Modern Versions Do not Agree with Each Other
 
By Dr. Ken Matto
 
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.  (Psalm 71:1)
 
One of the most unprovable proclamations which emanates from the Modern Version Only Camp is that the modern Bibles are all made with superior manuscripts and the inclusion of manuscripts found since 1611.  Here are the two main manuscripts which undergird the modern versions:
 
Vaticanus – Rejected by Erasmus when he was compiling manuscripts for his first Greek edition of 1516 and rejected by the King James translators because of its massive corruption.  The Vaticanus was “found” in the Vatican in 1481 and has no history before that date yet “scholars” insist it is a 4th century document.
 
Sinaiticus – Recently determined to be a 19th century counterfeit written by Constantine Simonides in collusion with Constantine Tischendorf.  Tischendorf received a blessing from the Pope when he gave him a copy of Sinaiticus.  Some of the pages of Sinaiticus are completely white while others are darkened to look like they were aged.  If this manuscript was a 4th century manuscript, then all the pages should be equally dark from age and none should be so white that it looks like it was created yesterday.
 
How can a Christian build a stable Christian walk on an unstable counterfeit version?
 
If the modern versions are made from these two “superior” manuscripts then the modern version only crowd has a major problem.  The problem is that the modern versions do not agree with each other in many places.  When that is the case, how do you choose which version to believe since they were all made from superior manuscripts and latest finds? 
 
Let’s take a look at some of the disagreements among the modern versions which are the crowning glory of the modern Gnostic movement endorsed by seminaries and pastors who continue to refuse to think after they leave the unhallowed halls of their alma mater.
 
Genesis 1:26
(NIV-1984) Then God said, “let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
 
(NIV-2011) Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
 
On 9/1/2009 USA Today contained an article entitled “Update of Popular NIV Bible due in 2011.  The article quotes Keith Danby, who is President and CEO of Biblica, which formerly was the International Bible Society.  Danby is quoted as follows concerning the upcoming NIV 2011; “And we’ll make sure we get it right this time.”  This means that they didn’t get it right the first time.  According to their own admission the 1984 NIV was incorrect.  That means Christians who used the NIV from 1984 to 2011 used a corrupt Bible for those 27 years and that is by their own admission.
 
Guess what?  The 2011 NIV, they didn’t get it right!  The Hebrew word behind “earth” is “erets” which means “land, ground, fields, earth, country” but not animals.
 
(1769 KJB) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
 
(2005 KJB) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
 
If you notice above that a 1769 King James Bible says the same thing as a 2005 King James Bible.  No confusion in 236 years.
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Exodus 26:14
Which type of skins were used for the tabernacle?
 
(KJV) And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.
 
The Hebrew word used for Badger is “techashim” which is translated badger or badger’s 14 times in the Hebrew Scriptures.  It is not translated any other way until you get to the modern versions.
 
Sealskins – ASV, TLV and NWT (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Porpoise or Dolphin Skins – AMP, ISV, The Message, NASV
Beaded Leather - CEB
Fine Leather – CEV, ERV, GNB, LEB, NCV, NET, NRSV
Violet Colored Skins – DRA
Goatskins – ESV, LB, RSV, NLT
Manatee – HCSB (Large Marine Mammal)
Tahash – NABRE (Legendary animal no longer in existence)
Strong Leather – NIRV
Durable Leather – NIV
Sea-Cow Hides – The Voice
 
Here you have 25 modern versions and 10 different translations of the word for “badger.”  So if you used only modern versions, then how would you know which word to choose?  Speaking of Manatees, Porpoises, Seals, and Sea Cows, where would you find these ocean based animals in the middle of a desert where Israel was wandering?
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Judges 14:15
(CSB) On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Persuade your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s family to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?”
 
(ISV) The next day, they told Samson’s wife, “Coax your husband to explain the riddle or we’ll set fire to your father’s house—with you in it! You’ve invited us here to make us paupers, haven’t you?”
 
(NKJV) But it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may explain the riddle to us, or else we will burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours? Is that not so?”
 
The CSB states “the fourth day.”  The ISV states “the next day.”  The NKJV states “the seventh day.”  So which is it?  Next, fourth or seven?  Take your pick!
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Judges 18:30
(NASV) The sons of Dan set up for themselves the graven image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.
 
(ESV) And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.
 
So is Gershom the son of Moses or the son of Manasseh?  Which one?
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1 Samuel 13:1
(HCSB) Saul was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned 42 years over Israel.
 
(DRA) Saul was a child of one year when he began to reign, and he reigned two years over Israel.
 
(NLV) Saul was forty years old when he began to rule. He ruled over Israel thirty-two years.
 
