There are indeed MANY verses that are not included in the New International Version that are included in the King James Version of 1611. But this is also true of other “newer translations” such as the New American Standard Bible, the New Revised Standard Version and the English Standard Version. It is really a question of what MANUSCRIPTS the translators used. When King James of England authorized scholars to translate the Bible into English, it was based on manuscripts called the “Textus Receptus.” But other manuscripts were discovered after 1611, the most well-known being the “Dead Sea Scrolls.” These manuscripts were thought to be older and closer to the original scriptures and thus more accurate, and they were used by translators of the NIV and by other translators of newer translations.

1^st John 5:7-8 is a good example to illustrate our point. The KJV reads, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” The NIV says, “For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.” Notice, the NIV omits verse 7. The NASB reads virtually the same as the NIV: “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.” The KJV translators used the Textus Receptus which contains the words in verse 7, but the NIV and NASB translators use older manuscripts that they felt were more accurate and those words were not there.

This begs the question: Why were those words in the manuscripts known as the Textus Receptus? For some reason the scribes must have added those words, perhaps with the thought of supporting their view in the holy Trinity. If this was the reason, it was unnecessary, for we have numerous verses throughout the New Testament that teach the truth “God is one God who at the same time subsists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

In closing, it is vital to see that though there are differences in translations, they do NOT affect any of the major Bible doctrines. The truth as to the nature and character of God, the Person and Work of Christ, the way of salvation, heaven and hell, and all other Bible doctrines have been preserved by Author of the Bible, the Holy Spirit. 2^nd Peter 1:21 reads, “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (KJV). ALL translations (including the NIV) agree with these words! When we read our Bibles (from whatever translation we are using) we can be confident that the same One who inspired men to write the Bible will be our Divine Teacher. 1^st Corinthians 2:12-13: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words” (NASB). (249.3) (DO)