So Long, King James: All Aboard the Ship of Alexandria! — Bonus Article 3

Can we consult and use other versions? Of course we can. But do it with the awareness that the Byzantine text that underlies the KJV is more reliable than the Alexandrian text that underlies other Bibles.
By W. D. Penfield. Originally published on Substack, January 17, 2022.

On Consulting and Using Other Versions

Can we consult and use other versions?

Of course we can. There’s no rule or law forbidding it. But do it with the awareness that the Byzantine text that underlies the KJV is more reliable than the Alexandrian text that underlies other Bibles. Compare the reading in the other version to the KJV to make sure it has the same meaning. When it differs, go with the KJV.

I think there are times when we should cite another version when the meaning is clearer and it accurately reflects what’s in the KJV and the Byzantine text. But I limit that to the Old Testament, and would only occasionally do it. I stick with the KJV otherwise, and stick with it exclusively when it comes to the New Testament.

For example, I’d probably cite the NIV when quoting Isaiah 10:1–3. I think it’s more easily understood.

But I’d probably stick with the KJV for this passage in Isaiah 32. I’ll follow it with an explanation.

5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
7 The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.
8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.

Let’s expound that passage, then we’ll see why it’s better to stick with the KJV for it, even if some explanation of it is needed.

Checking a concordance, churl means a selfish, stingy person. Liberal, in contrast, means a generous person.

Instruments in verse 7 are “something prepared,” such as legal documents. Wicked “devices” suggests legal strategies using “lying words” to destroy the poor, and doing it despite the needy speaking “right,” meaning justly in a court setting and that the case should be decided in their favor. But, implied, it isn’t.

And what these verses mean is that God knows the things evil people are up to. And when Jesus returns and reigns, their gaslighting games will be over.

They’ll no longer be able to control the narrative and spin things and pretend to be generous and compassionate when they are not (verse 5). Their greed and villainy and staggering hypocrisies will be exposed. Their head games will be revealed to everyone. They’ll be known for who and what they are.

The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord (Habakkuk 2:14), the truth about God and His love and goodness. They won’t be able to utter error against the Lord—which is error about the Lord—by which they justify and cover their greed and cruelty.

You might note in verse 6 that meanness is not incidental to their practices and policies. It’s intentional. They might hide their intent behind excuses of frugality and trickle-down theories and fiscal responsibility, but meanness is the point. They want to hurt the hungry, the thirsty, the needy, and the poor. They want to keep them down and not lift them up, so that they feel bigger, more powerful, and their resentments are gratified. To that end, they want to create even more disempowered people to be cruel to.

Perhaps on a deeper, more hidden level they want to lash out and hurt Jesus, who is constrained from acting openly right now for the sake of the gospel. They may seek to add affliction to His bonds, as insincere preachers sought to add affliction to Paul’s. (Philippians 1:16)

God knows all the truth about them. Nothing can be hidden from God.

In stark contrast to them, as seen in verse 8, liberal people—generous people—will come up with plans and policies of generosity. And by those things they’ll stand.

So, when the meanings of the words used are understood, the meaning of the passage in Isaiah 32 is clear in the King James Version.

On the other hand, the NIV version of the passage uses the word “fool” instead of “vile person.” It uses “scoundrel” instead of “churl.” And it uses the words “highly respected” instead of “bountiful,” and “noble” instead of “liberal.”

“Fool” doesn’t evoke the same picture as “vile person.” It suggests a blunderer rather than someone knowingly and deliberately corrupt. “Scoundrel” doesn’t call up a picture of a selfish, stingy person like “churl” does. “Highly respected” and “noble” might mean “good,” but they don’t clearly point to “generous” the way “liberal” does.

So those word choices in the NIV in this passage are a miss.

We learn in Acts 27 that the Old Testament of the Alexandrian text Bible (or Bibles) will stick fast and hold together during the Tribulation. We also see from the above example that the Old Testament of the Alexandrian-based NIV can still be hit and miss. I’d lean toward citing it when it makes the meaning clearer. But I’d check the KJV and look up a few word meanings to make sure the cite harmonizes with the meaning in the KJV.