The oldest manuscripts (from which our modern day Bibles were translated) were written in ancient languages. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, Chaldee, and Aramaic. The oldest versions of the New Testament are written in Greek. Some manuscripts have been found which are dated as far back as 60 AD, only about 30 years after Christ's crucifiction. These manuscripts, written in Greek, are old enough that they could even have been written by eye witnesses to the accounts of Christ's life! The Greek and Hebrew texts, being the oldest available, are also the most accurate available. All other Bibles were translated from either these or other less accurate translations. Being unfamiliar with the older Latin translations, I can not speak for their accuracy. The first widely published english versions available are the original King James version which was translated from the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts to the current english of the day back in 1611. As you will see, these translations made almost 400 years ago, are still among the most accurate available today. If you are serious about learning what God has to say through his word, you have no choice but to use the King James and a good Concordance with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries.

Here is just one example of how the various versions translate from the original Greek. There is one very important concept in Christianity, the concept of the Trinity. Some modern day religions are abandoning the belief in the Trinity, and from what you are about to read, it is no wonder. There is one verse in the Bible I know of that explicitly and literally states that God the Father, the Word (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost are one, a trinity. Understandably it is difficult for us to understand how all three can be God, but at the same time there is only one God. God is all three, but He is one. Satan hates the trinity and denies the power and authority of God. Is it no wonder that he has used his influence over man to completely eliminate such a statement as I John 5:7 from the newer translations, and to do it in such a way as most people don't even notice it? Maybe more people would notice if their Bibles were published showing verse 6 followed directly by verse 8. We have been warned that Satan will exert his powers more and more as the time of Christ's return approaches because he knows that he doesn't have much time left. Revelation 12:12 tells us "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." We are also warned that we must be very careful in that Satan is such a deciever that, if possible, he could decieve the very elect! In Matthew 24:24 we read "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Fortunately for us (and due to the power and will of God), Satan wasn't quite so active back in 1611 and we have an accurate translation of God's Word in the King James Bible.

The example above is an extreem example, although there are many places where entire verses are completely missing just like I John 5:7. Many of the mis-translations are more subtle. But even subtle errors and ommissions can have a big impact when they number in the thousands! I can not account for all the errors as I am neither a Biblical scholar nor a student of the ancient languages. I am just an individual who takes his personal Bible study seriously. I have heard that true experts on Hebrew and Greek Biblical texts have stated that as many as 5% of the words in the original Greek text were not even translated into the newer versions and over 100,000 words have been added that do not appear in the original Hebrew Old or Greek New Testaments.

Am I going a little overboard when I state that Satan himself had a hand in these other translations? To answer this question, you have to examine where the individual omissions take place and what exactly is being left out. Many of the omissions have to do with Christ being the Son of God, Christ's blood, baptism, "believe in me" changed to simply "believe"; many times the words "Jesus", "Christ", or "Lord" are just ignored. These types of omissions all seem to center around very important aspects of Christianity and Salvation. The errors are too consistent to be random and have to have been done purposely, but by whom? Who would benefit from these changes and has the desire eliminate these concepts from the minds of men? Once again I will leave you to ponder that question on your own and reach your own decisions.

It is also interesting to note that the most accurate versions of the Bible are not copyrighted (The 1611 King James, Martin Luther's German New Testament, Young's Literal Translation, and the Greek Textus Receptus). The New International Version (NIV), and the New American Standard (NASB) are copyrighted and you are legally limited as to how many verses you can quote from those versions! How can anyone think that the Word of God can be copyrighted? Maybe this is our first clue that they are not the true Words of God.