Five Reasons the NKJV Should NOT Be Updated

[@Me2Lancer]

Thank you for your comments in support of the NKJV. I couldn't agree with you more, Tim.

[@artistchristos]

I am with you on this subject, Tim. It is the poetic flow that is so King James, which I am so used to, yet is easily in our current language that means the NKJV is still my favourite translation, even though I now also read the ESV. Hi from Australia.

[@JayJayFig54]

Agree 100%. Couldn’t have said it better myself. I kept seeing the controversies between the NIV translations that I just stayed away from it. Plus, I like that the NKJV includes the controversial “missing” verses with a note that tells you that they’re omitted from the modern translations using the CT. The NKJV is beautiful to read and excellent for Biblical studies in my humble opinion. Thanks Tim!

[@IPRF]

I agree 100%. The NKJV is an excellent translation. I peak at other translations from time to time, just to see how other versions of Scripture might render a particular passage, but I always come back to the NKJV. It's features are second to none: modern english, translation stability, it's textual basis, the transparency of the footnotes indicating textual variants, it's a formal equivalence translation, and so much more features make it a winner for me.

[@geektome4781]

Agreed. I really don’t want to hear Peter being told he’s going to be a “fisher of people” as the NASB 2020.

[@joe1940]

For the past six months or so I've been using the ESV, but the NKJV is still my favorite. The poetic rhythm of the old KJV and the NKJV make them pleasant to read and easy to memorize. English hasn't changed since the 80s (except for new slang and tech terms) to justify an update of the NKJV. When a translation is changed too frequently people start to think there's an agenda behind it and they lose trust in the translation.

[@LetsGetBiblical]

100% agree with you. Frankly, and to be honest, I'm a little upset the idea would even be mentioned. This conversation shouldn't even be happening. The only reason to "update" the NKJV would be as an attempt to make money. And that reason is illegitimate and morally indefensible.

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

I hear you and I understand you. I do believe many publishers update with the best of intentions, but it’s largely overkill.

[@vigilante1202]

YES! I appreciated your reaction to Tim Wildsmith lol. Nothing against Wildsmith...but it just doesn't make sense for the NKJV. I appreciate the "legacy" quality of the NKJV and for that reason I am keeping it in my rotation.

[@dloveofgod8269]

I had to smile as have been waiting for this video & is less than 5 minutes. You said it all. I agree 👍 especially with #4. Says it all!! Language has changed a bit in the past 40 years unfortunately to the detriment of our language in my opinion at least. Yes updating the notes would be good where needed. I've been using a Thomas Nelson extremely large print as my daily Bible due to visual necessity and I prefer the nkj translation. Have been looking for a new Bible so far the nlt & niv & 1 esv I've gotten under $30 each don't have the typeset I need so am using a magnifying glass yes you can laugh to make them as prayer Bibles for gifts. Still am enjoying yoir reviews & Tim W's in trying to select a new Bible to save up for in the premium category in the leather I'd prefer & visually inviting. Before finding your channels I had no idea of so many options. Thank you !

[@maxxiong]

#4 was refering to 1 Cor 6:9 in the NRSVue probably. Arguments about gendered language get silly imo.

[@911Glokk]

Thank you for that disclaimer at the start. My heart dropped for a second. I will say that I really want the notes to be updated to reflect the newer NA/UBS.

[@DonybrookandBray]

I hear you brother! No update required.

[@eternallogic6394]

Thank you brother for defending the NKJV against Tim Wildsmith's uncalled for savage attack 😆

[@LetsGetBiblical]

100%

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 leave my homie alone! He was just jivin’!

[@UNAJacob1985]

Agree with all 5, but I think #4 is the most important. It would absolutely become compromised by culture. I would like to see updated DSS and LXX textual notes though.

[@glenn1611]

Amen to all these arguments, especially the last one. The constant messing about with all the other ephemeral translations is beyond a joke.

