What is wrong with the New King James Version of the Bible?

This is a synopsis of a sermon preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church in March 2010

2 Corinthians 2 v 17: For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 

One of the many strategies that the devil employs against the Lord and His truth is his attempt to corrupt the Word of God. It has always been the devil’s desire to corrupt God's truth. When he tempted Eve we see that strategy in operation:
[1] He first cast 'doubt' on the Word of God: Yea hath God said Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Genesis 3:1;
[2] Next he 'contradicted' the Word of God: Ye shall not surely die, v4;
[3] He then 'denied' the Word of God: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil, v5.

The devil has never left off that mode of operating against the truth of God. Sadly, when viewed from a purely human perspective it has to be acknowledged that his strategy seems quite successful. A corrupt Bible can do a great deal of harm and there are many of them about today!

In modern times this strategy of the devil is carried forward by the plethora of corrupt versions of the Scriptures which appear on the market. Which version of the Scriptures we use is important. We do not want to be deceived by the devil and use a corrupt Bible. 

What is wrong with the English Standard Version?

This is a re-posting of the synopsis of a sermon preached back in May 2011 on the subject of the English Standard Version, which so many evangelicals so dearly seem to love. The audio of the sermon can be listened to on Sermonaudio by following this link.

What is wrong with the English Standard Version?

The English Standard Version, or the ESV as it is more commonly known, was first published in 2001. Since that time it has become quite a favourite among professing evangelicals, particularly among those of a Reformed persuasion, who wish for a variety of reasons to reject the Authorised Version.

The ESV is promoted as following in a long line of succession to other Bible versions. In this line of succession are: 

[1] The Revised Version (1881–85) 

[2] The American Standard Version (1901) 

[3] The Revised Standard Version (1946–1971) and then 

[4] The ESV (2001-). 

The ESV has subsequently undergone a minor revision in 2007. However, the publisher of the ESV has chosen not to identify the updated text as a second or revised edition; it is simply intended to replace the original ESV under the original name. At present, both revisions co-exist on the market.

Freshly documented departure by Dr. Joel Beeke

Dr Joel Beeke has in the past associated with those whom he should not and has also failed to stand by comments made about so called Christian 'Rap' music and musicians.

Added to these are books which are being sold by his publishing outlet known as Reformation Heritage Books which promote erroneous versions of the Scriptures such as the New International Version [NIV] and the English Standard Version [ESV].

See here - Pastor Joel Beeke, through Reformation Heritage Books, Promoting Modern Bible Translations, Corrupt Teachers, and the United Bible Societies.

This is what the Trinitarian Bible Society has to say about these corrupt versions:
The English Standard Version

New International Version: What today's Christian needs to know about the NIV

A Contradiction in Terms

Ed Milliband, the British Labour Party leader, has described himself as a "Jewish Atheist'. On a recent visit to Jerusalem he professed that he does not believe in God, but that he does still have ‘faith’. He said: "I have a particular faith. I describe myself as a Jewish atheist. I’m Jewish by birth origin and it’s a part of who I am. I don’t believe in God, but I think faith is a really, really important thing to a lot of people. It provides nourishment for lots of people".

According to him this faith is perfectly compatible with being an atheist and gives him hope that he can ‘change the world’. He would be the first Jewish prime minister if he were to win the next election.

To describe himself as a "Jewish atheist" is a contradiction in terms. An anecdote is related by Dr Robert Steele, in his Exposition of the Shorter Catechism, of an ancient Prince who once asked his Chaplain to give him some clear evidence of the truth of Christianity in a few words. The Chaplain replied in four words, "The Jews, your Majesty!"

The philosophies of world religions

Read this today in J. Sidlow Baxter's, Awake, My Heart:

The distinctive messages of the world's various religions and philosophies have been epitomised as follows:
Greece said: Be wise, know yourself;
Rome said: Be strong; acquit yourself;
Confucianism says: Be superior, correct yourself;
Shintoism says: Be loyal, suppress yourself;
Buddhism says: Be disillusioned, annihilate yourself;
Hinduism says: Be absorbed, merge yourself;
Mohammedanism says: Be submissive, yield yourself;
Judaism says: Be holy, conform yourself;
Psychology says: Be self-confident, fulfil yourself;
Materialism says: Be acquisitive, enjoy yourself;
Communism says: Be collective, secure yourself;
But in characteristic contrast to all these Christianity says: Be Christlike, give yourself for others.

New FPC Government & Morals Blog

The new Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster Government & Morals Blog site is up and running.

It is often the case that statements are released by the Denomination about these issues and they are not carried in the Press or Media. Here is an opportunity to access those statements.

Click on this link - Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)

Failure to oppose a papal visit is a cowardly betrayal of Protestantism

It is reported on the BBC website that unionist members of Belfast City Council have abstained on whether to invite the pope to Belfast. See here. Part of the report reads:
DUP councillor Lee Reynolds said the motion presented by the SDLP "was essentially an election stunt and it wasn't a game we were willing to play". "They were wanting an insult and we weren't going to give them that, so we chose the path of abstention."

Ulster Unionist councillor Jim Rodgers, who had previously spoken out against issuing an invitation to the Pope, said he had decided to abstain after "giving the issue a lot of thought".

"I am concerned at the likelihood of trouble on our streets ... and I don't want any religious or civic leader coming here to find themselves offended and see violence on a large scale," he said.

Belfast Newsletter - Robinson: if safe, Pope can visit

Failure to oppose such an invitation is a cowardly betrayal of Protestantism. This is politics without principle! Are they ashamed of being Protestants? Is it a fear of scorn by the religious and secular liberals that makes them abstain? Is it base political calculation that is at work? Or has the rot of ecumenism infected these politicans so much that they meekly refuse to stand up for truth and righteousness? It could be all these and more!

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