What about the missing Bible verses?
What about the missing bible verses?
When you compare some of the modern Bible translations (for example, NIV, ESV, HSSB) with that of the King James Version (KJV), it would seem as though there are some "missing verses."
One of the famous verses, is 1 John 5:7–8, where it says in the KJV, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost, and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth.” However, this verse is missing in the most recent translations.
But didn’t Jesus promise that not a single word would be lost (Matthew 5:18)? How is it possible for there to be missing verses then? How then can we trust the Bible? Answering this question isn't as complicated as it seems.
To begin with, the KJV Bible, written in 1611 AD, utilized the best resources that were available at the time to ensure an accurate translation from the original language into the common language (English).
In the years since 1611, many older manuscripts have been discovered that were carefully evaluated by scholars. Scholars generally consider older manuscripts to be more reliable (since they are closer to the original documents). Therefore, most modern Bible translations exclude/omit verses that appear in the KJV but not in older manuscripts.
Most modern translations will still include a footnote referencing the missing verses.
It is also pertinent to note that the original Bible manuscripts were not divided into chapters and verses as we have today. These were later inventions to facilitate Bible teaching, preaching, writing, and speaking around the globe.
Following the Geneva Bible translation in 1560, the King James Bible was the first major Bible translation, which slightly altered chapter and verse divisions. This structure is now common to all modern English translations.
The tricky part for scholars is deciding what to do when the verse assigned a number in the 1500s does not appear in the original manuscript/text. Since all subsequent verses cannot be simply altered, translators will leave the verse blank and keep the original numbering. In this way, consistency is maintained; for example, if we moved John 3:16 up a verse, then everyone who quotes John 3:16 would not have the same verse.
Finally, it is important to keep in mind that no missing verse disrupts the essential Christian teachings. The key message of Jesus as the divine Son of God, the Triune Godhead, the virgin birth of Jesus, His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and second coming all remain undeterred.
Whether you prefer the ESV, NIV, NASB, or any other modern translation, you can be confident that it is a trustworthy one. That it is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12), "inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
As important as anything else, the Bible you hold contains God's plan for salvation for us.
FOR TRULY I TELL YOU, UNTIL HEAVEN AND EARTH DISAPPEAR, NOT THE SMALLEST LETTER, NOT THE LEAST STROKE OF A PEN, WILL BY ANY MEANS DISAPPEAR FROM THE LAW UNTIL EVERYTHING IS ACCOMPLISHEd.
Mathew 5:18
