English Standard Version (ESV)

The ESV is a popular Bible version that many Evangelical churches use; most of the elders that I have met of such churches are God-fearing, sincere men. No-one disputes that one can read the ESV (or any other Bible) your whole life long, and yet it not representing the exact words of God. Remember God used a donkey to speak to Balaam (Num 22:28). God can speak to us through any Bible. This does NOT mean that donkeys’ braying (calls) are usually what God says! 1 John 4:1-2 clearly tells us when the spirit of the Antichrist is at work: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God” This means if the Bible version that you are using DENIES the divinity of Christ (even if only in some places), you should question whether it is indeed God’s pure words. Let’s look at the ESV in more detail:

1. THE ESV LIES AND CONTRADICTS ITSELF
Example: 2 Sam 21:19 Elhanan killed Goliath (not David) 1Chron 20:5 Elhanan killed the brother of Goliath (in the same battle).

2. THE ESV LEAVES OUT IMPORTANT VERSES THAT ARE FOUND IN THE KJB
(Those supporting modern Bible-versions argue that perhaps the KJB ADDED these verses. But do you think it is logical that the following verses would have been ADDED by the spirit of the Antichrist/Satan? Or do you think it si more logical that Satan wants to OMIT them?)

Example:
Matthew 12:47
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

Matthew 17:21
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 18:11
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Matthew 23:14
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Mark 7:16
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 9:44
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Mark 9:46
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Mark 11:26
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Mark 15:28
28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

Luke 17:36
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Luke 22:44
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke 23:17
(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

John 5:4
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

Acts 8:37
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Acts 15:34
Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

Acts 24:7 (note half of Acts 24:6 and 24:8 is also removed)
7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

Acts 28:29
And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

Romans 16:24
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

3. THE ESV HAS SECTIONS THAT SUPPORT UNGODLY INTERPRETATIONS
Example:
Is 14:12 How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star (KJB says Lucifer. The ESV verse could be interpreted as referring to Jesus that are fallen, since in Rev He is referred to as the Morning Star – Rev 22:16)
Dan 3:25 (With Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace a fourth Man appeared) …the fourth is like a son of the gods (KJB says like the Son of God). The ESV verse could be interpreted as confirming Polytheism)

4. THE ESV REMOVED MORE THAN 33,000 WORDS IN THE NT
A word comparison with the New Testament of the KJB and the ESV reveals the ESV removes over a staggering 33,000 words! That equals removing the complete books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Jude – combined!
Many of these words are not simply “insignificant” words, but important words that are part of Christian doctrine.
Examples:
(Note that footnotes in the ESV don’t count. Footnotes are never seen as part of the real text)
Mathew 19:9
KJB
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

ESV
And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
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Mark 9:49
KJB
For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

ESV
For everyone will be salted with fire.
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Luke 9:55-56
KJB
But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

ESV
But he turned and rebuked them.
And they went on to another village.
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Luke 22:64
KJB
And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

ESV
They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?”
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John 3:13
KJB
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

ESV
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
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John 8:59
KJB
Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

ESV
So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
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Acts 9:5
KJB
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

ESV
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
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Acts 18:21
KJB
But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

ESV
But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.
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Romans 8:1
KJB
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

ESV
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
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Romans 13:9
KJB
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

ESV
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
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1 Corinthians 10:28
KJB
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

ESV
But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience–
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Galatians 3:1
KJB
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

ESV
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
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Ephesians 3:14
KJB
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

ESV
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
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Titus 1:4
KJB
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

ESV
To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
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Hebrews 2:7
KJB
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

ESV
You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor,
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1 John 5:7
KJB
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, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

ESV
For there are three that testify:
the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

5. THE LORD’S PRAYER IN LUK 11 BECOMES A GENERIC PRAYER
KJB (Luke 11:2-4)
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

ESV (Luke 11:2-4)
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

The “Father” of the ESV is not “in heaven” and does not “deliver us from evil.” ANY religion can pray the ESV’s version. This is exactly what the New Age is striving for- Syncretism!

6. ATTACK ON THE LORD JESUS

Among the more troubling changes in the new versions, including the ESV, is the strategic attack on the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes the attack is small and subtle, such as removing “Lord” or “Christ,” or swipes at the virgin birth or the blood atonement. Other times, the attack is much more blatant, such as stripping “God” from 1 Timothy 3:16.

