In our pursuit of knowing God through His written Word, it’s crucial that we not only read Scripture, but that we understand it as it was meant to be understood. While the Bible is the inspired Word of God, our English translations are not always perfect. Some popular versions contain mistranslated, theological biases, or outdated scholarship that can blur the meaning of key verses and in some cases, even alter the truth of Christianity. The translations to strictly avoid that I'm aware of are the NIRV, New World Translation and The Message. I will mainly focus here on KJV, NIV and NLT.
The intention here is not to nitpick, but to encourage deeper study. I believe the more we dig into the original language, context, and early Christian understanding, the stronger our faith becomes. That’s why I’ve also included quotes from the early Church Fathers, Christians who lived within a generation or two of the apostles to show how things were originally taught and understood from the beginning.
If we want to follow the Faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3), we have to be cautious of translations that came centuries later and don't reflect the historical faith.
Let’s explore a few examples where popular Bible translations get it wrong — and what the early Church really believed.
Luke 1:28 — "Full of Grace"
Translations:
-
KJV: “Hail, thou that art highly favoured...”
-
NIV: “Greetings, you who are highly favored!”
-
NLT: “Greetings, favored woman!”
Issue:
The Greek word κεχαριτωμένη (kecharitōmenē) is better rendered as "full of grace", not just "highly favored." This term indicates a permanent state of grace, not a mere one-time favor.
Church Father Quote:
“She was full of grace because she bore the Sun of justice and the Fountain of grace.”
— St. Ambrose, Commentary on Luke 2:7 Written around: 378–386 AD
John 1:1 — The Divinity of Christ
Translations:
-
KJV: “...the Word was God.”
-
NIV: Same.
-
NLT: “...and the Word was God.”
✅ All three get this mostly right, but it's worth watching Jehovah's Witnesses’ NWT which incorrectly renders it “a god.” This is a doctrinal cornerstone, so it’s essential to highlight the correct Greek:
καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος — definitively the Word was God.
Church Father Quote:
“Let us believe then, dear brethren, according to the tradition of the Apostles, that the Word was God.”
— St. Athanasius, Against the Arians, Book 1 Written around: 378–386 AD
Acts 13:2 — Reference to The Liturgy
Translations:
-
KJV: “...as they ministered to the Lord…”
-
NIV: “While they were worshiping the Lord…”
-
NLT: “One day as these men were worshiping the Lord…”
Issue:
The word Liturgy didn't come until a little while after the writings chosen for the Bible were written, the Greek word is λειτουργούντων (leitourgountōn) — from which we get liturgy. The literal rendering is “while they were performing liturgical service,” indicating a formal worship or Eucharistic context. Any time the Bible mentions the "breaking of the bread and the prayers" this is in reference to the early Liturgy.
Church Father Quote:
“When they ministered to the Lord... this is what we also do in the liturgy, through which we offer to God spiritual sacrifices.”
— St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 13 Written around: c. 400 AD
2 Thessalonians 2:15 — Apostolic Tradition
Translations:
-
KJV: “...hold the traditions which ye have been taught…”
-
NIV: “...hold fast to the teachings…”
-
NLT: “...cling to what we taught you...”
Issue:
The Greek word παραδόσεις (paradoseis) clearly means “traditions.” NIV and NLT weaken this by using “teachings,” which can imply only written instruction and subtly deny Sacred Tradition.
Church Father Quote:
“It is necessary also to hold to the traditions which were not written, as the Apostle said.”
— St. Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit, Ch. 27 Written in: 375 AD
Hebrews 13:17 — Obedience to Church Authority
Translations:
-
KJV: “Obey them that have the rule over you...”
-
NIV: “Have confidence in your leaders...”
-
NLT: “Obey your spiritual leaders...”
Issue:
KJV and NIV avoid making it clear that the context is spiritual authority within the Church. NLT gets closer. The Greek is πειθώ + ἡγοῦμαι — literally “Be persuaded and submit to those who lead you,” referring to bishops/elders.
Church Father Quote:
“Let us obey our pastors and teachers... for they are accountable not for themselves alone, but for those whom they teach.”
— St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 13 Written around: c. 400 AD
1 Corinthians 11:27 — The Eucharist
Translations:
-
KJV: “...eat this bread, and drink this cup…”
-
NIV: “...eats the bread or drinks the cup…”
-
NLT: “...eats the bread or drinks the cup…”
Issue:
The original Greek καὶ (and) is replaced with “or” in NIV and NLT. This diminishes the unity of the Eucharistic act and could imply a person might validly receive only one species.
Church Father Quote:
“Let no one eat or drink of the Eucharist unless they believe that what we do is the Body of the Lord.”
