The King James Bible in archaic English served its purpose of allowing people to have a copy and read God's word some 400 years ago and for a while afterward, being able to discern a small portion of what it really says. But just as with any language, English continues to change, and so for the Bible to be properly understood requires keeping up to date with the changing of a language with modern translations.
For example the word "let" (or letteth) at 2 Thessalonians 2:7 in which the King James Bible says: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let (modern meaning of "permit, allow something to happen"[Microsoft Encarta Dictionary], but the Greek katechon is used here, meaning "to restrain, hinder",Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament) until he be taken out of the way" (KJV), instead of: "True, the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who is right now acting as a restraint is out of the way. "(New World Translation)
Thus, the King James Bible uses a word that gives the opposite modern meaning of the Greek katechon, causing considerable confusion and misunderstanding, though at the time in the 17th century, it was appropriate.("let" is from 12th century Old English "lettan" that meant "to hinder or obstruct")
Another instance is at Acts 7:45, whereby it says "Jesus" (KJV) instead of Joshua.(New World Translation) This again confuses its readers as to whom Stephen is speaking about unless an accurate Bible is examined as a basis for careful study. Who wants to become lost ? The Bible is the most challenging book on earth to "unveil" and accuracy is thus critical to unlock its "sacred secrets" or mysteries.(Matt 13:11)
Or Exodus 34:10, which says according to the King James Bible: "And he (God) said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible thing (Hebrew yare', meaning "to fear, morally, to revere") that I will do with thee" (KJV) instead of: "In turn he said: “Here I am concluding a covenant: Before all your people I shall do wonderful things that have never been created in all the earth or among all the nations; and all the people in the midst of whom you are will indeed see the work of Jehovah, because it is an awe-inspiring thing (Heb. yare', meaning "to fear, morally, to revere") that I am doing with you."(New World Translation)
If a person were following a map and the map gave you the opposite direction to go, could a person successfully navigate to where they wanted to go using this map, not realizing that they are going in the wrong direction ? Hence, the vital need for an accurate, up-to-date map.
This necessitates even more so for an accurate Bible, for our lives depend upon accurately knowing what the Bible really teaches.
For example the word "let" (or letteth) at 2 Thessalonians 2:7 in which the King James Bible says: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let (modern meaning of "permit, allow something to happen"[Microsoft Encarta Dictionary], but the Greek katechon is used here, meaning "to restrain, hinder",Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament) until he be taken out of the way" (KJV), instead of: "True, the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who is right now acting as a restraint is out of the way. "(New World Translation)
Thus, the King James Bible uses a word that gives the opposite modern meaning of the Greek katechon, causing considerable confusion and misunderstanding, though at the time in the 17th century, it was appropriate.("let" is from 12th century Old English "lettan" that meant "to hinder or obstruct")
Another instance is at Acts 7:45, whereby it says "Jesus" (KJV) instead of Joshua.(New World Translation) This again confuses its readers as to whom Stephen is speaking about unless an accurate Bible is examined as a basis for careful study. Who wants to become lost ? The Bible is the most challenging book on earth to "unveil" and accuracy is thus critical to unlock its "sacred secrets" or mysteries.(Matt 13:11)
Or Exodus 34:10, which says according to the King James Bible: "And he (God) said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible thing (Hebrew yare', meaning "to fear, morally, to revere") that I will do with thee" (KJV) instead of: "In turn he said: “Here I am concluding a covenant: Before all your people I shall do wonderful things that have never been created in all the earth or among all the nations; and all the people in the midst of whom you are will indeed see the work of Jehovah, because it is an awe-inspiring thing (Heb. yare', meaning "to fear, morally, to revere") that I am doing with you."(New World Translation)
If a person were following a map and the map gave you the opposite direction to go, could a person successfully navigate to where they wanted to go using this map, not realizing that they are going in the wrong direction ? Hence, the vital need for an accurate, up-to-date map.
This necessitates even more so for an accurate Bible, for our lives depend upon accurately knowing what the Bible really teaches.