NKJV - New King James Version (Bringing God's Word To Life)

BRINGING

GOD’S WORD

TO LIFE

www.TheNKJVBible.com

http://www.TheNKJVBible.com

The Bible’s Evolution

After the original 1611 King James Bible, four major revisions were made, each done to reflect current English usage.

1629

First Bible printed by Cambridge

University Press.

1638

Printed by Thomas Buck and

Roger Daniel.

1762

Printed by Dr. Thomas Paris, Trinity College,

Cambridge University.

1769

Printed by Dr. Benjamin Blayney, Oxford University.

1979

NKJV New Testament released from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

The New King James Version becomes the fifth major revision.

1980

NKJV Book of Psalms is released.

1982

NKJV Full Bible is Released.

NEW KING JAMES VERSION®



History of the NKJV Translation

• In 1611, the King James Version of the Holy Bible was published in England.

• No other book has had as much impact on the world as this historic translation of the Scriptures into English





• English is a living, changing language, yet the King James Version is over 400 years old.

• Earlier centuries maintained the freshness of the translation by gradually modifying the grammar, spelling, and word usage to keep the meaning alive for each new generation.

• In our time, due to the proliferation of translations, the King James had not been published in an updated edition since 1769.





• Although more than 40 modern Bible translations have been published in the last 30 years, the King James Version continues to be the overwhelming favorite.

• A need was clearly seen for an updated and understandable edition of the word’s favorite translation.





• In 1975, the boldest, most extensive revision in modern Bible publishing history began.

• A 130-person team, including Greek, Hebrew, and English scholars, editors, church leaders, and Christian laity, was commissioned to work on the project.

• It took seven years to produce the complete New King James Version.





• The NKJV New Testament was finished in 1979.

• The Books of Psalms was released in 1980.

• The first full NKJV Bible became available in 1982, making the New King James Version the fifth major revision of the beloved King James Version.




Why the need for the NKJV Translation

• Since it was first published in 1611, the King James Version has been the most outstanding English Bible translation.

• It has been “The Bible” for millions of people around the world.





• More and more today however, people find the English of Shakespeare’s time hard to understand.

• A good number of words have changed in meaning or have gone out of use altogether.

• Our knowledge of the original Greek, Aramaic, and Greek languages that the Bible was first written in has improved since 1611.

• So, the wish was to preserve what ought to be preserved in the beloved KJV while addressing these shortcomings.





• The New King James Version is an up-to-date translation of the Bible by devout scholars.

• It maintains as much of the beauty of the King James Version as possible.

• It increases the accuracy, and makes the meaning as clear as possible for today’s reader.





• The result is an even better King James.

• It is scrupulously faithful to the original.

• Yet it is truly updated to enhance its clarity and readability.





• While there a several other good Bible translations available, none do a better job of preserving the accuracy, beauty, and clarity that readers need than the New King James Version.




The Preservation of the Word

• There are three core elements needed by any Bible translation.• Accuracy• Beauty• Clarity





Accuracy

• The NKJV translates from the traditional texts of the Hebrew and Aramaic Old Testament and the Greek New Testament.

• It includes footnotes wherever variations are found in critical texts that would affect the wording of the English translation.





Accuracy

• The translation method is “complete equivalence,” which is sometimes known as formal equivalence.

• It gives meaning clearly in natural English while maintaining as much of the wording and grammar of the original languages as possible.

• The match between the original languages and the English translation is as complete as it can be, making the NKJV ideal for close study.





Beauty

• The NKJV preserves the traditional literary quality of the King James Version.

• It deliberately seeks to maintain the sound, language, and rhythm that lovers of the Bible have come to expect while modernizing when necessary to prevent misunderstanding.





Beauty

• Bible readers need to be fed in both the head and the heart.

• Accuracy without literary beauty would only serve the head.

• Creativity in composition without accuracy would thrill only the heart.

• The New King James Version achieves the necessary balance between understanding and spiritual uplift.





Beauty

• The Bible is a literary classic.

• Even after 400 years since it was first published, the KJV is still what people think of first when they think of “The Bible.”

• Time and again, readers state that they want their Bible to, “sound like a Bible,” – meaning the KJV.

• The NKJV does that better than any other modern Bible translation.





Clarity

• The NKJV is written in today’s language for today’s reader.





Clarity

• All of the accuracy and beauty in the world means little if it cannot be understood.

• To achieve maximum clarity, the NKJV uses modern English that is dignified and natural.

• Its presentation is formal, yet at the same time, graceful, pleasant, and uncomplicated.





Clarity

• The reading level is eighth grade, which is much easier than many would expect in a direct revision of the King James Version.

• The NKJV’s stylists were careful to eliminate any English that would be archaic, obsolete, or unnatural for today’s reader.

• The stylists were deliberate to keep only the good things about the KJV’s style and manner.




The Scholar Team

New King James Version – Executive Review Committee

Dr. Arthur L. Farstad, Executive Editor.

