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It can be a confusing and even alarming experience. You're following along with a sermon, and someone reads a verse from the King James Version (KJV) that simply isn't there in your New International Version (NIV) or English Standard Version (ESV). Or perhaps you notice a footnote that says, "Some manuscripts do not include this verse."
Are verses really "missing"? Has the Bible been changed? It's a question that can strike at the heart of our confidence in Scripture.
The good news is that there is a clear and well-documented answer. The differences you see are not the result of a modern conspiracy to remove parts of the Bible, but rather a story of incredible manuscript discovery and a deep commitment by translators to be as faithful as possible to the most ancient and reliable sources.
This guide will clearly explain the real story behind these textual differences, so you can have full confidence in the trustworthy Word of God you hold in your hands.
But, in short:
Verses that appear "missing" from modern Bibles like the NIV and ESV are typically absent because they are not found in the oldest and most reliable ancient manuscripts, which were discovered after the King James Version was translated in 1611.
The Story of Two Manuscript Families
The key to understanding these differences lies in the ancient, hand-copied manuscripts that translators use to create our English Bibles. For the New Testament, these manuscripts are generally grouped into two "families."
- The Byzantine Text (Textus Receptus): This is a family of manuscripts that became the standard in the Byzantine Empire. They are numerous, but they are also much later manuscripts, copied many centuries after the original writings. The King James Version (KJV) and New King James Version (NKJV) were translated primarily from this manuscript family, as it was the best available to scholars in the 17th century.
- The Alexandrian Text: In the last 150 years, archaeologists have discovered a wealth of much earlier and more reliable manuscripts, many from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, much closer to the time of the apostles. These are known as the Alexandrian manuscripts (like the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus).
Modern translations like the NIV, ESV, NLT, CSB, and NASB are based on these older, more ancient manuscripts.
So, What's the Difference?
When you compare the later Byzantine manuscripts with the much earlier Alexandrian ones, you find that the later copies contain some extra words, phrases, and even whole verses that are not present in the oldest sources.
Scholars believe that over centuries of hand-copying, scribes sometimes added notes in the margin to explain a passage, and a later scribe might have accidentally copied that note into the main text, believing it was part of the original Scripture.
Because modern translations are committed to being faithful to the oldest and most reliable manuscripts, they do not include these later additions in the main text. They are not "removing" verses; they are carefully presenting the biblical text as it existed in its most ancient form.
A Famous Example: 1 John 5:7-8
This is one of the most well-known differences.
- KJV: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one."
- ESV: "For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree."
The phrase "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" is a clear statement of the Trinity. However, it is not found in any of the earliest Greek manuscripts. Scholars have concluded that it was a later addition to the text. While the doctrine of the Trinity is taught throughout the rest of Scripture, this specific verse is not considered part of the original text, which is why modern translations do not include it.
You Can Have Full Confidence in Your Bible
The key takeaway is this: no core doctrine of the Christian faith is affected by any of these textual differences. The verses in question are very few, and the essential truths of the Gospel—the deity of Christ, his death and resurrection, and salvation by faith—are overwhelmingly affirmed in all manuscript traditions.
The differences we see are actually a sign of the incredible integrity of modern Bible translation. Over time, we have learned more and gotten better at bringing the scriptures into the English language. They show a deep commitment to providing you with a Bible that is as close as possible to the original words penned by the apostles.
Still have questions? Our Bible Finder tool can help you find the perfect, trustworthy translation.
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