When Americans want to read their Bibles, more of them read the King James Version (KJV) than any other Bible. A new study suggests that 55 percent who read the Bible use the KJV, vs. 19 percent who use the New International Version (NIV). Other versions, such as the New Revised Standard Version, New America Bible and the Living Bible, drop below 10 percent.
The surprising numbers come from research done by a collaboration between Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis who teamed up to publish the report which used two very respected sources of data; the General Social Survey and the National Congregations Study. And all this is in spite of the NIV being the strongest selling Bible translation for decades.
In 2014 another study from the American Bible Society also reported that 52 percent of Americans read the KJV, or the NKJV and only 11 percent read the NIV. And Bible searches online are increasing for the KJV, presently at 45 percent, while searches of most other translations are flat, the NIV at only 24 percent.
The KJV is still a very powerful translation according to yet other studies. A 2011 Lifeway study found that 62 percent of Americans, and 82 percent of Americans who read the Bible regularly, own a copy of the KJV.
Bookstores may be crowded with alternative versions. Churches may line their pews and preach from pulpits with several other translations, but they do not surpass the KJV in confidence and popularity. Apparently, even with all the promotion, the NIV just doesn’t seem to appeal to people the way the KJV does.
Where would we be without the KJV? Doctrinally, we would not have the clear presentation of end-time principles of the sanctuary message, the Sabbath and the State of the Dead as we do with the KJV. Prophetically speaking, we would be wandering in the wilderness of confusion over the key markers of prophecy.
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Comments
Warrine Harden
Friday September 18th, 2015 at 04:46 PMAmen!!!!
TERRY HAYNES
Tuesday September 22nd, 2015 at 09:28 PMI prefer to use the NKJV and find it to be easier to read. What percentage of Bible readers use the NKJV? God bless 1 Cor. 10:31
Jason W
Friday September 25th, 2015 at 12:32 AMThere are many changes to the KJV depending on the version that one reads. When I first began learning about different bible versions I thought they were good. I thought the newer versions might make the scriptures easier to understand, but that is not the case. Often the meaning is changed totally and sometimes it does not even make sense. I want to point out some changes the NIV makes to show why you need to be very careful as to the version that you read. Ephesians 3:9 Reference to Jesus Christ is gone! Mark 15:3 4 words removed. Mark 15:28 verse totally gone! Matthew 6:13 verse meaning altered 14 important words gone! Romans 1:3 Jesus Christ removed. Acts 8:37 verse totally gone! John 16:16 Is Jesus playing hide and seek? Compare NIV to KJV and see for yourself. Compare many of the versions at biblehub.com NIV removes over 60,000 words and wipes out some verses.
Pastor Martin Tickle
Friday September 25th, 2015 at 07:30 PMThank you for pointing out the above texts.
However, the real issue is that if you compare Hebrews 9:12 in the KJV with that in the NKJV, NIV and other (per-)versions, you will see that these place Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary upon His ascension – rather than in the Holy Place, as in the KJV.
What does this mean for God’s true people?
If Jesus entered the MHP at His ascension, then 1844 would have no meaning and the SDA movement could not have been a prophetic fulfillment of Rev 10:11.
Furthermore, the MHP would not have been opened in 1844, the ark of the Covenant would not have then been seen and the Sabbath commandment could not have been especially emphasized in a true vision.
Ellen White would therefore have been a false prophet and the entire SDA movement would be a lie.
Sadly, English speaking SDA church leaders around the world have adopted both the NKJV and NIV as their preferred Bible versions and they must know what the implications are!
The verse “come out of her, My people …” takes on a new meaning, perhaps, as Babylon represents confusion and that is exactly what these translations provide!
Stay with the true Bible in English (KJV) and the SOP and you will not stray from the path of truth and righteousness.
God Bless you
Jason W
Sunday October 4th, 2015 at 11:58 AMThank you for pointing out the specifics regarding the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. I was aware of this issue, but did not have specifics, so I did not mention the discrepancy. Sadly, one of my local SDA churches uses the NKJV. However, I have found a bigger issue… This is in reference to the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide – Biblical Missionaries (July-Sept 2015). They often refer to verses from the NIV. Sometimes they use NKJV. There are verses that do not state the source (they might be KJV). This is totally disheartening! How is one to find a church that has not been infiltrated with ecumenism and false teachings? The KJV is the version that I use and I have enormous respect for what Martin Luther and William Tyndale did and the sacrifices that they made.