The Name of “Jesus” is precious and powerful. It was given to him by His Father through an angel.

The Bible says in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Philippians 2:10 says about the name of Jesus, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” (Philippians 2:10)

The ESV removes the precious name of “Jesus” 18 times.
The ESV also removes “Jesus Christ” 51 times.
The ESV removes the word “Christ” 39 times.
The ESV removes “Lord” 66 times.
The ESV removes “God” 38 times.

Example:

In Matthew 5:22, the ESV removes “without a cause” hence making Jesus Christ (who got angry in Mark 3:5 and other places) danger of the judgment.

Matthew 5:22
KJB
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

ESV
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Example:

The only scripture that refers to washing us with His blood is found in Rev 1:5, which is a powerful application of Heb 9:22 that says without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. The ESV states that His blood frees us, but not that it “washes” us:

Revelation 1:5
KJB
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

ESV
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Example:

Colossians 1:14 takes another surgical swipe at the precious blood of Jesus Christ by removing the words – “through his blood.”

Colossians 1:14
KJB
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

ESV
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 Peter 4:1 removes the simple two words “for us” thus surgically amputating what Jesus Christ did “for us.”

Example:

Unlike the KJB the ESV does not make it clear that Christ suffered FOR US. Many people have suffered in the flesh, but only Jesus did so FOR US.

KJB
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

ESV
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

Example:

Hebrews 1:3 takes another subtle swipe at the blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ by removing the key words “by himself,” hence negating His personal sacrificial death. At the same time, the ESV muddles the incarnation of the Lord Jesus by changing “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” to the vague “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.”

KJB
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

ESV
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Example:

Phil 2:6-7 is an example of a more blatant attack on the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is one of the clearest verses that proclaims that Jesus is God; not so in the ESV.

The ESV changes the clear, definitive statement “thought it not robbery to be equal with God” to the exact opposite “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped”!

KJB
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

ESV
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Example:

1 Tim 3:16 is another blatant attack on Christ’ deity.

KJB
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

ESV
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

The ESV reads, “HE was manifested in the flesh”. So What? Everyone was “manifested in the flesh”! “He” is a pronoun that refers to a noun or antecedent (precursor). There is no antecedent in the context! The statement does not make grammatical sense. The ESV distorts I Timothy 3:16 into utter nonsense while denying the deity of Jesus Christ!

Example:

1 John 4:3 provides us a tell-tale sign to identify the spirit of the antichrist. Cults such as the Jehova’s Witnesses do NOT believe that Jesus is God, i.e. that He is come in the flesh. So of course, the antichrist surely wishes this verse could be diluted to dull the reader’s discernment. The ESV does exactly that- removing the key words “is come in the flesh” The ESV can thus be used to prove the false beliefs of cults!.

KJB
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

ESV
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Example:

The ESV perverts John 3:16 by removing the critical “begotten” and thus changing John 3:16 into a lie. Adam is called the “son of God” in Luke 3:38, there are “sons of God” in Job 1:6 and Christians are called “sons of God” in Philippians 2:15, I John 3:2- but Jesus Christ was the “only BEGOTTEN Son” By removing the critical word “begotten” — the ESV perverts John 3:16 into a lie. The ESV also removes “begotten” in John 1:14, 1:18, 3:18 and 1 John 4:9,

John 3:16
KJB
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

7. MAKING SALVATION SOMETHING TEDIOUS

Paul warns the Christian in 2 Corinthians 11:3 of Satan’s attempt to corrupt your minds “from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Unfortunately the ESV successfully carries out the serpent’s beguiling desire by corrupting “the simplicity that is in Christ.” The ESV’s corruption and confusion of the simplicity of Christ injects the deadly venom from the subtle serpent of Genesis 3:1, “Yea, hath God said. . .?”

Remember Hort despises the blood atonement of Jesus Christ labelling it “an almost universal heresy.” He also adds the “doctrine of substitution, (how that Jesus took our place (substitution) on the cross) is “an immoral and material counterfeit”:

Oct. 15th – Hort: “I entirely agree – correcting one word – with what you there say on the Atonement, having for many years believed that “the absolute union of the Christian (or rather, of man) with Christ Himself” is the spiritual truth of which the popular doctrine of substitution is an immoral and material counterfeit…Certainly nothing can be more unscriptural than the modern limiting of Christ’s bearing our sins and sufferings to His death; but indeed that is only one aspect of an almost universal heresy.” (Life, Vol.I, p.430).

