Why are the newer translations of the Bible missing verses?

The question of why some modern Bible translations are missing verses found in older translations like the King James Version is an important one. There are several factors that have led to verses being omitted from newer translations.

Differences in the Manuscripts

The King James Version was translated from the Textus Receptus family of New Testament manuscripts in the 17th century. However, since that time older biblical manuscripts in Hebrew and Greek have been discovered that are closer to the original writings of the biblical authors. When translators work from these older manuscripts, they sometimes find that verses included in the Textus Receptus manuscripts have weak manuscript evidence and may not have been original to the biblical texts.

For example, Mark 16:9-20, John 7:53-8:11, and 1 John 5:7-8 appear in the Textus Receptus but are absent from many early manuscripts. So modern translations that rely more on the earlier manuscripts do not include these verses because they appear to be later additions rather than original Scripture.

Differences in Translation Philosophy

Many modern translations also have a different translation philosophy than the King James Version. The KJV was more willing to add words to smooth out the English reading even if those words were not directly in the original language texts. But most modern translations adhere more closely to formal equivalence and only translate what is present in the source manuscripts.

So some verses may be absent from modern translations because words were added to the KJV text that were not in the original. The translators of the New King James Version recognized this and removed some verses from the original KJV that were considered by scholars to be later interpolations.

Textual Criticism

Textual criticism is the study of biblical manuscripts in order to determine the most accurate original wording. With thousands more ancient manuscripts available today compared to the 17th century, scholars can better evaluate alternate manuscript traditions and determine which readings are most likely authentic to the original texts.

In some cases, this textual analysis has led scholars to recognize certain verses as probable later additions by scribes rather than original Scripture. So modern translations may weigh the manuscript evidence differently and conclude a verse found in the KJV was not in the earliest texts, leading it to be removed.

Examples of Verses Removed

Here are some significant examples of verses included in the KJV but generally omitted from modern translations due to weak manuscript support:

• Matthew 17:21 – “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
• Matthew 18:11 – “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”
• Matthew 23:14 – “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”
• Mark 7:16 – “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
• Mark 9:44, 46 – Parallel passages describing hell that are identical to verse 48.
• Mark 15:28 – “And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.”
• Mark 16:9-20 – The longer ending describing Christ’s post-resurrection appearances.
• Luke 17:36 – “Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
• Luke 23:17 – “For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.”
• John 5:4 – “For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.”
• 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.”
• Acts 15:34 – “Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.”
• Acts 24:7 – “But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands.”
• Acts 28:29 – “And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.”
• Romans 16:24 – “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

So in summary, verses may be excluded from modern Bibles when they are not found in the earliest manuscripts, when they include wording added by later scribes, or when scholarly textual analysis concludes they were probably not original to Scripture.

Do These Differences Affect Christian Teaching?

An important question is whether the omission of these verses changes or harms biblical doctrine. Most Bible scholars contend it does not. This is because no major teaching or doctrine relies solely on a verse not found in the earliest manuscripts.

While these verses may supplement biblical stories or teachings, the core message remains intact without them. No foundational doctrine is lost simply because a verse is missing from a modern translation but was present in the KJV. The shorter ending of Mark, for example, does not alter the accounts of Christ’s resurrection found in the other Gospels.

So while it can seem troubling to see familiar verses disappear from modern Bibles, Christians can be confident this does not undermine biblical authority or accuracy. The central truths of Scripture remain secure, even as new manuscript evidence leads to refinements in the precise wording and exclusions of some disputed passages.

Principles for Approaching These Differences

When faced with the absence of familiar verses in modern translations, here are some principles to keep in mind:

• Recognize that no major doctrine is lost if a disputed verse is removed. God has preserved His Word and its testimony accurately through the manuscripts available.
• Accept that our understanding of the original text is continually refined as scholarship advances. This strengthens our confidence in Scripture rather than threatening it.
• Focus on the very high degree of agreement among the vast majority of manuscripts. The disputed verses are a tiny fraction of the biblical text.
• Trust the Providence of God to guide His Church toward ever greater understanding of the truths of His Word through ongoing textual study.
• Show grace and patience when discussing Bible translations, recognizing the sincerity of translators on all sides.

The God who inspired the biblical authors to write His Word has also watched over its transmission down through history. Christians can have confidence in Scripture, even while wrestling with complex textual issues. The witness of the Spirit together with scholarly study allow us to rest secure in the Bible’s authority and sufficiency for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training us in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Reasons for Hope and Assurance

Rather than being troubled by updated translations, Christians can find hope and assurance in several key truths:

1. No doctrines or major teachings are lost by updated translations from older manuscripts. The fundamentals of the faith remain intact.
2. We have far more biblical manuscripts today than ever before, allowing greater confidence in textual accuracy.
3. Textual criticism enables us to trace the history of tiny variations between manuscripts and determine the most reliable readings.
4. Translators and scholars are nearly unanimous on passages excluded due to manuscript evidence.
5. The Holy Spirit continues to make God’s truth known even amid scholarly debates.

For these reasons, believers can have confidence that God has provided His people with sufficiently reliable versions of His Word in multiple translations and safeguarded the transmission of Scripture through history. We can trust His enduring purposes are fulfilled through the availability of Bible translations based on the best manuscript evidence.

While loss or change can be unsettling, God’s greater purposes are being accomplished. We can embrace the unifying fundamentals of the faith while debating peripheral details. And we have the Holy Spirit’s guidance to lead us into all biblical truth and away from error. There is great reason for hope and assurance despite questions over details of the text.

The Sufficiency of Scripture

Another key perspective is recognizing the sufficiency of Scripture for Christian discipleship. Even where scholars may dispute certain small details, the moral and spiritual instruction God intends to communicate through His Word comes through with clarity.

A verse here or there may be missing, but no major narrative, command or theological concept has been lost. The light of God’s truth still brightly illumines the pages of Scripture to accomplish its purposes:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The Spirit who inspired the Word is powerful to overcome minor gaps or questions about details. Christians affirm that God has providentially safeguarded His scriptural communication to guide people to salvation and train them to serve Him well.

Moving Forward in Faith

Rather than dividing Christians, debates over textual details can move us forward in faith as we graciously discuss and study Scripture. The reliability of Bible translation should draw believers together around the timeless truths of the gospel found in all manuscripts.

We can have reasonable debates about the significance of textual variations even as we unite around core doctrines. And we can have confidence that God will continue safeguarding His Word and making it accessible despite ongoing disputes over details.

The Bible invites us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). As we wrestle with complex questions about the text of Scripture, the Spirit provides unity amid diversity and empowers us to grow stronger in faith together through gracious dialogue and common service.

Minor uncertainties about small pieces of the Bible need not undermine the faithfulness of God or the trustworthiness of Scripture. We can move forward in unity as the Spirit affirms the truth at the heart of these texts: the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).