Question

I recently viewed your website and found a letter from John MacArthur and the elders at Grace Community Church regarding the KJV debate.  In this letter MacArthur seems to be decrying the NKJV as a failed attempt to translate from the Textus Receptus saying that commercial considerations made it into an update.  He also stated that he used the Scofield translation.  Having just spent good money on a leather version of the NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, I feel somewhat confused.  If it is not a great translation, why give his name to it?  Why does he not use it himself? The promotional material that Grace put out describes it as a good version. Could you please help with my problem?

Answer

John grew up on the KJV and Scofield Bibles.  Later in John's ministry he preached using the NASB (New American Standard Bible).  Most of
his sermon and books, used quotes from the NASB.  When he decided to produce the Study Bible, he chose the NKJV primarily to build a bridge with the many Christians who love the KJV and those who like the newer translations.  He wanted to reach as many people as he could with the truth.  His study notes take care of any NKJV translation problems.  To have chosen the KJV or the NIV would have isolated groups of people.  I am a NIV person, but bought the Study Bible (leather version too) because I wanted John's insights.  I really don't read it for my daily Bible times (I use the NIV), but I go to
the Study Bible almost like a commentary.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Tony Capoccia's Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986