NKJV and Catholicism

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Jacob21

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Hello all! Please excuse my ignorance,
I believe I know the answer to this, but is the NKJV of the Bible Accurate? More specifically the New Testament? I received a NKJV New Testament from the Gideons as a gift today and was wondering what everyone thinks. Does anyone know any history behind them? Thanks and God Bless!
 
Well, the NKJV NT, like the KJV NT, is based on the Textus Receptus 1550 Stephanus Edition. The TR itself is based on the Byzantine manuscripts

Most modern translations (both Protestant and Catholics) are mostly based on the Nestle-Aland or USB Greek texts which are based on the Alexandrian manuscripts

The TR edition the NKJV uses is not looked fondly upon by scholars

There are more critical versions of the TR and there is also the Majority Texts (also based on Byzantine).

I own Green’s Literal Translation of the Bible (LITV) and the NT Greek Text is based on a critical version of the TR and the translation is his own (many King James Onlyists critic it for this reason)

The Alexandrian manuscripts are much older and tend to be be regarded as more accurate.

All in all, its not all that different from other Bible translations. However it does have many differences.

Most notably, it contains the Comma Johanneum

No other Greek manuscript contains the Comma Johanneum before the 16th century

New King James Version:
1 John 5
7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth:** the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. **
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Revised Standard Version:
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1 John 5
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7 And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 8 There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree.
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Well, the negatives are that the NKJV does not have the imprimatur, and the NKJV is based on a Greek text not in scholarly favor (the Textus Receptus). The NKJV was also written anachronistically in archaic English – trying to maintain elements of the Anglican Authorized Version (also called the KJV).

The NKJV is popular with certain “Bible-based” independent Protestant churches and some English-speaking Orthodox congregations. Thanks to the marketing might of its publisher, Thomas Nelson, it is consistently rated among the most popular English Bible translations in the US (along with the KJV and NIV translations).

I don’t think the NKJV is terrible, but I do think there are better translations available. Among pocket versions with the imprimatur: you can get a pocket NAB New Testament for $6; a pocket RSV-CE New Testament for $13; a pocket NRSV New Testament for $12; a pocket Confraternity New Testament for $7; a pocket Rheims New Testament for $20. Even better, you can get a comparitive version (not pocket sized) of 8 different Catholic translations for $25. If money is super-tight, you may wish to talk with your priest; perhaps he can give you a New Testament.

Even if you want to read Protestant translations, I think you can find better choices than the NKJV. But that’s just my opinion.
 
No, I don’t want to read a protestant version. Thank you for all the responses =), God Bless!
 
tobinatorstark said:
well its what I would do with any non Catholic Bible
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I can’t bring myself to burn any Bible. I’ve got a couple Protestant versions around that I keep for apologetics when Mormons or Jehova Witnesses knock on my door and want to tell me that my Catholic Bible is a mistranslation. I say okay, and look it up in the Protestant Bibles I have around.

I also keep one because of sentimental value.

I’d say if you feel that strongly about it you should donate it to a Protestant center instead of burning it.
 
When approached by evangelists of any stripe I usually look at their bible and say, “OH! The abriged version! I’m sorry, I prefer the full book with all the texts. You never know how important the missing parts are.”

That usually starts a whole new conversation.

The KJV, while flawed, is still the inspired word of God. It is still a bible. I wouldn’t read it for content, but I wouldn’t destroy one either.
 
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