Jumia Books New King James version Bible

Why use the New King James Version (NKJV)? Many reasons could be offered and many reasons are offered for other translations. Some of those are technical. Others merely criticise previous translations, accusing them of errors, stylistic faults, being married to tradition, or even liberalism. But I think one reason for choosing a Bible translation that many simply don’t acknowledge is sentiment. Often, we aren’t even aware how big a role sentiment played in choosing our Bible translation.

A translation should also encourage the reader to spend time in the Bible.

For me, one of the reasons I choose the NKJV it that is was the first new Bible I purchased with my own money. Furthermore, I purchased it on the last day I saw my father before he passed away. My reasoning here does not qualify the NKJV as being a superior translation to others. But it is one of the reasons I keep my NKJV close at hand. It goes with me whithersoever I do. Living in my car, it has travelled as many miles and to as many conferences and camps as I’ve been to over the last decade.

However, there is, indeed there must be, more to this choice.

The NKJV Can Be Traced Back to the KJV

Now, I am by no means a KJV-only proponent. But I do prefer the King James Version (KJV) or Authorised Version (AV) because of its devotional character, complete equivalence in translation, and style. The last of those, style, aids enormously in memorisation. It is for this reason that I “cleave” to the KJV and its modern counterpart the NKJV. For the KJV is the translation that most people—Christian or not—have grown up with. Thus, while being more modern and clear, the NKJV is can be read with a great deal of familiarity and continuity.

Let me give an example of what I mean.

The KJV is the translation that most people—Christian or not—have grown up with.

In the KJV, Romans 12:16 reads: “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” Similarly, NKJV reads: “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” Note that “men of low estate” is replaced with “the humble,” which avoids the hyper formality and archaic sounding language. Furthermore, the NKJV replaces obsolete senses of “conceit” and “condescend” which are replaced with their modern equivalents “opinion” and “associate.” Despite those adjudgment to help modern readers, the majority of the verse reads exactly the same.

The Translation is Sensibly Modern

Contrast my example from Romans 12:16 above with another modern translation. The NIV has: “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” This sounds significantly different to both the KJV and the NKJV. In fact, one of the few resemblances is in the NIV’s decision to keep “conceit,” using the word’s modern sense. Significantly, this is more than a matter of mere memorisation.

The NKJV seeks to preserve the good qualities of the KJV, while updating its language and ensuring understandability.

The NKJV and NIV both clarify what is meant by Romans 12:16, keeping the language modern. But the NKJV is more similar to the KJV, aiding readers who’re familiar with the older translation. This is the crucial principle of continuity in translation work. Continuity is important because our English translations are part of a living tradition. Many modern translations (ASV, RSV, NRSV, NASB, and more) are indebted to the KJV in some way. Simply read the preface to the ESV for proof of this. Of course, other recent translations (CSB, Message, NIV, NAB, and GN) are entirely new, preserving nothing of the KJV style, word order or devotional character.

What is helpful about the approach of the NKJV is that it seeks to preserve the good qualities of the KJV, while being careful to update the language of the KJV to suit modern conventions and to ensure understandability.

Devotional Character

I’ve mentioned “devotional character” a few times now, so let me elaborate. Very few forewords won’t claim that this is true of their translation. So I’m not merely rehashing the introductory note to the NKJV. By devotional character I’m referring to specific features of the NKJV translation that engender a love for God’s word and promote the practice of private devotion. These include subject and section headings, helping readers identify particular sections and themes.