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Is the NKJV a better overall translation than the Geneva Bible?

Logos1560

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The Preface to the NKJV states, 'In addition to referring to a variety of ancient versions of the Hebrew Scriptures, the NKJV draws on the resources of relevant manuscripts of the Dead Sea caves.. In the few places where the Hebrew was so obscure that the 1611 King James was compelled to follow one of the versions, but where information is now available to resolve the problems, the NKJV follows the Hebrew text. It may be these cases that I'm thinking of.

The makers of the KJV departed from their own edition of the Hebrew Masoretic text a number of times to follow other versions or sources while several of those times the NKJV translates the reading in the KJV's Masoretic text.

Thus, the NKJV's may be more faithful to the Hebrew Masoretic text used in the making of the KJV than the KJV is.
 

Garrett20

Member
As a big fan of the Byzantine textform I prefer any of the three (Geneva, KJV, NKJV). I use the NKJV for personal study and devotional, but I do use the KJV regularly as well. Also, I just accepted my first pastorate (Youth Pastor) at a church in my community and we use the NKJV from the pulpit. Has anyone read through the MEV? It released in 2014 I believe but seems to read similar to the NKJV. It too is a TR translation.
 

labaptist

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As a big fan of the Byzantine textform I prefer any of the three (Geneva, KJV, NKJV). I use the NKJV for personal study and devotional, but I do use the KJV regularly as well. Also, I just accepted my first pastorate (Youth Pastor) at a church in my community and we use the NKJV from the pulpit. Has anyone read through the MEV? It released in 2014 I believe but seems to read similar to the NKJV. It too is a TR translation.
I like what I've read from the MEV but am a bit hesitant since it is published by the publishers of Charisma magazine and all or most of the people who endorse it are Charismatic/Word of Faith.
 

37818

Well-Known Member
As a big fan of the Byzantine textform I prefer any of the three (Geneva, KJV, NKJV). I use the NKJV for personal study and devotional, but I do use the KJV regularly as well. Also, I just accepted my first pastorate (Youth Pastor) at a church in my community and we use the NKJV from the pulpit. Has anyone read through the MEV? It released in 2014 I believe but seems to read similar to the NKJV. It too is a TR translation.
A quick review and it is not better than the KJV or the NKJV.
 

Yeshua1

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I like what I've read from the MEV but am a bit hesitant since it is published by the publishers of Charisma magazine and all or most of the people who endorse it are Charismatic/Word of Faith.
The very best translation for one holding to the TR would be the Nkjv itself!
 

37818

Well-Known Member
I do not think that it includes all of the main notes and footnotes the Nkjv does...
I didn't check for that. And what I saw suggests it would not.
I just checked, the MEV has foot notes. 1 John 5:8

a 1 John 5:8 The earliest Greek manuscripts lack in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and the three are one. There are three that testify on earth.

The NKJV has fare more foot notes:

b 1 John 5:7 NU, M omit the words from in heaven (v. 7) through on earth (v. 8). Only 4 or 5 very late mss. contain these words in Greek.
 
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Yeshua1

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I didn't check for that. And what I saw suggests it would not.
To me the best approach would be to have and use the Nas and the Nkjv, as both are excellent formal translations, and complement each other....
 

37818

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To me the best approach would be to have and use the Nas and the Nkjv, as both are excellent formal translations, and complement each other....
I updated my post above. And the NASB is generally a better formal translation. The NKJV followed the dynamic equivalence approach in Colossians 1:15.
 
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Yeshua1

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I updated my post above. And the NASB is generally a better formal translation. The NKJV followed the dynamic equivalence approach in Collossians 1:15.
My point was when one looks at the whole Bible, those 2 would be the best ones to use for serious studying!
 

37818

Well-Known Member
My point was when one looks at the whole Bible, those 2 would be the best ones to use for serious studying!
Those two are a good choice. I use the KJV as my standard study Bible. What it has that modern versions do not are the singular , thee, thy, thou and thine, and plural pronouns, ye, you and your. See John 3:7 and check the NIV foot note.
 

Garrett20

Member
I didn't check for that. And what I saw suggests it would not.
I just checked, the MEV has foot notes. 1 John 5:8

a 1 John 5:8 The earliest Greek manuscripts lack in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and the three are one. There are three that testify on earth.

The NKJV has fare more foot notes:

b 1 John 5:7 NU, M omit the words from in heaven (v. 7) through on earth (v. 8). Only 4 or 5 very late mss. contain these words in Greek.

One of the main reasons I prefer the NKJV is the excellent textual notes! The MEV does not have but a few.
 
I prefer the more accurate Geneva 1560 for many reasons over the NKJV and the KJV, not for a single reason.

But one reason is clear in Acts 4:27, and 4:30.

Where our Lord is equated with David calling Jesus our Savior a servant (NKJV) and child (KJV).

Not the Holy Son, like the 1560.

Hmm.
 

Garrett20

Member
I prefer the more accurate Geneva 1560 for many reasons over the NKJV and the KJV, not for a single reason.

But one reason is clear in Acts 4:27, and 4:30.

Where our Lord is equated with David calling Jesus our Savior a servant (NKJV) and child (KJV).

Not the Holy Son, like the 1560.

Hmm.

Thank you, Genevan Baptist. I do enjoy the Geneva Bible as well (as it is translated out of the Byzantine textual tradition).Of course, I have no problem with any of the three readings you listed from Acts 4:27, 4:30. I believe the MEV reads “holy Son” also. The New Testament refers to Jesus as child, Son, and servant in numerous places so any of those readings are acceptable. The NKJV, WEB, and Pickering’s translation say “holy Servant Jesus”.

Interestingly, Young’s Literal Translation sides with the KJV reading, “holy child Jesus”.

Perhaps our Greek experts can weigh in, but I believe the typical Greek word for “Son” is not used in these two verses in Acts 4.
 
Also the KJV and NKJV leave out in Acts 22:16 the small word that is in the Geneva 1560 "in", making this verse supportive of baptismal regeneration.

"...in calling on the Name of the Lord."

Having had numerous debates with 'church of christ' ministers and members over the years, these verses ALWAYS come into their supportive references.

Especially 1 Peter 3:20,21.

Where the 1560 has the right wording for what figure actually saves us.

Don't bother with the 1599, it's not real Geneva. That is Tomsons translation of the NT.
 

Yeshua1

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Those two are a good choice. I use the KJV as my standard study Bible. What it has that modern versions do not are the singular , thee, thy, thou and thine, and plural pronouns, ye, you and your. See John 3:7 and check the NIV foot note.
That is a nice feature of the Kjv, as does help one to better understand certain passages in the scriptures. I also have stated that the Kjv is a good translation, but so are Nas/Nkjv/Esv etc!
 

Yeshua1

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Thank you, Genevan Baptist. I do enjoy the Geneva Bible as well (as it is translated out of the Byzantine textual tradition).Of course, I have no problem with any of the three readings you listed from Acts 4:27, 4:30. I believe the MEV reads “holy Son” also. The New Testament refers to Jesus as child, Son, and servant in numerous places so any of those readings are acceptable. The NKJV, WEB, and Pickering’s translation say “holy Servant Jesus”.

Interestingly, Young’s Literal Translation sides with the KJV reading, “holy child Jesus”.

Perhaps our Greek experts can weigh in, but I believe the typical Greek word for “Son” is not used in these two verses in Acts 4.
Is a textual variant issue, between the differing Greek texts?
And we have to look over the entire body of the translation to see if they have still kept Jesus as Son of God, Lord, God etc, and all modern versions such as the nas/Esv/Nkjv etc have done just that!
 
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