1 Samuel 13:1 is a real fielder’s choice.  First we get to choose how old Saul was when he started reigning.  Was he 1, 30, or 40 years old?  Then we get to choose how long he reigned.  Was it 2 years, 32 years, or 42 years?
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1 Samuel 17:4
(NASV) Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
 
(NET) Then a champion came out from the camp of the Philistines. His name was Goliath; he was from Gath. He was close to seven feet tall.
 
Six cubits and a span is nine and one half feet and the NET version states he was close  to seven feet which means he was not quite seven feet places him in the six foot plus range.
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2 Samuel 6:5
(ESV) And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
 
(NIV) David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.
 
The ESV states they were singing songs but the NIV does not?  So were they singing or not?
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2 Samuel 15:7
(KJV) And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
 
(NASV) Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.
 
(ESV) And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.
 
So here once again a fielder’s choice, did Absalom approach the king at the end of 4 years or 40 years?  The ESV states that it was 4 years and the NASV states it was 40 years.  That creates a 36 year difference in time.  Are you starting to see the “accuracy” of these “superior manuscripts?”
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2 Samuel 21:8
(CSB) But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, who were the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, and the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite
 
(1901 ASV) But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bare to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
 
Michal or Merab?
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2 Samuel 24:13
(ESV) So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.”
 
(NASV) So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider and see what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.”
 
Three years of famine or seven years of famine?  Which one?
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1 Kings 4:26
(ESV) Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.
 
(NIV) Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.
 
4,000 or 40,000 stalls?  Which one?
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2 Chronicles 36:9
(NASV) Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.
 
(ESV) Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.
 
So when did Jehoiachin start to reign?  When he was 8 years old or 18?
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Ecclesiastes 8:10
(KJV) And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.
 
(ESV) Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.
 
(NASV) So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are soon forgotten in the city where they did thus. This too is futility.
 
The ESV states that when the wicked are dead that they will be praised but the NASV states that they will be soon forgotten.  So which is it, will they be remembered or forgotten?  So based on the ESV we need to stand at the grave of Al Capone or Charles Manson and praise them!
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Hosea 11:12
(KJV) Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
 
(NASV) Ephraim surrounds Me with lies And the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is
also unruly against God, Even against the Holy One who is faithful.
 
(ESV) Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.
 
Hosea was one of the earliest prophets who prophesied about 800-721 B.C. and was aimed basically at the Northern Kingdom which was also called Ephraim.  At this time Judah, the Southern Kingdom, had not yet gone apostate and was still being obedient to God.  The NASV states that Judah was unruly but the ESV states that Judah was being obedient.  So if I only used these two versions, then which one do I deem correct?  Was Judah obedient or unruly (disobedient)?
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Jonah 3:3-4
(KJV) {3} So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.  {4} And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
 
(NIV) Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”
 
(Septuagint – Brenton 1851) And Jonas began to enter into the city about a day's journey, and he proclaimed, and said, Yet three days, and Nineve shall be overthrown.
 
So is it 3 days or 40 days?
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Zephaniah 2:14
(KJV) And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.
 
(NIV) Flocks and herds will lie down there, creatures of every kind.  The desert owl and the screech owl will roost on her columns.  Their hooting will echo through the windows, rubble will fill the doorways, the beams of cedar will be exposed.
 
(NASV) Flocks will lie down in her midst, All beasts which range in herds; Both the pelican and the hedgehog Will lodge in the tops of her pillars; Birds will sing in the window, Desolation will be on the threshold; For He has laid bare the cedar work.
 
Owls are different than the Pelican and Hedgehog.  So which one do I choose?  Cormorants are aquatic birds and Bitterns normally live in marshy areas.  Neither of these are accurately described by “owl” and “pelican or hedgehog.”
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Matthew 12:47
(KJV) Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
 
(NIV) Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
 
(ESV) Omitted
 
The NIV includes this verse but the ESV omits it.  So is it a legitimate verse or is it not?  The NIV says yes and the ESV says no.
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Matthew 18:22
(KJB) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
 
(ESV) Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
 
(NIV) Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
 
(NASV) Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
 
The ESV and the NIV states we are to forgive 77 times but the NASV states we should forgive 70 X 7.  So which is it?
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Matthew 21:44
(KJB) And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
 
(RSV-1946) Omitted
 
(NRSV-1989) The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
 
Here is a case of two versions, one descended from the other.  The 1946 RSV omits this verse but the 1989 NRSV includes it without brackets. 
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Matthew 23:14
(NASV) [Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]
 
(NIV) Omitted
 
Which is it?  Do we omit it or accept it?
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Mark 1:39 & Luke 4:44
Mark 1:39 (ESV) And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
 
Luke 4:44 (ESV) And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
 
Mark 1:39 (KJB) And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
 
Luke 4:44 (KJB) And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
 
The ESV has Jesus preaching in Galilee and Judea, which is 70 miles (113 km) south of Galilee, at the same time.  Mark 1:39 & Luke 4:44 are the same event!  In Luke 5:1 we read Jesus was by the Sea of Gennesaret which was the Sea of Galilee and it was here where Jesus called Simon Peter, James, and John because they were fishermen.  Luke 5:1 (ESV) On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,
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Luke 9:54
(KJV) And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
 
(NKJV)And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”
 
Footnote: Luke 9:54 NU-Text omits just as Elijah did.
 