[@terrysbookandbiblereviews]

Awesome video!! I hope the staff of Thomas Nelson see this video.

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

There’s no update on the horizon, so it really doesn’t matter.

[@robertrayford8708]

@@anickelsworthbiblereviews I think it does matter. Just because it’s not currently on the horizon doesn’t mean don’t won’t “begin” to consider updating it in 5-10 years. They need to know that the market does not want the NKJV updated. That, in a culture of continuously updating bibles, the NKJV remains the singular beacon of stability… minus the KJV. They need to know that not updating it is its strength and could one day be the reason for a future surge in sales. Once people collectively get feed up with constant updates or lose confidence in the CT. I think the NKJV shouldn’t even be considered for an update until it’s at a minimum of 100 years old. Preferably 200, considering how long the KJV was around before the NKJV was published. Tim Frisch did an interview with a Top Wig from Thomas Nelson and he said that an update wasn’t on the horizon. However, “not on the horizon” and “not for at least another 50+ years” don’t necessarily convey the same meaning. I’m thankful for your channel. It’s one of the only ways we make our voices heard. Hopefully they’ll read these comments and leave the NKJV alone.

[@saulm58]

Only thing I'd really love to see is that Thomas Nelson decides to offer an option that, in line with the original KJV, also includes the Apocrypha. I am sure lots of Bible lovers would want to get one (as sells of the ESV and NRSV with Apocrypha have proved).

[@jasonnemes5612]

I agree and have been thinking this for months. I am leaning toward getting a premium RSV with the deuterocanonical books. I love the RSV, in some ways more than the NKJV, but I would buy an NKJV with the DC if it came out.

[@MAMoreno]

The very existence of the Orthodox Study Bible (which was adapted from the NKJV) means that an NKJV with Apocrypha would be as simple as grabbing the extra books from the OSB and placing them in a standard NKJV.

[@thaliaguthrie9614]

I agree. Can't wait for the video on NRSVUE.

[@tony.biondi]

Excellent! Well said, Tim, I totally agree.

[@TheBibleReviewer]

Great explanation. Even though I don’t primarily read NKJV, these are good reasons to keep and appreciate the translation

[@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj]

Thank you, Brother Tim 🌹⭐🌹

[@clintgaskill5162]

I totally agree! Exactly 100 percent on same page as you!

[@j.woodbury412]

"You do run the risk of society shaping God's word, and not God's word shaping society". They should put that on a t-shirt. I totally agree with you on this. I know there's no such thing as perfection where anything created by man is concerned, even if it is inspired by God, because man can never reach God's standards, but if there was a perfect translation, the NKJV would be awfully close. You have the beauty of the KJV language, but with the modern spelling and phrasing, if that's the right word.

[@22prathu]

Yes Tim, what you said is exactly true....no uodates are needed for every 40 years or some more...

[@LaLa_ArtGal]

Good arguments. I didn't have an opinion about this, but now maybe I do. 😊 -- LL

[@jayman1338]

These publications companies are just all trying to make money off of their translations when they ain’t selling as well as they want the too. I feel with the NASB95 nor the ESV nor the NIV84 none of these needed an update. The NIV1984 is out of print now and from what I see so is the NASB95. So you’re right there. And I really like the NASB95 too. But I started my faith on the NKJV and so I have always appreciated the fact that it doesn’t undergo updates. It’s like I feel safe lol

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

They aren’t having any trouble selling. That isn’t the issue.

[@Dwayne_Green]

I feel like I've been summoned 🤣

[@Dachshund_Smokey]

I 100% agree

[@DavidJStynchcombe]

Excellent points!

[@DrGero15]

Do you have a link to the back and forth?

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

The video is on my end screen.

[@allenfrisch]

I do all my scriptural memorization from the NKJV because it's the least likely to get updated among the modern translations.