Carrying forth Hort’s malicious attack on Christ’s “substitutionary atonement,” the ESV surgically dismantles our “complete salvation” right before your eyes. Salvation in the ESV is not a one-time finished, salvation but a process. It’s not “saved” but a continual process of “being saved.” In the ESV’s and Hort’s twisted salvation, at WHAT POINT does someone actually become “saved” and no longer “being saved”?

Example:

Act 2:47
KJB
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

ESV
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
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1 Corinthians 1:18
KJB
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

ESV
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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1 Corinthians 15:2
KJB
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

ESV
and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you–unless you believed in vain.
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2 Corinthians 2:15
KJB
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

ESV
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
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Following right along this pernicious path of “being saved” the ESV no longer allows the saved sinner to be “complete” in Jesus Christ, but merely “filled”.

Colossians 2:10
KJB
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

ESV
and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Example:

The ESV perverts “narrow is the way” of salvation into “the way is hard”. There’s nothing “hard” about God’s wonderful way to salvation. It’s as simple as “opening a door” (John 10:9) or drinking a glass of water (John 4:14). But it is “narrow”. It’s very “narrow”. There’s only one, single, “narrow” way. Jesus Christ says in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Again the ESV totally changes and perverts the simple way of salvation.

Matthew 7:14
KJB
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

ESV
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

8. ORIGINS OF THE ESV

Some, like James White, asks why should we compare modern translations with the KJB? It is not so much comparing for example the ESV with the KJB, but comparing the two, historically accepted lines of Biblical origins: the Traditional text line vs. the Alexandrian text line.

Together with most modern translations the ESV comes from the Alexandrian text line. Its textual sources are about 44 manuscripts (which leave out thousands of words that’s found in the Traditional text and who are inconsistent with each other), and nine papyri (all who display some infiltration of Gnostic perversion).

Two manuscripts, the Vaticanus (which almost most certainly has Catholic origins despite claims of a much older origin), and the Sinaiticus (which under scrutiny displays clear signs of forgery), are the main sources of today’s translations (including the ESV). John W Burgon said: “These are two of the least trustworthy documents in existence” (Revision Revised).

Two revisionists played a major part in the structure of modern versions: Westcott and Hort. Neither of these two men accepted Gen 1-3; Neither believed in the bodily resurrection of Christ; neither believed that Jesus did actual miracles; neither believed in the literal coming of Christ. Both were partial to Rome’s ways. Hort rejected the infallibility of Scripture. Hort favoured Darwin’s theory of Evolution. Neither Westcott nor Hort believed in eternal punishment or in the vicarious atonement. (data from “Life and Letters”, 1896, 1903). From Westcott and Hort came the Revised Version of 1881, and from there the modern translations.

Compare this to the Traditional text line, which originates in Antioch, accepted as the “springboard” for the Gentile church; where the disciples were first called “Christians” –Acts 11:26. Here we have 5,700 manuscripts, all consistent with each other, and about 79 papyri (which by the way now proves that the sources of the traditional line is at least as old if not older than that of the Alexandrian line).

Men such as James White argues that one cannot say whether the KJB ADDED to the originals, or whether the modern translations OMITTED from the originals. The evidence speaks for itself: In the Traditional text line, wherefrom the KJB originates, 5700 manuscripts together with 79 papyri we find the same words consistently. In fact, these thousands of manuscripts are so consistent with each other than the KJB writers only needed to use six of them.

In the Alexandrian text line, wherefrom the ESV (and NIV, NKJV etc.) originates, we have only 44 manuscripts together with 9 papyri, all inconsistent with each other. What is more likely: That thousands of manuscripts ADDED to God’s Words or that 44 OMITTED God’s words?

The result of the Reformation was the Protestant movement, and printing of Bibles along the Traditional Text line, reaching a point of highest development in the King James Bible. This lead to decades of millions of souls saved, and the developing of the Western world along Christian ethics.

Ps 12:6,7 “The words of the LORD are pure words… Thou shalt keep them, O LORD,
thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”