For centuries, people have wondered about the Bible verses. Since there are numerous versions of the Bible, and each one of them might say something a bit different, which one is truly correct? Which one should be followed and taken as the true word of God?
The most popular versions of the Bible are the King James version and the New International Version, though there are many others floating around out there. Some versions are easier to read than others, and some contain more background information, such as maps of the areas mentioned in the Bible. But the biggest difference is in the verses itself. Some Bibles seem to simply cut out a verse here and there, put things in a different order, or change words so that their root meanings are entirely different from something you might read in another Bible text.
How do you know which one is correct?
Let’s start with some basics about the Bible and the time in which it was written. Many people believe the Old Testament was written by Moses, Solomon, and David, and that it was written at least 400 years before Jesus walked the earth. It is considered the words of God himself.
During the time of Christ, men made note of what Jesus was doing for others. They began to keep a record of not only his actions, but his revelations and prophecies as well. This became the New Testament.
One of the most important parts of figuring out which Bible translation is correct is remember the time in which the Bible was written. During the period both before and after Jesus appeared on earth, there were no printing presses. Most of history was still passed down through oral means. Anything written could not be easily copied – it had to be painstakingly rewritten, by hand, letter by letter.
Over time, words were changed. Perhaps someone dropped a word here and there by complete accident. Maybe the writer got tired, felt a verse here and there said something similar to what was already written, and made the decision to leave entire verses out. Then there is the question of translation – what text were they using, and what language did they speak? Translation in modern times can be very difficult – imagine what it was like when there were no textbooks to go by and no hard-and-fast rules about what word meant something different in another language.
Over time, thanks to the fallacy of man, mistakes crept into the Bible versions. The only true version is the original text – which many believe to be the version used to create the King James in 1611. But even that text went through numerous writers, all of whom copied what went before. There is no absolute guarantee that the original text has been preserved in its original format, no matter the version.
So how does one reconcile the question of which Bible version to use? There are universal truths reported in the Bible that every person needs to know – and ironically, those basic truths remain the same in all versions. One is John 3:16. Though the verse might have a small change in wording, the basic idea remains the same.
The bottom line is this: Different Bible versions have been around for centuries. The true text of the Bible might well have been lost along the way. The basic ideas, however – the basic way to live, as instructed by God and those who followed him from the earliest days – are recorded there. Those are the words that truly matter.