— St. Justin Martyr, First Apology, Ch. 66 Written around: c. 155 AD
Hebrews 10:23 — Hope vs. Faith
KJV:
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering…”
More Accurate (RSV, ESV, NAB):
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering…”
Greek:
-
ἐλπίς (elpis) = “hope”
Problem:
"Faith" (pistis) and "hope" (elpis) are different virtues. This verse encourages confidence in the future promises of God, not merely intellectual assent or personal belief. KJV misrepresents the original intent.
Church Father Support:
“Let us not, then, be sluggish in our hope; for He is faithful that promised.”
— St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 10 c. 400 AD
Acts 12:4 — Easter or Passover?
KJV:
“…intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”
Accurate Translation (RSV, ESV, NAB):
“…intending after the Passover…”
Greek:
-
πάσχα (Pascha) = Passover
Problem:
“Easter” is anachronistic—the word “Pascha” always refers to the Jewish Passover in Scripture. Easter as a feast commemorating Christ’s Resurrection developed later and should not appear in this Jewish context.
Church Father Insight:
“The Passover is the beginning of the feast days... it prefigured the true Passover, which is Christ.”
— St. Irenaeus, Fragment 38 c. 180 AD
Revelation 22:14 — "Commandments" vs. "Washed Robes"
.KJV:
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life…”
Earlier Manuscripts (RSV, ESV, NAB):
“Blessed are those who wash their robes…”
Greek:
-
πλύνοντες τὰς στολὰς (plunontes tas stolās) = washing the robes
Problem:
The KJV follows a later textual variant found in the Textus Receptus. The original likely said “wash their robes,” symbolizing baptism or purity through Christ’s blood, not obedience to the Mosaic Law.
Patristic Insight:
“They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and are thus found worthy of the kingdom.”
— Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse c. 260 AD
1 John 5:7–8 — The Johannine Comma
KJV Includes:
“…in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
Modern Bibles (RSV, ESV, etc.):
“For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood…”
Greek:
This Trinitarian formula is not in any known Greek manuscript before the 14th century.
Problem:
A late addition found only in the Latin Vulgate, probably inserted to support Trinitarian doctrine. While true theologically, it's not original Scripture and shouldn't appear in the main text.
Scholarship:
“This passage is not found in the best manuscripts... it seems to be a gloss that crept into the Latin tradition.”
— St. Jerome (reluctantly included it) Late 4th century (Note: He argued against the inclusion initially)
Genesis 3:15 — “He” vs. “It”
KJV:
“…it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
More Accurate (RSV, ESV):
“…he shall bruise your head…”
Hebrew:
-
הוּא (hu’) = he
Problem:
KJV uses “it,” depersonalizing the prophecy. But ancient Jewish and Christian readers have always interpreted this as a Messianic prophecy about Christ crushing Satan.
Church Father Quote:
“The Lord was promised to crush the head of the serpent… for this reason was He born of a woman.”
— St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 5.21.1 c. 180 AD
Luke 22:19 — “Do This” or “Offer This”?
KJV:
“This do in remembrance of me.”
Greek:
-
ποιεῖτε (poieite) = can mean to do, to make, or to offer (esp. a sacrifice in Levitical Greek)
Problem:
Most translations say "Do this" but I thought it appropriate to include this here. The same Greek word is used in the Septuagint (LXX) for making sacrifices. So Jesus' words echo Levitical priesthood, implying this is a Eucharistic offering, not just a memorial act.
Church Father Quotes:
“He made mention of the New Testament... showing that the former things were a type, but that now the truth has appeared.”
— St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Matthew 82 c. 400 AD
"He took that created thing, bread, and gave thanks, and said, 'This is My body.' And the cup likewise, which is part of that creation to which we belong, He confessed to be His blood, and taught the new oblation of the New Covenant... which the Church, receiving from the apostles, offers to God throughout the world."
— Against Heresies, Book IV, Chapter 17, c. 𝟏𝟖𝟎 𝐀𝐃
Above all, the most important thing is that we read the written Word of God. Scripture is a gift; alive, powerful, and capable of transforming hearts. But as we read, we must also remember to keep it in context: linguistic, historical, and especially ecclesial.
Jesus didn’t just pray for us to know the truth—He prayed for us to be one in that truth:
“That they all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you…”
— John 17:21
Unity in the Body of Christ comes not just from reading the Bible, but from reading it with the Church, guided by the Spirit, and in communion with the faith handed down from the Apostles.
So let us read Scripture faithfuly, but let’s also read it together, carefully, and with reverence for the truth that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).
Comments
Post a Comment