In
1979 the NKJV was released in the New Testament by Thomas Nelson Publishers. The
whole Bible was published in 1982. Its goal was unique from other modern
versions in that the NT was translated from the Textus Receptus, instead of the
Critical Text as most modern versions are. Thus, many of the verses which have
been omitted from modern versions can be found in the NKJV. Therefore, many who
reject modern translations and favor the TR find the NKJV an acceptable modern
version of the Bible.
When
first published, the translators claimed the NKJV was the fifth revision of the
KJV of 1611. Even the name, New King James, shows an association with the
Authorized Version. However, as we have seen in this lesson, the revisions of
the KJV which predate the NKJV were proper revisions which did not change the
text. This cannot be said of the NKJV. In fact, it is not a revision at all.
Instead, it is a new translation of the OT Masoretic Hebrew Text and the NT
Traditional Greek Text based on the findings of modern linguistical scholarship
from a conservative theological basis. A few differences between the NKJV and
its predecessor are listed below.
|
|
KJV |
NKJV |
|
Son
or Servant |
The
God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath
glorified his Son Jesus; . . . (Acts 3:13 KJV) |
The
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His
Servant Jesus, . . . (NKJV. Also in Acts 3:26; 4:27; and 4:30) |
|
Deity
Changed |
And
hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; ... (Rev. 1:6 KJV) |
and
has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, . . . (NKJV) |
|
God
or Rock |
Art
thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O
LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast
established them for correction. (Habakkuk 1:12 KJV) |
Are
You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD,
You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for
correction. (NKJV) |
|
Godhead
or Divine Nature |
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, . . . (Acts 17:29 KJV) |
Therefore,
since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine
Nature is like gold or silver or stone, . . . (NKJV. However in Rom. 1:20
and Col 2:9 the NKJV switches back to Godhead) |
|
Comforter
or Helper |
And
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you for ever; (John 14:16 KJV) |
And
I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may
abide with you forever, (NKJV. Also in John 14:26; 15:26; and 16:7) |
|
Corrupt
or Peddle |
For
we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: . . . (2 Cor. 2:17 KJV) |
For
we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; . . . (NKJV) |
|
Satan
or Accuser |
Set
thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. (Psalm 109:6
KJV) |
Set
a wicked man over him, And let an accuser stand at his right hand. (NKJV) |
|
Saved
or Being Saved |
For
the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which
are saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18 KJV) |
For
the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is the power of God. (NKJV. Also in 2 Cor. 2:15) |
|
Jesus
or, just 'He' |
And
it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, . . . (Mark 2:15 KJV) |
Now
it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, . . .<<(NKJV) |
The
NKJV is suppose to be easier to read than the KJV. Of the following verses,
which do you find harder?
|
Numb.
21:14 |
Wherefore
it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and
in the brooks of Arnon, |
Therefore
it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: Waheb in Suphah, The brooks of
the Arnon. |
|
Acts
17:22 |
Then
Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive
that in all things ye are too superstitious. |
And
Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Men of Athens, I perceive
that in all things you are very religious; |
|
Matt.
27:27 |
Then
the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto
him the whole band of soldiers. |
Then
the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the
whole garrison around Him. |
|
Matt.
20:2 |
And
when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his
vineyard. |
Now
when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his
vineyard. |
|
1
Kings 10:28 |
And
Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants
received the linen yarn at a price. |
And
Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king's merchants bought
them in Keveh at the current price. |
|
Psalm
43:1 |
Judge
me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the
deceitful and unjust man. |
Vindicate
me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation: Oh, deliver me from the
deceitful and unjust man! |
|
Acts
27:17 |
Which
when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing
lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. |
When
they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing
lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were
driven. |
These
are only a few examples of the differences between the KJV and NKJV. It should
become clear that the NKJV is not truly the fifth revision of the Authorized
Version, but is a retranslation of the texts.