King James Version 2023 Edition

From Textus Receptus

The King James Version 2023 Edition New Testament is now complete and in print format here.

The King James Version 2023 Edition New Testament is a modernized rendition of the original King James Version, written in contemporary English while preserving the timeless meaning of the traditional text.

Originally introduced in 2016 as an online PDF, the 2023 Edition has had several years of critique. The 2023 has been refined even further toward the original intent of 1611 definitions.

Comparisons With Textus Receptus Based Versions

(Under Construction)

Matthew 1:1

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (KJV 1900)
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.(KJV 2023)

Comparisons With Textus Receptus Based Versions

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. (NKJV 1984)
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham: (MEV 2014)
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (KJV 2000)
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, (the) Son of David, (the) son of Abraham: (LITV 1993)
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham: (LITV 1976)
A roll of the birth of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham. (YLT 1898)

Christ was not generated from man, but through Mary and from God, linking to Matthew 1 verse 18. The genealogy mentioned is of Joseph, and not Jesus. Thus the New King James Version's translation is faulty having "The genealogy of Jesus Christ" because Christ had no earthly genealogy except through His mother. This error alone causes the entire section to be flawed. in Jeremiah 36, it was made clear that God placed a curse upon the linage of Jehoiakim so that no one from his lions would sit in the throne of David. This becomes absurdly contradictory if this is the "genealogy" of Jesus, and not of His step-father Joseph.

John 20:19-21

19 ...the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (KJV)
21 ....Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me... (KJV)

19 ...the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (KJV 2023)
21 ...So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you! As My Father has sent Me... (KJV 2023)

19 ...the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”... (NKJV)
21 ...So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me... (NKJV)

The NKJV creates a contradiction when Jesus doesn't say the same thing twice when the narrative says that he does. The KJV 2023 has no such contradiction here.

Acts 3:13

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. (KJV)
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Son Jesus, whom you delivered up and rejected Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. (KJV 2023)
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. (NKJV)

The NKJV follows modern version such as the NIV, NASV, NRSV, etc. with Servant and totally rejects the KJV/TR reading of Son. The KJV 2023 retains this accurate translation found in the 1611.

Acts 3:26

Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. (KJV)
To you first, God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” (KJV 2023)
To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." (NKJV)

Again, the NKJV follows modern version such as the NIV, NASV, NRSV, etc. with Servant and totally rejects the KJV/TR reading of child. The KJV 2023 retains this accurate translation of “Son” found in the 1611

Acts 4:27

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people. (KJV)
“Because, truly against Your holy Child Jesus, whom You have anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together. (NKJV)

Again, the NKJV follows modern version such as the NIV, NASV, NRSV, etc. with Servant and totally rejects the KJV/TR reading of child.

Acts 4:30

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (KJV)
by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Your holy Child Jesus.”
by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." (NKJV)

Again, the NKJV follows modern version such as the NIV, NASV, NRSV, etc. with Servant and totally rejects the KJV/TR reading of child.

Acts 12:4

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. (KJV)
So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. (NKJV)

The NKJV changes "Easter" to "Passover" thus introducing an error into the text. See also Easter.

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (KJV 1900)
Because, the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, but to us who are saved it is the power of God. (KJV 2023)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (NKJV 1984)
For to those who are perishing, the preaching of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. MEV

There are two errors in this verse. The first part claims that the message of the Gospel is foolishness, whereas the KJV speaks about the method, preaching, being foolish, not the message. The second part is promoting works based salvation. Are we saved, or being saved? It creates a confusion. Acts 2:47, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 2 Corinthians 2:15 shifted to active/incomplete tense “are being saved” instead of present tense “are saved.” (Not Luke 13:23, 1 Corinthians 15:2 or Revelation 21:24 however). The KJV 2023 agrees with the King James Version here.