(ESV) And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"
 
Footnote: Luke 9:54 Some manuscripts add as Elijah did
 
So if I was using the ESV and the NKJV for a study of this verse, I would be in a quandary. According to one version it should be omitted but according to the other version it should be added. So do I add it or do I omit it?   Here is a verse for you to ponder in conjunction with this.  (1 Cor 14:33 KJV) For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
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Luke 10:1
(KJV) After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
 
(ESV) After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
 
(NASV) Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.
 
Did the Lord appoint 70 or 72?  The ESV says 72 and the NASV says 70, so which is it?
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Luke 10:42
(ESV) but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
 
(NIV) but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
 
Which is it?  A few or one?
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NKJV and ESV Rejects Jesus – Luke 12:51 & Titus 3:10
(NKJV - Titus 3:10) Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
 
(NKJV - Luke 12:51)  Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.
 
(ESV - Titus 3:10) As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
 
(ESV – Luke 12:51) Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
 
Titus 3:10 states that we are supposed to reject a divisive man and Luke 12:51 states the Christ brings division which means he is divisive.
 
(Titus 3:10 - KJB) A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
 
(Luke 12:51 – KJB) Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
 
The Greek words for “heretic” (αιρετικον) and “division” (διαμερισμον) are totally different yet the ESV and NKJV translated them both as “division.” 
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Luke 24:12
(KJB) Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
 
(RSV-1946) Omitted
 
(NRSV-1989) But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
 
Here is another case of two versions, one descended from the other.  The 1946 RSV omits this verse while the grandson the 1989 NRSV includes it without brackets.
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Luke 24:40
(KJB) And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
 
(RSV) Omitted
 
(NRSV)  when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
 
Here is another case of two versions descended from the other.  The 1946 RSV omits this verse while the grandson the 1989 NRSV includes it without brackets.
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John 5:4
(KJB) For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
 
(ESV) Omitted
 
(NKJV) For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
 
The New King James includes this verse without any brackets but the ESV omits it.  So is it a legitimate verse or is it not?  This verse is found in the following manuscripts which shows the inaccuracy of the ESV:
 
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century (corrected)
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century (corrected)
K 017 - Ninth century
L 019 - Eighth century
Gamma 036 - Ninth or Tenth century
Delta 037 - Ninth century
Theta 038 - Ninth century
1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century
13 (Minuscule) - Eighth century
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Acts 19:16
(KJV) And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.  (Acts 19:16)  (Sceva had seven sons – Acts 19:14)
 
(ESV) And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all1 of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
1) Footnotes: Or both
 
(LB) And he leaped on two of them and beat them up, so that they fled out of his house naked and badly injured.
 
(NIV) Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
(No footnote on NIV giving any number)
 
So which is it 7 sons or both or an unnamed number?
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Acts 24:7
(KJV) But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
 
(NASV) But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands,
 
(ESV) Omitted
 
So which version is to be believed?  The NASV includes it and the ESV excludes it!
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2 Peter 3:9
(KJB) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  (2 Peter 3:9)
 
(LB) He isn’t really being slow about his promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. But he is waiting, for the good reason that he is not willing that any should perish, and he is giving more time for sinners to repent. (2 Peter 3:9)
 
(ESV) The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
 
(RSV) The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
 
Since when does an all knowing God need to wish?
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Summary
Well do you feel like going to a Buffet?  This way you can pick and choose whatever verse or version which you want.  It’s all up to you!  The modern versions do not even agree with each other yet we are told they are sourced in the oldest and best manuscripts.  It seems the oldest and best manuscripts cannot make up their own mind as to what is the correct translation of the above passages and there are others.  Here is the reason for this.  The modern versions used different sources which they included at the time of translation.  They used the Targums, Septuagint, Syriac Peshitta, Dead Sea Scrolls, Leningrad Codex for the Hebrew, Samaritan Pentateuch, Biblical Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the eclectic text of Hort and Westcott for the Greek.  The King James Bible used the 1524-25 Bomberg Edition of the Masoretic Text and the 1598 Greek text of Theodore Beza which underwent 12 refinements prior to usage in the King James Bible.  What I have presented here is just one reason why I am King James Only!
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