In the last post, I discussed one of the reasons I prefer one of the modern versions of the Bible: the archeological discoveries that have shed further light on the meaning of certain terms and passages.

Another important reason for using the newer versions are the manuscripts that have been discovered in the last few centuries. Fragments have been found from just a few decades after the original writing. Many manuscripts have been found that have helped us improve our understanding of what the text said before copies were made.

In the 16th and 17th century, when the first translations were being made in English, the most commonly used Greek text was known as the Textus Receptus. This text tended to be what we call an inflated text; when two manuscripts had different readings, both readings were included. That’s why you’ll find many words and verses in the older versions that aren’t in the newer versions.

When choosing a Bible version, I’m going to choose one that uses the better Greek texts. That’s one of the basic criteria I use when making that choice.