B.F. Westcott and F.J.A. Hort, while revising the Greek New Testament in the 1850s, favored corrupted Alexandrian manuscripts like Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, sowing textual doubt by sidelining the preserved Textus Receptus. Their occult ties, including founding the Cambridge Ghost Society and joining esoteric groups like the Hermes Club, reflected Westcott’s spiritualism and Hort’s secrecy to avoid scrutiny. Gail Riplinger notes their work fueled modern Bible versions’ doctrinal erosion, while Dean Burgon criticized their contempt for the Traditional Text, sparking ongoing skepticism.
The following outlines key textual corruptions in modern Bible versions (e.g., NIV, ESV, NABRE) and Catholic editions that affect teachings on spiritual growth, believer's power, and the identity of Jesus Christ. The King James Version (KJV), based on the Majority Text (~5,000+ Byzantine manuscripts), is compared against changes rooted in a minority of manuscripts (e.g., Codex Sinaiticus, Vaticanus). Each example includes manuscript evidence and implications for doctrine, supported by sources like kjvtoday.net, logosresourcepages.org, and bible.ca (for Catholic refutations).
These omissions or alterations in modern and Catholic Bibles diminish teachings on believers' authority, faith practices, and supernatural empowerment.
| Verse | KJV Text | Modern/Catholic Change | Manuscript Support for KJV | Link to Believer's Power/Spiritual Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark 16:9-20 | Full ending, incl. v. 17-18: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues... They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." | Omitted or bracketed/footnoted (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | Included in ~1,700 Greek MSS (99%+), all ancient versions (Syriac, Latin Vulgate, Gothic), cited by Irenaeus (2nd cent.); only 2-4 MSS omit. | Evidences post-resurrection power: miracles, exorcism, healing—essential for bold faith and Great Commission growth. |
| Matthew 17:21 | "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." | Completely omitted (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | Present in ~5,000 Byzantine MSS, Latin Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic; absent in ~10 Alexandrian MSS. Cited by Origen. | Teaches prayer/fasting unlocks power over demons, fostering spiritual discipline. |
| Acts 8:37 | "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." | Completely omitted (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | In ~700 Greek MSS, Old Latin, Vulgate, Syriac; cited by Irenaeus, Cyprian; omitted in ~100 MSS but with marginal notes. | Emphasizes confession of Christ's deity for baptism, core to conversion power. |
| Matthew 6:13 | "...For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." | Omitted (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | Included in 99%+ Greek MSS, Didache (1st cent.), all ancient versions; absent in 2-3 MSS. | Affirms God's eternal power in prayer, building faith for persistent supplication. |
| Luke 4:4 | "...Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." | Omits "but by every word of God" (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | Present in ~5,300 MSS, Vulgate, Syriac; omitted in Sinaiticus/Vaticanus. | Teaches believers' sustenance from God's Word, essential for spiritual warfare. |
| Luke 4:8 | "...Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written..." | Omits "Get thee behind me, Satan" (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | Included in majority MSS, ancient versions; omitted in 2 uncials. | Models authoritative rebuke of Satan, boosting confidence in spiritual victory. |
| John 5:4 | "For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water..." | Completely omitted (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | In ~1,200 Greek MSS, Vulgate, Syriac; absent in ~200 MSS but noted in margins. | Reveals supernatural healing faith; omission discourages expectant prayer. |
| Acts 28:29 | "And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves." | Completely omitted (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | In ~4,000 MSS, some Vulgate copies; omitted in early uncials but versional support. | Illustrates Word's divisive power for conviction/growth; removal softens evangelism. |
| Ephesians 5:30 | "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." | Omitted (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | Included in 99%+ Byzantine MSS, Vulgate, Coptic; absent in 3-4 MSS. | Depicts union with Christ for resurrection power; omission weakens identity in Him. |
| Colossians 1:14 | "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." | Omits "through his blood" (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | In ~5,000 MSS, ancient versions; omitted in Sinaiticus/Vaticanus. | Highlights blood's atoning power; removal dilutes freedom from sin. |
These changes obscure Jesus' deity or sonship, enabling false doctrines in groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism, Seventh-day Adventism, Oneness Pentecostalism, and Unitarianism.
| Verse | KJV Text | Modern/Catholic Change | Manuscript Support for KJV | Tied False Belief & How Corruption Enables It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Timothy 3:16 | "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..." | "He who" or "who" was manifest (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | "God" in ~99% of MSS, Vulgate, Syriac; "who" in ~5 uncials. | JW/Mormonism/SDA: Deny eternal God incarnate (JW: created; Mormon: exalted man; SDA: semi-Arianism). Change obscures incarnation proof. |
| 1 John 5:7 | "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." | Completely omitted (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | In ~10 late MSS, Vulgate, Syriac, cited by Cyprian (3rd cent.); internal evidence supports. | JW/Oneness/Unitarianism: Reject Trinity (JW: inferior Jesus; Oneness: modalism; Unitarian: no Triune God). Omission removes Trinitarian witness. |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..." | "One and only Son" (omits "begotten"; NIV, ESV, NABRE). | "Begotten" in ~5,000 MSS, ancient versions; modern favors Alexandrian. | Mormonism: Denies unique sonship (Jesus as spirit brother). Removal aligns with created/procreated god view. |
| Acts 20:28 | "...church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." | "Church of the Lord... with his own blood" (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | "God... his own blood" in ~5,300 MSS, Vulgate; "Lord" in 4-5 uncials. | JW/Mormonism/SDA: Reject God shedding blood. Change hides divine atonement. |
| 1 Timothy 3:2 | "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife..." | Similar, but NABRE/Vulgate emphasize celibacy via context/notes. | Majority text allows marriage; Vulgate influenced Catholic bans. | Catholicism: Mandatory celibacy (false sacrament). Notes/corruptions enable abusive priesthood doctrines. |
| John 1:18 | "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father..." | "The one and only God" or "begotten God" (NIV, ESV, NABRE). | "Only begotten Son" in ~4,000 MSS, early fathers; "God" in 2 uncials. | SDA/Unitarianism: Subordinate or non-divine Jesus. Alteration blurs unique Son-to-Father revelation. |
Some say millions of years, some say Thousands.
Let's take a look at what the observable evidence shows us...
Surely only 1 belief system has the truth?
Or are there multiple paths to God?
We all know the story of Noah and his family. Nearly every belief system has a flood story...
Bunnies and chocolate eggs... yes we all know that time of the year. Should we be concerned about it as believers?