Old Testament

• Dr. James D. Price. Chairman. Professor, Department of Old Testament, Temple Baptist Theological Seminary, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

• Dr. Arthur L. Farstad. New Testament Editor, Dallas, Texas.• Dr. D. David Garland. Professor of Old Testament, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth,

Texas.• Dr. Paul K. Gilchrist. Professor of Biblical Studies, Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.• Dr. R. K. Harrison. Professor of Old Testament, Wycliffe College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.• Dr. G. Herbert Livingston. Professor of Old Testament, Chairman of the Division of Biblical Studies, Asbury

Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky.• Rev. William H. McDowell. Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Florida Southern College, Orlando, Florida.




The Scholar Team

New King James Version – Executive Review Committee

New Testament

• Dr. Arthur L. Farstad. Chairman. New Testament Editor. Dallas, Texas.• Dr. Robert L. Hughes. President, Pensacola Baptist Seminary, Pensacola, Florida.• Dr. Alfred Martin. Professor of Bible, Dallas Bible College, Dallas, Texas.• Rev. William H. McDowell. Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Florida Southern College, Orlando, Florida.• Dr. Robert L. Reymond. Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Covenant Theological Seminary, St.

Louis, Missouri.• Dr. Harry A. Sturz. Professor Emeritus of Greek, Biola College, La Mirada, California.• Dr. William Curtis Vaughan. Professor of New Testament, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort

Worth, Texas.




The Scholar Team

New King James Version – The Revisers

Old Testament

• Dr. Ronald B. Allen. Professor, Old Testament Language and Exegesis, Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, Portland, Oregon.

• Dr. Barry J. Beitzel. Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois.

• Dr. Walter R. Bodine. Associate Professor of Semitic Languages and Old Testament, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas.

• Dr. Newton L. Bush. Editor, Minister, Bethel Christian Union Chapel, Elida, Ohio.• Rev. E. Clark Copeland. Professor of Old Testament, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania.• Dr. Leonard J. Coppes. Minister, Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Harrisville, Pennsylvania.• Dr. Arthur L. Farstad. New Testament Editor, Dallas, Texas.• Dr. Harvey E. Finley. Professor of Old Testament, Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri.




The Scholar Team


Old Testament (continued)

• Dr. D. David Garland. Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.

• Dr. Paul R. Gilchrist. Professor of Biblical Studies, Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.• Dr. Louis Goldberg. Professor of Theology and Jewish Studies, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois.• Rev. Geoffrey Watts Grogan. Principal, Bible Training Institute, Glasgow, Scotland.• Dr. Victor Paul Hamilton. Associate Professor of Religion, Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky.• Dr. Allan M. Harman. Professor of Old Testament, Reformed Theological College, Victoria, Australia.• Dr. Edward E. Hindson. Professor of Religion, Liberty Baptist College, Lynchburg, Virginia.• Dr. Horace D. Hummel. Associate Professor of Old Testament, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.• Dr. David K. Huttar. Professor of Old Testament and Greek, Nyack College, Nyack, New York.• Dr. Meredith C. Kline. Professor of Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton,

Massachusetts.• Dr. Donald A. Leggett. Professor of Old Testament, Ontario Theological Seminary, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada.• Dr. Elmer A. Martens. President, Professor of Old Testament, Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno,

California.




The Scholar Team


Old Testament (continued)

• Rev. William H. McDowell. Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Florida Southern College, Orlando, Florida.• Dr. Eugene H. Merrill. Associate Professor of Semantics and Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological

Seminary, Dallas, Texas.• Dr. Gerald I. Miller. Chairman, Division of Foreign Language, Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky.• Dr. Richard O. Rigsby. Associate Professor of Semitic Languages and Old Testament, Talbot Theological

Seminary, La Mirada, California.• Dr. Allen P. Ross. Professor of Old Testament, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas.• Dr. Glenn E. Schaefer. Chairman, Department of Bible, Theology and Mission, Simpson College, San Francisco,

California.• Dr. Gary V. Smith. Dean, Winnipeg Theological Seminary, Otterburne, Manitoba, Canada.• Rev. Arthur Steltzer. Pastor, Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware.• Dr. William A. VanGemeren, Professor of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi.• Dr. William White, Jr. Writer, Editor, Warrington, Pennsylvania.




The Scholar Team


New Testament

• Dr. Boyce Blackwelder. Anderson College, Anderson, Indiana.• Dr. E. M. Blaiklock. Professor Emeritus of Classics, University of Auckland, Titirangi, Auckland, New Zealand.• Dr. James L. Boyer. Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Greek, Grace Theological Seminary Winona Lake,

Indiana.• Dr. John A. Burns. Academic Dean, Luther Rice Seminary, Jacksonville, Florida.• William J. Cameron. Principal Emeritus, Free Church of Scotland College, Edinburgh, Scotland.• Dr. A. Glenn Campbell. Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Greek, and Theology, Montana Institute of the

Bible, Ottawa, Kansas.• Dr. Gary C. Cohen. Lecturer, Miami Christian College, Miami, Florida.• Dr. Huber L. Drumwright. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.• Dr. William K. Eichhorst. President of Academic Affairs, Winnipeg Bible College and Theological Seminary,

Otterburne, Manitoba, Canada.• Dr. Virtus E. Gideon. Professor of New Testament and Greek, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort

Worth, Texas.• Dr. Robert L. Hendren. Minister, Donelson Church of Christ, Nashville, Tennessee.