[@sandracoombs2255]

Spot on! Thank you so much. 😊

[@KevinSavedByGrace]

I like the calming disclaimer to start the video :p

[@shirleygoss1988]

As an untrained lay person who has done my own research, I agree with you 100%. Let's leave the NKJV alone. I want a more modern English version of the TR, that I think is worthy of trust.

[@jonasaras]

Reason #6: I just bought a fancy Premier Collection NKJV and I’m not going to get another one 😁

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

🤣

[@marshallstamper7719]

Great points! Love the NKJV!

[@mariagutierrez4721]

I agree💯 ILove NKJ it reads very Bueatiful

[@dakota6483]

Will you debate Wildsmith on this? Maybe Tim Frisch can moderate between you and Wildsmith?

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

Ha ha. It sort of already happened live.

[@41srn]

I have a nkjv bible from early 90's and a more recent one from around 2013 and they are slightly different, so it has been updated over the years

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

There have been no announced updates since 1984.

[@bretclement3197]

Can you point to an example?

[@jimyoung9262]

The NKJV fits a great niche. There are already plenty of other great translations out there to complement one's reading.

[@LaLa_ArtGal]

What is "N.A. 28" and "N.A. 29," please?

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novum_Testamentum_Graece

[@zachtaylor5262]

In complete agreement.

[@orthodoxpilgrimofficial]

Never change a running system

[@sheldon3996]

What shall we say then? Is there a righteous reason to update the NKJV? Certainly not!

[@DavidRodriguez-hg6kq]

The 4th reason is the most important one not to change the NKJV text.

[@Jame629]

I really like nkjv how it reads is different to any other .it does keep the subtle tones of kjv its hard to explain isnt it 😅

[@ccsapastor]

Amen

[@Agben35]

I may protest this podcast until that shirt goes on sale.

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

😂😂😂😂 here’s the issue. These are self made. I simply don’t have the overhead to absorb any defective ones, or if a customer isn’t happy and wants a replacement or refund.

[@e.r.m8986]

Well said 👏

[@jimelliott1861]

THE NKJV IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES

[@chilic82]

Absolutely agree!

[@theburningelement.6447]

I use the NKJV for that very fact it's a miracle it's never been updated

[@neeliarasesam4698]

I love my NKJV. ❤ No need to update it.

[@MAMoreno]

Even though I quite like the NRSVue, I see no reason for the NKJV to mimic the NRSVue. The NKJV's whole approach was to bring the 16th-17th century scholarship of the KJV into the 1940s American English of the original RSV. But that form of English was already on the verge of being dated by 1979 when the NKJV New Testament came out. If the translators had been interested in sounding completely modern, the 1982 NKJV could have easily beaten the 1989 NRSV to the punch and followed the guidelines of the 1980 Handbook of Nonsexist Writing. It's clear that the NKJV's readership is content to stay in the realm of 1940s American English, just as they are content to stay in the realm of 1500s Protestant scholarship, so it's best to leave it alone.

[@DTzant]

I’d update …”most assuredly” to “truly, truly”…in the NT

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

I’d leave it alone!

[@justindeharlingen]

Without reverting to KJVO, I'm again increasingly content with the TR and a firm believer that God has preserved His Word through the multitude of well-established manuscripts. The most ancient manuscripts by and large confirm the TR more than anything else. #nkjv84ever

[@megalyon]

All of that said I think a fresh more modern translation of the TR would be interesting. But PLEASE don't call it NKJV + Year. Call it a new name or run with MEV.

[@LetsGetBiblical]

Well, I mean there are other translations like the MEV.

[@rosslewchuk9286]

🎯

[@wbt46]

They could skip the notes and that would be an update. Then in 5 years they could put them back. The NKJV works and next people will want an update on the KJV. Of course that's actually something no one ever brings up. KJV is my absolute favorite but NKJV comes next. I wouldn't want it changed.

