I got older and began seriously studying God's Word I realized that in studying there were some, few but some variances in interpretations of certain words. As a matter of fact it turned out that it was not really done in direct opposition to the King James Version but it was done in a way to help me understand more clearly in today's english grammar as compared to 1611 grammar. What variances and differences there are is not a life threatening issue that would keep anyone from coming to salvation nor cause anyone to lose his salvation over.
I still memorize the King James Version because of nostalgia and I do like the literary style of the King James Version.
However, I am not so childish as to think that unless I read the King James Version only, I cannot make it to Heaven.
This kind of ignorance, one would have to conclude that people in countries who do not speak english can never come to salvation because they are not reading the King James Version.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11;
" When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things. "
My friend, if we claim that the King James Version is the only way to know salvation and make it to Heaven, this is the same as saying that we must belong to a certain church to make it to Heaven.
This is resting our faith in the wrong thing again.
In actuality, we are resting our faith in the man King James of England and not in the Bible.
Paul did not write the King James Version... nor did the other writers of the Bible.
They wrote in their native language. The King James Version is one of many english translations of the native langauges of the Bible authors.
My friend, Jesus Himself quoted from the Septuagint which was a translation, not the parchment that Moses wrote on. Did that fact make the Septuagint untrustworthy? If so, then why did Jesus read from it?
I felt the need to address this issue as it occurred to me that it might be christians who think the only way to make it to Heaven is to read the King James Version and when they see the variances in interpretations of words and phrases in other newer english translations that it might cause them to eventually start questioning their faith and end up renouncing their faith.
Read my page... " Apostasy- an Ignored Topic "
First of all - I said at the beginning of my website within my introductory letter that I was not out to change anyone or try to convert others to my view because I already know most people will disagree with me. To attempt to convert someone to my view is the way cults are started... and there are enough of those out there.
I said clearly at the start for those who read my website that I was 'giving my readers something to think about'.
When the early church born again christians received Pauls', Peter's, Luke's, etc... letters they also received other letters written by people who tried to pass their letters off as being from God and/or Paul, etc. ( 2 Thessalonians 2:2 )
How did these early christians know which letters were valid and divinely inspired by God having been only written by mere men? Was it enough for Paul alone to tell them that his letters were the ones they should read and live by? Was it enough for Peter to tell them that his letters were also the ones they should adhere to? I doubt it, sincerely.
There is only one Spirit of God and He was in these christians - " And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth." ( 1 John 5:6 ) I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit guided these early christians in knowing which letters were from God and which were not... much the same way in the translations of the early manuscripts used in our Bibles of today. What I mean is, it is quite obvious what bibles of certain religions, sects and cults that are certainly not of God. We know this because of God's Spirit who is in us.
1 John 4:1-6 says; ( this passage is lengthy but needful )
" Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
You dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. "
The key in this passage is the phrase "Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God."
The newer translations ( and I mean translation, not a commentary,that I have read) from the early mss all agree that Jesus is God and came in the flesh. While there are variances in translations of certain words and phrases, it does not discredit the accuracy of getting the message of salvation across.
The only flawless perfect 'inspired of God' writing would be the parchment that Paul wrote on.
These writings are referred to as the 'autographs'.
What came later were copies made of these autographs which in later centuries were translated into langauages for the common people to understand. There will always be human error involved and variances in word meanings but God kept His truth alive in spite of these human errors and we can read newer english translations of these copies and trust in it as if it were the original autographs.
My friend, we should not rest our faith in the man King James. This would make our faith null and void if we do this. We should not think that his version is the only way we can understand salvation and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
Remember those who are saved who cannot read english. I know for a fact that they have the Word of God too, even though it is not the King James Version.
The Lord has people around the world that belong to Him, not just us.
Wayne Brown
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