Are there grave defects in the Bible?
In the preface of the Revised Standard Version (1971), one line reads, “…Yet the King James Version has grave defects….”
Muslim have latched on to this and claim this is evidence that the Bible has grave defects.
When asked what the grave defects are, no Muslim has an answer because they have never even read the preface in full! You can read it here yourself.
First of all, it says the King James Version (KJV) has grave defects. KJV is only a TRANSLATION that was made less than 500 years ago! The Bible is around 2000 – 3500 years old.
The man-made translation of 1611 has grave defects does not mean the Bible in the original language has grave defects! That’s like saying if there are defects in the English translations of the Quran, e.g. Pickthall or Yusuf Ali, this means that the Arabic Quran has defects. Does that make any sense? Of course not. That is ridiculous.
What are the “grave defects” of the KJV anyway?
If you actually read the preface in its entirety, you will learn that…
“A major reason for revision of the King James Version, which is valid for both the Old Testament and the New Testament, is the change since 1611 in English usage. Many forms of expression have become archaic, while still generally intelligible—the use of thou, thee, thy, thine and the verb endings -est and -edst, the verb endings -eth and -th, it came to pass that, whosoever, whatsoever, insomuch that, because that, for that, unto, howbeit, peradventure, holden, aforetime, must needs, would fain, behooved, to you-ward, etc.”
This simply means that many words used in KJV are old English that is no longer used because language is dynamic.
“Other words are obsolete and no longer understood by the common reader. The greatest problem, however, is presented by the English words which are still in constant use but now convey a different meaning from that which they had in 1611 and in the King James Version.
These words were once accurate translations of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures; but now, having changed in meaning, they have become misleading. They no longer say what the King James translators meant them to say.
Thus, the King James Version uses the word “let” in the sense of “hinder,” “prevent” to mean “precede,” “allow” in the sense of “approve,” “communicate” for “share,” “conversation” for “conduct,” “comprehend” for “overcome,” “ghost” for “spirit,” “wealth” for “well-being,” “allege” for “prove,” “demand” for “ask,” “take no thought” for “be not anxious,” etc.”
This simply means that many words used in KJV now carry a different meaning. Even in our everyday use of language, we see this is true.
I remember 30 years ago if someone said, “I’m gay”, it simply meant he was just happy. Now it has taken on completely different connotations! Many people today don’t even realize that the word “gay” was completely non-sexual originally!
Did you know that in the 1611 KJV, the letter “f’ in the text, is really our letter “s”?
That means a sentence that might read as thus: “The disciples saw the storm and were so afraid.”
would have been written like this in the 1611 KJV: “The difciplef faw the ftorm and were fo afraid.”
Why? Because that was how “s” was written in old English; like an “f”!
Were there grave defects?
“The difciplef faw the ftorm and were fo afraid.”
YES THERE WERE GRAVE DEFECTS!
Hence the need to produce a more accurate translation where the archaic “Thou” is translated as “You”, “Thine” as “Your” and “The difciplef faw the ftorm and were fo afraid” as “The disciples saw the storm and were so afraid.”
But these revisions do not revise the writings in the original language! It is the translations that are revised to make it more accurate and more easily understood by English speakers.
“The Revised Standard Version Bible seeks to preserve all that is best in the English Bible as it has been known and used through the years. It is intended for use in public and private worship, not merely for reading and instruction. We have resisted the temptation to use phrases that are merely current usage, and have sought to put the message of the Bible in simple, enduring words that are worthy to stand in the great Tyndale-King James tradition. We are glad to say, with the King James translators: “Truly (good Christian Reader) we never thought from the beginning, that we should need to make a new Translation, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one … but to make a good one better.”
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Are you serious? Confusing an “f” with an “s” and using thee and thou? And you think these were the grave defects the Revision Committee had in mind? Perchance you should look up the adjectival meaning of “grave.” And which printed version of the KJV, in 1937 when they decided to proceed with a revision, had retained “difciplef?” I’d venture to say none unless you were looking for one. If your argument held any water at all, even a drop, the Committee would have stated their own immediate ancestor, the ASV of 1901, had “grave” defects as it retained the “thees and thous.”
The so-called grave defects were r/t “the development of Biblical studies” (whatever that means) and “the discovery of many manuscripts more ancient. . .” which may or may not be significant. Maybe the older manuscripts had been corrupted. Older doesn’t of necessity mean better. You might want to rephrase your argument. Just a suggestion.
Jeff,
Here is a quote from the RSV preface.
“A major reason for revision of the King James Version, which is valid for both the Old Testament and the New Testament, is the change since 1611 in English usage. Many forms of expression have become archaic, while still generally intelligible—the use of thou, thee, thy, thine and the verb endings -est and -edst, the verb endings -eth and -th, it came to pass that, whosoever, whatsoever, insomuch that, because that, for that, unto, howbeit, peradventure, holden, aforetime, must needs, would fain, behooved, to you-ward, etc.”
