First of all, the King James Bible had been around for hundreds of years before mankind (Westcott and Hort in the 1800's, necromancers, a communist, and Mary worshipers) decided that they knew better than God what His Bible should say, and they went about to add, remove, and change what they didn't like in the King James Bible! That is because the King James Bible convicts people of their sins and brings them to repentance and salvation by God's grace through faith in His Sinless Son, Jesus Christ! Westcott and Hort were deeply into the occult and other sinful stuff so that is why they hated the King James Bible so much. I hope you don't mind me adding this additional background information. I just hope it is helpful to you in your further study about the importance of which Bible you use!
The newer versions line up with the occult and new age ideas that Satan loves, and will lead to a one world bible when the Antichrist appears during the great tribulation period Jesus spoke about. Read Gail Riplinger's book, New Age Bible Versions, and learn the truth about the beliefs of the men and women behind the new 'Bible' versions. I think you will be shocked at their beliefs and their lifestyles. Link here.
Making new Bible versions every year today is big money for publishers. That is why they hate the King James Bible because it does not need any corrections and those who trust the KJB do not ever need to buy another Bible! That is bad news for the publishers who are not born again Christians trying to save men's souls, but business men and women out to make big bucks from naive Christians who are trusting the advertisers that each new version of the Bible is better than the last 100 other new versions!
Please read further, and then come to your own conclusions. What follows are just a few of the many changes that the writers of the NKJV have made to the real Word of God, the King James Bible. There are just too many changes in the NKJV to list here!
In this first Bible verse, the KJV speaks of Jesus as "thy holy child", meaning that Jesus is the holy Son of God, not the son of a human father.
But, the NKJV has changed "thy holy child" to "your holy servant". Why would the writers of the NKJV demote Jesus Christ, the Creator and Saviour of the world from being "thy holy child" (the Son of God) to a servant? The NKJV has repeated this error in Acts 4:30.
KJV
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,
NKJV
Acts 4:27...your holy Servant...
In this next verse, the KJV shows that we can understand how much God loves us because He "laid down his life for us" meaning that Jesus Christ (who laid down His life for us) is GOD ALMIGHTY!
The NKJV has removed "of God". Why remove the specific meaning of the verse - that our salvation would not be possible if it were not for GOD'S LOVE for us!
KJV
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.
NKJV
1 John 3:16...know love...
In this next verse the KJV mentions "Satan's seat". The NKJV has changed that phrase to "Satan's throne". Why is the NKJV elevating Satan to where he has a throne? Satan has no throne.
KJV
Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
NKJV
...Satan's throne...
In the next verse in the KJV it shows this servant fell down and worshiped Jesus.
But, the NKJV has removed "and worshipped him", thereby removing the worship given to our Lord and Saviour. Why would the writers of the NKJV remove the honor given to our Saviour who suffered and died for us?
KJV
Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
NKJV
Matthew 18:26..."worshipped him" has been removed...
Matthew 18:26..."worshipped him" has been removed...
In this next verse the KJV talks about God raising up His Son Jesus.
The NKJV changed Jesus from being God's Son to being God's Servant! Why would they demote Jesus that way, and take away His deity? Satan must love the writers and publishers of this 'bible' for demoting Jesus to a servant!!
The NKJV changed Jesus from being God's Son to being God's Servant! Why would they demote Jesus that way, and take away His deity? Satan must love the writers and publishers of this 'bible' for demoting Jesus to a servant!!
KJV
NKJV
Acts 3:26...His Servant Jesus...
In this next verse the KJV was talking about people who were corrupting the word of God.
The NKJV changed "corrupting the word of God" to "peddling" it. That is a bad translation! Corrupting the word of God and selling the word of God are not even closely related. Speaking of corrupting the word of God - this is it!
KJV
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.
NKJV
2 Corinthians 2:17...peddling the word of God...
In this next verse the KJV talks about us which "are saved".
