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Why the King James Version Is Right and the MSG Is Wrong

Written and reviewed by Galen Spring — Founder and editor of King James Bible Fellowship

Reviewed Published Updated

Study question

Why is the King James Version right and the MSG wrong in the passages compared here?

Contents

Edition compared

The Message — MSG, licensed online text.

Examine the passages

Study 1 of 4

2 Samuel 14:14 — Does God refuse to take life, or is he no respecter of persons?

What does the MSG say?

“Why, then,” the woman said, “have you done this very thing against God’s people? In his verdict, the king convicts himself by not bringing home his exiled son. We all die sometime. Water spilled on the ground can’t be gathered up again. But God does not take away life. He works out ways to get the exile back.” — MSG, 2 Samuel 14:14

What is the problem?

The MSG states that God does not take away life, but the same MSG says in Deuteronomy 32:39 that God kills and makes alive. Those categorical statements contradict each other. Therefore, the MSG rendering of 2 Samuel 14:14 is wrong.

What does the King James Bible say?

For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. — King James Bible, 2 Samuel 14:14

Does the King James Bible resolve the contradiction?

The King James Bible says that God does not respect persons. Acts 10:34 and Romans 2:11 repeat that same truth, so the King James Bible contains no contradiction and preserves the consistent statement. Therefore, the King James Bible is correct.

Read alongside: Deuteronomy 32:39; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11.

Study 2 of 4

Mark 1:2-3 — Does the passage name one prophet or multiple prophets?

What does the MSG say?

John the Baptizer The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Watch closely: I’m sending my preacher ahead of you; He’ll make the road smooth for you. Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight! — MSG, Mark 1:2-3

What is the problem?

Mark 1:2-3 in the MSG names Isaiah as the source, but its first quotation is found in Malachi 3:1 and its second quotation is found in Isaiah 40:3. The MSG's own Old Testament identifies two prophets, so attributing the combined quotation to Isaiah alone is false. Therefore, the MSG rendering of Mark 1:2-3 is wrong.

What does the King James Bible say?

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. — King James Bible, Mark 1:2-3

Does the King James Bible resolve the contradiction?

The King James Bible says, ‘As it is written in the prophets,’ correctly recognizing that the combined quotation comes from more than one prophet. Malachi's words are not falsely attributed to Isaiah. Therefore, the King James Bible is correct.

Read alongside: Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3; Mark 1:2-3.

Further conflicts, omissions, and material changes

The preceding comparisons establish internal contradictions in the MSG at 2 Samuel 14:14 and Mark 1:2-3, and the King James Bible resolves those contradictions. The remaining passages present further direct conflicts, omissions, and material changes. Each comparison below states precisely what its own evidence establishes. After all the readings have been examined, their cumulative significance will be considered together.

Study 3 of 4

Acts 8:37 — Does the verse include the confession before baptism?

What does the MSG say?

The MSG running text proceeds from Acts 8:36 to Acts 8:38 and does not include the statement found in Acts 8:37 in the King James Bible. — MSG, Acts 8:37

What is the problem?

Acts 8:37 is absent from the MSG running text. The condition of wholehearted belief and the confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God are therefore absent between the request for baptism and the baptism.

What does the King James Bible say?

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. — King James Bible, Acts 8:37

What follows from this comparison?

The confession and the condition of wholehearted belief are present in the King James Bible and absent from the MSG's running text. This is a material omission.

Read alongside: Acts 8:35-38; Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9-10.

Study 4 of 4

1 John 5:7 — Does the verse name the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost?

What does the MSG say?

Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God’s presence at Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. A triple testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement. — MSG, 1 John 5:7

What is the problem?

The MSG omits the statement naming the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost as the three heavenly witnesses and declaring that these three are one. The MSG passage does not contain that explicit heavenly testimony.

What does the King James Bible say?

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. — King James Bible, 1 John 5:7

What follows from this comparison?

The testimony of the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost as three heavenly witnesses is present in the King James Bible and absent from the MSG. This is a material omission.

Read alongside: 1 John 5:6-9.

Direct answer

The MSG contradicts its own wording in 2 Samuel 14:14 and Mark 1:2-3. Those internal contradictions establish that its readings there are false, and the King James Bible resolves each contradiction. In Acts 8:37 and 1 John 5:7, the MSG omits statements found in the King James Bible or materially changes the subject, object, scope, or explicit identification. The force of the evidence is cumulative. To uphold the MSG over the King James Bible throughout these comparisons, a reader must retain the MSG readings that conflict with its own text, reject the King James Bible readings that resolve those conflicts, and then continue choosing the MSG through the additional disagreements.

At a glance

Passage What the MSG says What the King James Bible says Result
2 Samuel 14:14 Why, then,” the woman said, “have you done this very thing against God’s people? In his verdict, the king convicts… For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither… MSG internally inconsistent; King James Bible resolves the contradiction
Mark 1:2-3 John the Baptizer The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet… As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way… MSG internally inconsistent; King James Bible resolves the contradiction
Acts 8:37 The MSG running text proceeds from Acts 8:36 to Acts 8:38 and does not include the statement found in Acts… And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that… Material omission or changed statement established
1 John 5:7 Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal… For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three… Material omission or changed statement established

Frequently asked questions

Are these merely stylistic differences?

No. Some passages expose internal contradictions in the MSG, which the King James Bible resolves. Other passages make opposite statements, omit statements found in the King James Bible, or materially change the subject, object, scope, or explicit identification. Those are substantive differences, not stylistic variations.

Which passages are compared?

The comparison covers 2 Samuel 14:14, Mark 1:2-3, Acts 8:37, 1 John 5:7.

Why is the full wording shown?

The complete MSG and King James Bible quotations let the reader see the statement being compared before the problem and conclusion are explained.

Passage index

About this study

Read the editorial policy or submit a correction.

Which Bible will you choose?

Which Bible will you choose? Which Bible will you preach? Which Bible will you trust as a sure foundation? Are you seeking the truth? Will you build upon the rock or upon sand?

Build upon the rock

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. — King James Bible, Matthew 7:24-27

Hold fast the word

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. — King James Bible, Titus 1:9

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. — King James Bible, James 1:21

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. — King James Bible, 2 Timothy 1:13

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. — King James Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Do not corrupt or handle the word deceitfully

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. — King James Bible, 2 Corinthians 2:17

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. — King James Bible, 2 Corinthians 4:2

Prove the readings. Receive the engrafted word with meekness. Hold fast the faithful word and the form of sound words. Do not corrupt the word of God or handle it deceitfully.

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