The RSV was a good English translation in its time. It isn’t a popular translation anymore. There are more accurate modern English translations.
Another view: https://www.logos.com/grow/rsv-takes-kjv/
Christians are the biggest liars on the planet earth. I don’t blame them because when I was a Christian I did the same thing too. You’re forced to. What do I mean by your Force to? The satanic doctrine does not or is not backed up by the scriptures. So you’re forced to become a pathological liar to make things fit.
With this in mind, let us have a look at the Bible on several subjects.
The Sabbath Day
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” — Exodus 20:8
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” — Romans 14:5
The Permanence of Earth
“… the earth abideth for ever.” — Ecclesiastes 1:4
“… the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” — 2Peter 3:10
Seeing God
“… I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” — Genesis 32:30
“No man hath seen God at any time…”– John 1:18
Human Sacrifice
“… Thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God…” — Leviticus 18:21
[In Judges, though, the tale of Jephthah, who led the Israelites against the Ammonoites, is being told. Being fearful of defeat, this good religious man sought to guarantee victory by getting god firmly on his side. So he prayed to god] “… If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering” — Judges 11:30-31
[The terms were acceptable to god — remember, he is supposed to be omniscient and know the future — so he gave victory to Jephthah, and the first whatsoever that greeted him upon his glorious return was his daughter, as god surely knew would happen, if god is god. True to his vow, the general made a human sacrifice of his only child to god!] — Judges 11:29-34
The Power of God
“… with God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26
“…The LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.” — Judges 1:19
Personal Injury
“…thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. ” — Exodus 21:23-25
“…ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” — Matthew 5:39
Circumcision
“This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.” — Genesis 17:10
“…if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.” — Galatians 5:2
Incest
“Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of this mother…” — Deuteronomy 27:22
“And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter…it is a wicked thing….” — Leviticus 20:17
[But what was god’s reaction to Abraham, who married his sister — his father’s daughter?] See Genesis 20:11-12
“And God said unto Abraham, As for Sara thy wife…I bless her, and give thee a son also of her…” — Genesis 17:15-16
Trusting God
“A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD…” — Proverbs 12:2
MJ Sims,
1. You were a Christian? That’s a lie.
I can tell from your comments that you were never a Christian. Perhaps you “thought” you were one because you were born in a “Christian” family or you had a Bible lying around somewhere in your house.
2. Your Biblical hermeneutics is very shoddy. I have heard these arguments rehashed and recycled by many Zakir Naik devotees. They have long been debunked and refuted. Do a search online if you’re interested.
Suffice for me to give just a couple of examples of your errors.
i. The Sabbath law was given to Israel. Not to Gentiles! This is basic. If you don’t know this, learn more.
ii) It was Judah, that failed to drive out the enemies. Not God. E.g. When Muhamamd and his marauding horde were defeated at Uhud, was it Allah who failed? Wake up, man!
3. Just because you can copy paste these alleged contradictions from the internet somewhere, does not mean the Bible is in error.
I can give you a hundred contradictions from your Quran. Again, let’s just look at one example:
What does the Qur’an teach about the consumption of alcohol? Is it allowed?
5:90 says NO, stay away from it.
16:67 says YES, go ahead and enjoy intoxicants from grapes and date-palms.
So, which is it?
And you can throw 4:43 into the mix as well, which tells you not to pray when you’re drunk. And don’t forget the “rivers of wine” in paradise (cf. 47;15, 83:25).
See? Will you now be “forced to become a pathological liar to make things fit”? Your own words expose you as a hypocrite.
Islam is a death cult.
“I have been ordered to fight the people until they say La Ilaha Illallah”, and if they say that, then their blood and wealth will be protected from me…”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2606
Wake up and get out before it is too late.
Good morning brother.
First I would like to know your argument against the “seeing God contradiction.”
Secondly, the bible says that Jesus prayed to God to save him from being crucified and it also says that Jesus offered himself for sacrifice to save us. Is that not a contradiction?
Hello Ahmad Kazi,
Thank you for your questions.
1. Seeing God contradiction. Let me answer you by using your own book.
Can allah be seen? According to 6:103, no eye can see him. it is impossible.
Yet, on the day of resurrection, you Muslims will see allah with your eyes when he exposes his shin. (see my article at https://www.faithbrowser.com/what-is-allahs-form/)
So can allah be seen or not? Is this a contradiction?
Now. my answer to you is this:
God is invisible. No one can see Him. But He can make Himself visible if He chooses to.
2. You claimed that the Bible says that Jesus prayed to God to save him from being crucified.
False. There is no such verse. if you want to ask a question, make sure you quote the text correctly instead of inserting and adding your own words.
Find and quote the verse correctly. Then I will answer you.
Thank you.