Out of respect for the people mentioned in this post, it may be a little too long for most. You will see many mistakes that were made in the first KJV, and a guy named Tragelles who memorized the entire Bible in the original languages of Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek in order to recreate a complete copy of the Bible.
The King James Version (KJV) was originally published, in 1611, by the royal
printer, Robert Barker. In the margins of that very first edition, there
were some 8,422 notes. Several of these notes indicate that a particular
verse itself may not be exactly correct.
For example, here is Luke 17:36 as it appears in the New King James Version
“Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”
Here is the note that appeared in the margin of that original 1611 edition:
“This 36. verse is wanting in most of the Greek copies.”
If you have a NIV, don’t bother looking this verse up. It is not in that
Translation. What the note said in essence was, “we have reason to
believe that this verse should not be in here at all.”
Well, therein lies Textual Criticism, which is the study of what the
Original Autographs (these are the actual writings of the Apostles
themselves) exactly contained. In other words, before we can know what the
Bible says, we need to know what the Bible is. And this is no small task.
Once a group of Textual Critics finish their work, they turn their work over
to the printers to publish. That way, we can read the Bible.
In this article, I would like to draw our attention to some amusing mistakes
that found their way into the KJV. Fortunately, they have all been fixed
with subsequent Editions. Bear in mind, the King James Version went through
many revisions, including one the very next year in 1612. And again in 1613.
And many more after that.
Oddly enough, the KJV was translated from only about six Greek manuscripts
dating no earlier than the 10th century. Although there are more than 5,400
Greek manuscripts today, back in the 1600’s that was not the case.
The relatively few Greek manuscripts that are behind this KJV date between
the 10th and 14th centuries. Since the publishing of the first KJV, more
than 2,000 Greek manuscripts have been found. And some of these date back as
early as the 2nd century. (Remember, the earliest Greek manuscript
supporting the KJV is 800 years later.) With the new discovery of older
manuscripts, modern versions have come on the scene. The NIV is based on
different Greek manuscripts than is the KJV. That is why they differ at
places, as noted above.
Here is one example as to why they differ. When a man by the name of Erasmus
was putting together the Greek New Testament in the early 1500’s, he could
find no existing Greek manuscript that contained the words in 1 John 5:7,
which reads in the KJV, “For there are three that bear record in heaven; the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.” It’s in the
KJV even to this day, but Erasmus refused to put it in his Greek Edition,
unless…
That was his mistake! Erasmus went on public record saying that if anyone
could produce even one Greek manuscript with the disputed passage in it, he
would put it in his next Greek Edition. (These disputed words were first
noticed in a not-so-old Latin version.) Erasmus’ first two Greek New
Testaments did not contain this passage.
Well, along comes an enemy of Erasmus, by the name of Edward Lee, and he
mysteriously produces a Greek manuscript (a very highly suspect one, I might
add) that contained these words. So, Erasmus, true to his word, yet being
convinced it would not do too much damage to sacred Scripture, unwillingly,
put it in his third Edition. Erasmus did note that he doubted its
authenticity. Right here is where my opening line fits in. He was true to
his word, but not the Word of God.
The King James Version (KJV) was originally published, in 1611, by the royal
printer, Robert Barker. In the margins of that very first edition, there
were some 8,422 notes. Several of these notes indicate that a particular
verse itself may not be exactly correct.
For example, here is Luke 17:36 as it appears in the New King James Version
“Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”
Here is the note that appeared in the margin of that original 1611 edition:
“This 36. verse is wanting in most of the Greek copies.”
If you have a NIV, don’t bother looking this verse up. It is not in that
Translation. What the note said in essence was, “we have reason to
believe that this verse should not be in here at all.”
Well, therein lies Textual Criticism, which is the study of what the
Original Autographs (these are the actual writings of the Apostles
themselves) exactly contained. In other words, before we can know what the
Bible says, we need to know what the Bible is. And this is no small task.
Once a group of Textual Critics finish their work, they turn their work over
to the printers to publish. That way, we can read the Bible.
In this article, I would like to draw our attention to some amusing mistakes
that found their way into the KJV. Fortunately, they have all been fixed
with subsequent Editions. Bear in mind, the King James Version went through
many revisions, including one the very next year in 1612. And again in 1613.
And many more after that.
Oddly enough, the KJV was translated from only about six Greek manuscripts
dating no earlier than the 10th century. Although there are more than 5,400
Greek manuscripts today, back in the 1600’s that was not the case.
The relatively few Greek manuscripts that are behind this KJV date between
the 10th and 14th centuries. Since the publishing of the first KJV, more
than 2,000 Greek manuscripts have been found. And some of these date back as
early as the 2nd century. (Remember, the earliest Greek manuscript
supporting the KJV is 800 years later.) With the new discovery of older
manuscripts, modern versions have come on the scene. The NIV is based on
different Greek manuscripts than is the KJV. That is why they differ at
places, as noted above.
Here is one example as to why they differ. When a man by the name of Erasmus
was putting together the Greek New Testament in the early 1500’s, he could
find no existing Greek manuscript that contained the words in 1 John 5:7,
which reads in the KJV, “For there are three that bear record in heaven; the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.” It’s in the
KJV even to this day, but Erasmus refused to put it in his Greek Edition,
unless…
That was his mistake! Erasmus went on public record saying that if anyone
could produce even one Greek manuscript with the disputed passage in it, he
would put it in his next Greek Edition. (These disputed words were first
noticed in a not-so-old Latin version.) Erasmus’ first two Greek New
Testaments did not contain this passage.
Well, along comes an enemy of Erasmus, by the name of Edward Lee, and he
mysteriously produces a Greek manuscript (a very highly suspect one, I might
add) that contained these words. So, Erasmus, true to his word, yet being
convinced it would not do too much damage to sacred Scripture, unwillingly,
put it in his third Edition. Erasmus did note that he doubted its
authenticity. Right here is where my opening line fits in. He was true to
his word, but not the Word of God.
.