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (KJV 1900)
I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (KJV 2023)
I have been crucified with Christ; (---omit---) it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJV 1984)
I have been crucified with Christ. (---omit---) It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (MEV 2014)

The NKJV completely omits the phrase "nevertheless I live", rejecting the KJV/TR reading. The particle “δὲ” is translated as “nevertheless” in the KJV, which at times can simply be a marker that shows the addition of a clause and does not need to be translated. This is the logic behind the NKJV translating it as a semi colon. But does this represent the same meaning as “nevertheless”. If the NKJV had even chosen a synonym such as “but I live” or “however, I live”, it would at least be an attempt to translate “δὲ”. The NKJV not only changes form, but the meaning of the text, and does not have the same sense of the KJV nor of the TR. If one compares the NKJV with the KJV one does not get the same meaning. Clearly the KJV has:

1. I am crucified with Christ

2. Nevertheless (“δὲ”)

3. I live

4. Yet not I

5. But (“δὲ”)

6. Christ liveth in me

The NKJV has

1. I have been crucified with Christ;

2. It is no longer I who live (#4)

3. But (“δὲ”) (#5)

4. Christ lives in me (#6)

The entire reason for the inclusion “δὲ” is the seeming contradiction between being crucified and alive at the same time. “δὲ” being represented by a semicolon here omits the contrasting themes unnecessarily.

I am crucified - but (“δὲ”) - I live

Not I - but (“δὲ”) - Christ liveth in me

The NKJV has

I have been crucified;

it is no longer I who live - but (“δὲ”) - Christ lives in me

It is an unnecessary change that simply follows modern versions, several of which have “I have been crucified” as part of verse 19, which may answer why modern versions depart from traditional translation methodology. Paul said “I am crucified (but, nevertheless, “δὲ”) I live.” The KJV clearly asserts that Paul, even after his crucifixion with Christ, still lives. The NKJV does not claim this in this part of the verse, but rather that Christ lives. The KJV 2023 agrees with the King James Version.

Hebrews 3:16

For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. (KJV 1900)
Because some, having heard, did provoke. However not all who came out of Egypt by Moses. (KJV 2023)
For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? (NKJV)

The KJV clearly says that "some" i.e. most of the older generation of Israel, "howbeit not all" meaning Joshua and Caleb, "did provoke." The NKJV says that everyone who came out of Egypt rebelled. This is clearly mistranslated and ruins the basic Old Testament historical narrative. The 2023 edition retains this important concept in the original 1611.

1 John 3:16

Hereby perceiue wee the loue of God, because he layd downe his life for vs, and wee ought to lay downe our liues for the brethren. (KJV 1611)
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (KJV 1769)
By this we perceive the love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we also should lay down our lives for the brethren. (KJV 2023)
By this we know love (---omit---), because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (NKJV 1984)

While there has long been criticism over the italicized words "τοῦ Θεοῦ" (of God) in this passage, it is almost always seen as an error by Blayney (the Christian Examiner of 1833 criticized Blayney on italics).

The original 1611 does not have any italic here and Scrivener includes it in his Textus Receptus that the NKJV claims to be based upon. Scrivener notes that Westcott and Hort’s text omits "τοῦ Θεοῦ". So the NKJV clearly departs from the TR here, and also the KJV. Beza’s 1598 clearly says "τοῦ Θεοῦ" and he translates it into Latin as "Charitatem Dei". While earlier TR editions and English bibles omit the words, it is abundantly clear that Beza, Scrivener and the KJV of 1611 had the words there. While the italics of Blaney here are controversial, as most see them as unnecessary, the omission of the words from the NKJV that claims to be merely a "New" KJV, is clearly a departure from the TR text. The KJV 2023 retains the words "of God" without any italics.

External links

The King James Version 2023 Edition New Testament is now complete and in print format here.

Internal Links

Old Testament - New Testament KJV 1900

New Testament KJV 2016

Scrivener's 1894 Textus Receptus

2016 Urdu New Testament (TR Based)

Russian Synodal Version (TR Based)

Reina Valera Gómez Spanish (TR Based)

Marginal Notes in the 1611 Authorized Version

Ephesians 3:9

Why We Should Not Passover Easter 1, 2, & 3

Will Kinney

List of TR/KJV based foreign bibles

List of New Testament minuscules

List of New Testament lectionaries

List of New Testament Papyri

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