The Scholar Team


New Testament (continued)

• Dr. Robert G. Hoerber. Professor of Exegetical Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.• Dr. Ronald Jones. Associate Professor, Victory Tabernacle Baptist Church, Norfolk, Virginia.• Dr. Charles R. Smith. Professor of Christian Theology and Greek, Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake,

Indiana.• Dr. John A. Sproule. Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek, Grace Theological Seminary, Winona

Lake, Indiana.• Dr. Harry A. Sturz. Professor Emeritus of Greek, Biola College, La Mirada, California.• Dr. Joseph S. Wang. Professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky.• Dr. Phillip R. Williams. Registrar, Professor of New Testament, Northwest Baptist Seminary, Tacoma,

Washington.• Dr. A. Skevington Wood. Principal, Cliff College, Calver, Sheffield, England.• Dr. Arthur L. Farstad. New Testament Editor, Dallas, Texas.• Dr. Lewis A. Foster. Professor of New Testament, Cincinnati Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio.




The Scholar Team

New King James Version – Revision Committee (1984)

• Dr. Arthur L. Farstad. Executive Editor.• Dr. James D. Price. Chairman, Old Testament Translation Committee.• Dr. William H. McDowell. English Editor.• *Dr. James Borland. Professor of Theology and Bible, Liberty Baptist Seminary.• Dr. D. David Garland. Professor of Old Testament, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.• Dr. Paul R. Gilchrist. Professor of Biblical Studies, Covenant College.• Dr. R. K. Harrison. Emeritus Professor of Old Testament, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto.• *Prof. Zane C. Hodges. Professor of New Testament Literature and Exegesis, Dallas Theological Seminary.• Dr. G. Herbert Livingston. Chairman, Division of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary.• Dr. Alfred Martin. Professor of Bible, Dallas Bible College.• Dr. Harry Sturz. Professor of Greek, Biola College.• Dr. Curtis Vaughan. Professor of New Testament, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

*Dr. Borland and Prof. Hodges served on the committee only for the revision of 1984.




What Others are Saying

"The beauty of the King James translation has inspired readers for four centuries. Now, with more clarity for generations to come, the NKJV is the logical choice for the GAITHER HOMECOMING BIBLE because our passion is to build bridges between our rich heritage as believers and the future challenges yet unseen to which, as in the past, the living word of God will give direction, comfort, revelation, and hope for real life."Bill and Gloria Gaither, Bestselling Singers and Songwriters


"I’m fond of the New King James Version and decided to use this translation for the START! Bible because it’s easy for new believers to understand. I’ve been preaching from the NKJV for years. It holds to the poetic and accurate qualities of the King James Version, but yet it uses modern words that give a clear understanding of God’s Word."Greg Laurie, Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship and General Editor of START!: The Bible for New Believers





"The New King James Version is an exceptionally rich and accurate translation of Holy Scripture. Because this classic translation has withstood the test of time and the careful scrutiny of many, it was a high privilege to write the accompanying study notes. During the process of incorporating the comments, I obviously plunged deep into the entire text. The further I studied it, the more profoundly I trusted its integrity. I highly recommend this valuable text."John MacArthur, president of The Master's College and The Master's Seminary and General Editor, The MacArthur Study Bible

"The New King James Version is a beautiful translation that can help any student of the Bible further understand God's heart for the poor and His call for followers to live out the whole Gospel."Richard Stearns, President of World Vision U.S. and author of The Hole in Our Gospel





“The New King James is one of my favorite translations. It is reliable, trustworthy, and true and really enhances the legacy of God’s Word. It is an ideal translation for study and devotion.”Max Lucado, Bestselling Author

“I’ve always relied upon the New King James Version of the Bible. In my commitment to students, my commitment to raising up a new generation of leaders, I am counting on the New King James Version…”Jay Strack, President and Founder of Student Leadership University





"People often ask me why I use the New King James translation of the Bible. First and foremost, it’s because I like an exact equivalency translation—one that is meticulous with the text of the original languages. This is not to say that other translations or paraphrases of the Bible don’t present the truth; they do. It is to say that in my study, when I want to grow in the Word of God and know I’m reading it exactly the way it came out of the Bible, the New King James Version is the translation I choose."Dr. Jack W. Hayford, Founder and President, The King's University

"Our lives are richer when we rest in the truths of the Bible. Having a trusted Bible translation can help as we grow in our relationship with God and are confident in sharing His love with others. The New King James Version is an accurate Bible translation that clearly shares the message of grace and hope for our lives. It is with honor that we've developed the Women of Faith Devotional Bible using the NKJV Bible translation, as it is ideal for nurturing readers spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.”Women of Faith



Discover More

• For more information about the New King James Version Bible translation and for free reading plans, videos, downloads, and more visit www.TheNKJVBible.com.





BRINGING

GOD’S WORD

TO LIFE



Spiritual

NKJV - New King James Version (Bringing God's Word To Life)