Bear in mind that a version is a translation
made directly from the original Hebrew or Greek: i.e. from Hebrew
or Greek into Syriac, Latin or English: whereas a translation
of a version into yet another language is simply called a translation.
Bible versions were made in several languages within a few years
of the New Testament's creation. This was a rarity in the ancient
world for any book.
Josh McDowell writes on pages 16-17 of his book Answers to Tough Questions.
| Quote: | "...Translation of a document into another language was rare in the ancient world, so this is an added plus for the New Testament. The number of copies of the versions is in excess of 18,000, with possibly as many as 25,000. This is further evidence that helps us establish the New Testament text. Even if we did not possess the 5,500 Greek manuscripts or the 18,000 copies of the versions, the text of the New Testament could still be reproduced within 250 years from its composition. How? By the writing of the early Christians. In commentaries, letters, etc., these ancient writers quote biblical text, thus giving us another witness to the text of the New Testament. |
John Burgon has catalogued
more than 86,000 citations of the New Testament in the
writings of the early church fathers who lived before A.D.325.
Thus we observe that there is so much more evidence for the reliability
of the New Testament text than any other comparable writings in
the ancient world." (Ref: M1)
In his book Final Authority William P Grady quotes John Burgon on pages 33-34 concerning the reliability of a version over any single manuscript.
| Quote: | "I suppose it may be laid down that an ancient
Version outweighs any single Codex, ancient or modern, which can
be named: the reason being, that it is scarcely credible that
a Version - the Peshitto ,
for example, an Egyptian or the Gothic - can have been executed
from a single exemplar (copy).
A second reason for the value of ancient versions is in their ability to exhibit a text which antedates the oldest Greek manuscripts. Readings which are challenged in the Authorized Version for their non-existence in the 'two most ancient authorities' (Codex Sinaiticus or A; and Codex Vaticanus, or B, fourth century) are frequently discovered in the Syrian and Latin translations of the second century." |
In the course of time many versions (translations from the original language) of Scripture were made. These are just a few:
The Peshitta Version (AD 150)
The Old Latin Vulgate (AD 157)
The Italic Bible (AD 157)
The Waldensian (AD 120
& onwards)
The Gallic Bible (Southern
France) (AD177)
The Gothic Bible (AD 330-350)
The Old Syriac Bible (AD
400)
The Armenian Bible (AD
400) There are 1244 copies of this version still
in existence.
The Palestinian Syriac (AD
450)
The French Bible of Oliveton
(AD 1535)
The Czech Bible (AD 1602)
The Italian Bible of Diodati
(AD 1606)
The Greek Orthodox Bible: Used
from Apostolic times to the present day by the Greek Orthodox
Church.
All the above mentioned Bibles and the vast majority
(about 99%) of the 5200 extant New Testament MSS are in
agreement with the text now known as Textus Receptus; the Text
which underlies the Authorised King James Bible.
THE OLD LATIN VULGATE (AD 157)
RETURN TO THE OLD PATHS -- excerpt from The Morning Stars
LUCIFER: ANGEL OF LIGHT - FATHER OF LIES
CORRUPT LEXICONS AND DICTIONARIES
THE HOLY BIBLE, Printed in 1611
Seeing its readings proves to cynics that the KJV's text has never been "revised" and is identical to that used today
(except for the rare 1611 typographical slips which were shortly thereafter fixed by King James translators themselves).
You can now purchase a 1611 King James Version 400th Anniversary Edition at a very low price. Published by Zondervan this is an exact, page-by-page, digitally re-mastered replica of the original 1611 printing, re-sized to a convenient 8.1 x 5.7 x 3 inches, and contains the original Old English Black Letter font. Click Here
Compare these scripture verses, John 14:16, John 16:7, I Corinthians 1:18, II Corinthians 2:15, Revelation 1:18 and Revelation 20:13,14, in modern bible versions such as the NIV and the NKJV and you will see that the KJV's superior "Comforter" has been replaced by a subordinate "helper"; and the assurance of our present salvation here and now where we "are saved" by grace through faith has been replaced by a works-based salvation where we are in the process of "being saved" by our own good works; and the word "hell" has been omitted thereby obscuring its philological meaning.
It is no coincident that new bible versions often agree with the Jehovah Witnesses New World Translation and the Roman Catholic New American Bible. For those who take the time to “[search] the scriptures daily” to “[p]rove all things”, and “search out a matter” to “try the spirits” and do their own research (Acts 17:11; I Thess. 5:21; Prov. 25:2; I John 4:1), the serpent's signature can be seen subtly weaved into the pages of new bible versions. There is overwhelming evidence exposing the nature of the unholy omissions, additions and substitutions and the spiritual forces responsible for the changes (Isa. 14:14; II Cor. 2:17; 11:14,15; Eph. 6:12; II Thess. 2:3,11; I Tim. 4:1; Rev. 13:8).