[@johnmcafee6140]

This is where I have to agree with Tim Wildsmith. I would absolutely update the NKJV. The main reason is because the NKJV is 40 years old now. I know a lot of people don't think this is an issue but the NKJV now has the reputation that it's an "older person's" translation. I go a Southern Baptist church with an average attendance of 150 people. We did a Bible translation survey a couple of years ago and no one under the age of 65 uses the NKJV in our congregation. It's also of note that the NKJV has really dropped in usage and has been losing it's market share for a couple of decades. For 35 years it was the number three translation only behind the NIV and KJV. In the last few years it has dropped to sixth and is in danger of dropping even further. I think an update would revitalize the brand and increase it's name recognition and probably increase sales.

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

Fair, even though I still disagree.

[@danieltruesdale6963]

I could be wrong, but I think the younger people don't use the NKJV because of the 'KJV' at the end of the name. I am a TR guy so I love the KJV and NKJV, but I think it's because of a bias against the KJV that younger people don't read it. In my church, and in most Reformed churches, the ESV is the translation of choice. James White has had a lot to do with the bias towards the KJV, and what is being taught in most seminaries, teaching that the critical text is superior to the TR, has caused people not to use it. I agree that the NKJV should not be updated.

[@GloryQuest]

And updating the notes wouldn't be considered an update of the NKJV, but I can see the marketing already: "Get the NKJV now with Notes 2024!" 😁

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

I really don’t see that happening.

[@deeman524]

I totally agree except for modern text helps, don't do it

[@JamesJones-qi1pc]

Only a thought

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

Looks like whatever you are referring to is gone.

[@davegarciaofficial]

As much as I love him, I’m actually a bit upset with Wildsmith for even going in this direction and calling for this. There is NO reason to be rattling this saber. At all. Go read the ESV or NASB2020 if you want constant updates and “more modern” language. Those of us who read the NKJV read it because we DON’T want that.

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

Maybe his goal was just to create a stir. 😁

[@megalyon]

Agree with you 100% Tim and with all your points but especially #1, it's not that hard to understand, I'm a KJV lover (Old School) and I find switching between KJV & NKJV easy. People in our Church use both and you can use both or switch between them because they are close enough. Agree with you on the endless updates, I am not a fan.

[@davidlove862]

The underlying text is the inspired text, and, preserved text. Leave it alone. It has stood the test of time since before the reformation. Let the reconstructionist critical scholars reconstruct and "update" their underlying texts to their heart's content with new discoveries etc. Obviously, those critical text scholars do not believe that they currently have God's Word.

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

I’m not sure that’s their intent. Recent discoveries have really clarified many meanings that were vague or unclear before. However, to your point…some have taken it way overboard.

[@JamesJones-qi1pc]

The nkjv's translation process isn't the same as the kjv's translation process.

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

Not the point of this video.

[@engrtp0]

Can't tell you how much I hated it when the two of you were disagreeing. I love NKJV and see no need to update it - frankly I suspect the majority of the changes would be to make it gender neutral (as if women are too stupid to understand the word of God without this!)

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

Our disagreement was light hearted.

[@jeffreycanterbury2435]

Your #2 is not exactly accurate. The current TR published by the TBS and viewed as THE TR for today, did not exist when the KJV was translated. It was edited by Scrivener to conform to the textual decisions of the KJV translators. It wasn’t available until the late 1800s.

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

The research I saw said it was last updated in the early 1600s, and that was only some edits, not updating the language. I am sure there are several streams, and I confess I don’t know which stream the NKJV is on, but I feel pretty strongly the point stands. Appreciate your comment and critique.

[@edwinmartin2193]

I would return to the thee, thiu, ye. They serve a purpose that is greatly missed in the nkjv.

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

Nah.

[@freakylocz14]

Is there an NKJV Bible out there with the Apocrypha?

[@anickelsworthbiblereviews]

Orthodox Study Bible from Ancient Faith,

[@nan.starjak]

Totally agree!