The NKJV has changed "are saved" to "are being saved", which means the NKJV writers believe wrongly that salvation is an ongoing process.
Read Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Galatians 2:16, Romans 4:2 - 4:6, Romans 10:9-10, John 3:15-16 to see that we are NOT saved by anything that we can do!
Christ has already paid our sin-debt in full when he died on the cross and rose from the dead! Salvation is not a process. It's a done deal!! The NKJV has repeated this error in 2 Corinthians 2:15.
KJV
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
NKJV
1 Corinthians 1:18...are being saved...
In this next verse the phrase "repented not" in the KJV means that these people didn't feel any regret for past conduct.
The NKJV changed that word to "relent and believe" which just means these people didn't yield and believe.
Repenting and relenting do not mean the same thing. This is a bad translation.
Repentance (as shown in the KJV) is a requirement for salvation (Luke 13:3 and 13:5, Acts 3:19)! So, why did the NKJV writers change this important information God wanted us to know?
KJV
Matthew 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
NKJV
Matthew 21:32...relent and believe...
In this next verse the KJV is warning us of "eternal damnation" which means "to be condemned to eternal punishment". That's scary!
The NKJV has changed "eternal damnation" to "eternal condemnation". The definition of "eternal condemnation" means to be judged to be wrong for eternity. What a bad translation! There's a big difference between eternal punishment and being judged to be wrong. The NKJV verse has removed the scary warning God is giving the world in His Word, the KJV, so that they can read it, obey it and avoid everlasting punishment!
The NKJV has made that same error in all of these verses: Mark 12:40, John 5:29, Romans 13:2, Romans 14:23, and 1 Corinthians 11:29.
KJV
Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
NKJV
Mark 3:29...eternal condemnation...
In the next verse the KJV Jesus says "I am Christ". The definition of Christ is: the Hebrew Messiah, the Anointed One, the Saviour of the world.
The NKJV has changed "I am Christ" to "I am He". The NKJV writers have repeated this error in Luke 21:8. Why have they removed our Jesus' Holy Title of Honor as our Precious Messiah / Saviour?
KJV (Jesus said:)
Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
NKJV
Mark 13:6...I am He...
The KJV speaks of the Godhead which includes God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The NKJV has changed "the Godhead" to "the Divine Nature". What in the world does that mean? It sounds like new age occultic thinking, or maybe worship of nature!
And why would the NKJV change a reference to the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?
KJV
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
NKJV
Acts 17:29...the Divine Nature...
"Damnable heresies" in the KJV means errors in fundamental doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ that are worthy of eternal punishment!
"Destructive heresies" in the NKJV means heresies that cause destruction.
Changing "damnable heresies (KJV)" to "destructive heresies (NKJV)" removes God's critical warning to us about heresies that could send us to an eternity of punishment in hell! Why would the NKJV writers want to remove that warning so people could be saved from that horror of eternal punishment?
KJV
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
NKJV
2 Peter 2:1...destructive heresies...
In the KJV Paul is warning the Thessalonians (and all Christians) to abstain from "all appearance of evil", so that we don't damage our witness for Christ to unbelievers.
The NKJV writers have changed the meaning of the verse, watering down the message.
The message in the KJV is important for us to know...that even the "appearance of evil" in our words or actions could turn someone away from following Christ and avoiding punishment in hell for all of eternity!
KJV
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
NKJV
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
The NKJV writers have completely changed the meaning of this next verse.
In this next verse there is a difference between us being ashamed of Christ (KJV), and us being shamed (NKJV).
This verse in the KJV was meant to be about us being unashamed of our Lord and Savior who suffered and died in our place! The NKJV version is all about you, not about Jesus Christ.
KJV
Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
NKJV
Romans 10:11...will not be put to shame...
These are just a small sample of changes in the NKJV. This study does not address any additions or deletions from their text. All I can say to the writers and publishers of the NKJV is to read the following Bible verses soberly! God says what He means! And He always does what He says He will do!
Revelation 22:18 - 22:19
22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
