What is the New King James Version (NKJV)?

Answer

Commissioned in 1975 by Thomas Nelson Publishers, 130 respected Bible scholars, church leaders, and lay Christians worked for seven years to create a completely new, modern translation of Scripture. The goal was to maintain the accuracy, purity, and stylistic beauty of the original Authorized Version or King James Version. According to Thomas Nelson, the translators were unwaveringly faithful to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts, incorporating the latest research in archaeology, linguistics, and textual studies. The NKJV was released in three stages: the New Testament in 1979, the New Testament and the Psalms in 1980, and the complete Bible in 1982.

New King James Version – Translation Method

While the NKJV utilizes essentially the same Hebrew and Greek texts as the original KJV, it highlights areas where more widely accepted manuscripts differ. The New King James Version also relies on the Textus Receptus (“Received Text”) for the New Testament, similar to the approach of the King James Version. The translators also aimed to adhere to the translation principles of the original KJV, which the NKJV revisers refer to as “complete equivalence” as opposed to the “dynamic equivalence” or “thought-for-thought” approach used in many other contemporary translations like the New International Version.

New King James Version – Pros and Cons

The strength of the New King James Version lies in its modernization of the outdated language of the KJV while preserving much of its elegance and eloquence. The New King James Version maintains a very literal translation, resulting in a highly accurate “word-for-word” rendering. The weaknesses of the New King James Version include (1) its reliance on the Textus Receptus instead of more current manuscript compilations and (2) its commitment to “complete equivalence,” which may occasionally lead to inadequate communication of the concepts behind the literal words.

New King James Version- Sample Verses

John 1:1,14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 8:58 – “Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one should boast.”

Titus 2:13 – “awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”