Why We Use the King James Bible, Lesson 7: More Verses Side by Side

Welcome to Authorized Sword Ministries. This is Lesson 7 in our series, Why We Use the King James Bible. Today's lesson is called More Verses Side by Side.

We're so glad you're here.

In Lesson 1 we compared several important verses in the King James Bible with the NIV, the ESV, and other modern versions. Today we add more examples, always with the same spirit. We are not here to look down on anyone. We want you to open the Bibles themselves, check the words, and see the pattern.

Our Key Verse

"And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."
— Luke 4:4 (KJV)

Jesus was answering the devil with Scripture, and He said we live by every word of God. In the NIV, this verse ends with, "Man shall not live on bread alone." In the ESV it ends with, "Man shall not live by bread alone." The words "but by every word of God" are not in the main text. That is a fitting place to begin, because this whole lesson is about whether every word matters.

Words That Touch the Lord Jesus

In Luke 4:8, when the devil tempted Jesus to worship him, the King James reads:

"And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
— Luke 4:8 (KJV)

In the NIV and the ESV, the words "Get thee behind me, Satan" are not there. The command to worship God remains, but the Lord's direct rebuke of the devil is gone from the verse.

In John 6:47 the King James is very plain:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."
— John 6:47 (KJV)

The NIV reads, "the one who believes has eternal life." The ESV reads, "whoever believes has eternal life." The words "on me" are missing. In a book that was written so that we might believe on the name of the Son of God, that is not a small change.

In Ephesians 3:9 the King James says that the mystery was hid in God,

"…who created all things by Jesus Christ:"
— Ephesians 3:9 (KJV)

In the NIV and the ESV, the verse says that God "created all things," but the words "by Jesus Christ" are not there. Other verses still teach that Jesus is the Creator, and we rejoice in that. We also believe it matters when those words are taken out of this verse.

In Revelation 1:11 the King James begins the voice that John heard with this:

"Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book…"
— Revelation 1:11 (KJV)

In the NIV and the ESV, that opening identification is gone. The verse starts with the command to write. The Lord Jesus does say He is Alpha and Omega in other places in Revelation, including in the King James in this same chapter. Still, we notice when the title is missing here.

A Mission Verse, and a Prophecy Fulfilled

When a Samaritan village would not receive Jesus, some of the disciples wanted to call fire down from heaven. In the King James, Jesus answers with a sentence about why He came:

"For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."
— Luke 9:56 (KJV)

In the NIV and the ESV, the first sentence is not in the main text. The verse is reduced to the last clause, that they went on to another village. A clear word about the Saviour's mission is gone.

At the cross, the King James records the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy:

"And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors."
— Mark 15:28 (KJV)

In the NIV this verse is not in the main text; a footnote says some manuscripts include words similar to Luke 22:37. The ESV likewise does not carry Mark 15:28 in the main text. The prophecy is still true, and Luke still has the saying. We simply point out that Mark's own notice, "the scripture was fulfilled," has been dropped from this place.

The Lord's Prayer, and a Warning About Widows

Many of us learned the Lord's prayer with these closing words:

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
— Matthew 6:13 (KJV)

In the NIV the verse ends with "deliver us from the evil one," and a footnote mentions some later manuscripts that have the doxology. The ESV ends with "deliver us from evil," and also puts the doxology in a footnote. The words that turn the prayer into praise are no longer in the main text.

And then there is this solemn warning:

"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."
— Matthew 23:14 (KJV)

The NIV does not include this verse in the main text; it gives a footnote. The ESV also leaves it out of the main text. A woe that defends widows and rebukes false religion is missing here, even though similar words are found in Mark and Luke.

A Simple Chart

Here is a short chart of today's examples, checked on Bible Gateway on November 10, 2026, in the current NIV, ESV, and KJV.

What This Means

As we said in Lesson 1, these versions still teach many precious truths in other places. Many people have come to Christ reading them, and we rejoice in that. We also believe it matters that, again and again, words that speak of living by every word of God, believing on Christ, creation by Jesus Christ, His titles, His mission to save, fulfilled prophecy, the praise at the end of the Lord's prayer, and a warning in defense of widows, are the words that drop out of the main text.

That is why we stand on the King James Bible. Not because we enjoy finding fault, but because we want every word God has given.

If you read another version, please do what we asked in Lesson 1. Open it. Look at the footnotes. Compare it with the King James. You do not have to take our word for it. Take His.

A Simple Step for This Week

Take the chart in this lesson and look up three of the verses in your own Bible, whatever version it is. Read the footnotes. Write down what you find. Then read Luke 4:4 in the King James out loud, and thank God for every word of God.

A Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Keep us from adding to Your words or taking away from them. Give us a love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and a careful, humble hunger for the Book You have preserved. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Thank you for spending this time with us. This is Authorized Sword Ministries. God bless you.

Study Questions

1. What words in Luke 4:4 are missing from the main text of the NIV and the ESV?
2. Why is it striking that this particular omission comes in a verse about living by God's words?
3. What phrase is missing from Luke 4:8 in the NIV and the ESV?
4. How does John 6:47 in the King James differ from the NIV and the ESV, and why might "on me" matter?
5. What words are missing from Ephesians 3:9 and from Revelation 1:11 in those modern versions?
6. What mission statement is missing from the main text of Luke 9:56 in the NIV and the ESV?
7. What happens to Mark 15:28 and Matthew 23:14 in the NIV and the ESV?
8. Where do the NIV and the ESV put the last line of the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:13?
9. After Lessons 1 and 7 together, what pattern do you see in the kinds of words that are being dropped or moved?
10. How will you compare one of these verses for yourself this week?

Sources

NIV and ESV wording for the verses in this lesson was checked on Bible Gateway on November 10, 2026, in a parallel NIV, ESV, and KJV display of Luke 4:4; Luke 4:8; Luke 9:56; Matthew 23:14; Mark 15:28; Ephesians 3:9; Revelation 1:11; Matthew 6:13; and John 6:47. https://www.biblegateway.com/