What is your favorite translation? The Bible was originally written with 11,280 Heb, Aramaic & Greek words. The typical translation consists of about 6,000 words. It’s obvious that translations have their limitations and this is why we must be students of various translations offering a more vast understanding of God’s Word.

The Bible is inerrant and infallible. This means that the Bible has no errors and that it can never have errors. This does not mean that translations do not have errors because they do, yay even the most holy King James Version.

Verse divisions and numbers weren’t included in the Bible until 1560 A.D. The KJV version didn’t come about until 1611. Soon after I had become a Christian I witnessed a group of pastors from a variety of backgrounds meeting. One of these pastors who’s denominational teaching only embraces the KJV became verbal about this matter. Finally in frustration he made the statement, “If the King James Version was good enough for Paul then it’s good enough for me!” Obviously Paul had nothing to do with a translation that would be written almost sixteen centuries after he died.

In all actuality the King James Version of today is really much different from the 1611 translation. In 1769 the translation was revised to be understood and over 75,000 changes were made to the first edition.

Nymphas is actually feminine – KJV interprets as masculine. Nymphas was a woman.

Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. (KJV)

Col 4:15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. (NAS)

Col 4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. (NIV)

“Thy fountains” refer to one’s sexuality and expression to be restricted to the confines of marriage. The KJV translation inaccurately interprets this to infer that you should let your sexuality be shared with strangers. This is obviously a mistake in the translation, which is contrary to every other translation you will read that poses this statement as a question which is answered clearly in the following verses.

Prov 5:16‑19 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17      Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. 18      Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19      Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. (KJV)

Prov 5:16 Should your springs be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? (NAS)

Prov 5:16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? (NIV)

You might be surprised to learn that the New International Version actually excludes 14 verses from the text. These missing verses are Matt 17:21, Matt 18:11, Matt 23:14, Mark 7:16 9:44 9:46 11:26 15:28, Luke 17:36 23:17, Acts 8:37 15:34 24:7 28:29.

The fact is that we must move beyond any kind of thinking that limits our study of God’s Word to a single translation. There are a number of tools available to assist us in truly studying God’s Word.

The New American Standard is arguably the most accurate translation of Scripture. Bible colleges that study the original languages do so in correspondence to the NAS most commonly because of it’s accuracy.

Men like John Wycliffe & William Tyndale literally gave their lives so that you and I could read God’s Word as common believers. Enjoy your reading and enjoy your studying. Let’s never lose sight of the fact that we’re reading the Word of God that we might know the God of the Word more intimately.

George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

Thomas Jefferson said, “A studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands.”

David’s passion is inspiring when we consider his heart and love for God’s Word. May we all become greater students of God’s Word and focus in on the important things.

Ps 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. (NIV)

Ps 119:47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. (NIV)

Ps 119:48 I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. (NIV)

Ps 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. (NIV)

Ps 119:167 I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. (NIV)