If Jesus Preached in Your Church, Which Bible Would He Use?

(A small review and recommendation of Jack McElroy’s book, Which Bible Would Jesus Use?)

It would be foolish to say he would use no Bible, since he used one during his earthly ministry (Luke 4:16-20; 24:27, etc.).

Would he use a Bible that makes him a liar, as the NIV and ESV do in John 7:8?

John 7:8-10 (KJV) Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

(NIV) “You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.

(ESV) “You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee. But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe how many Christians will accept version upon version of the Bible that shows their Lord to be a liar, as the NIV, ESV, and so many others plainly do, but it would be crazy to think Jesus would carry a book to the pulpit that has him breaking the law he came to fulfil.

This is the simple question asked by Jack McElroy in his book, Which Bible Would Jesus Use? (Also available for Kindle.)

The mere question would be laughed off by modern scholarship as too absurd to consider.

But this question deserves serious consideration by any genuine follower of Christ. After all, the Bible is Jesus’ book, and so picking the one he would have us use is certainly something we should do!

Would Jesus use a Bible that gives Satan his own title in Isaiah 14:12?

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Revelation 22:16 (KJVI Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

The NIV gives Satan the title Jesus has plainly reserved for himself:

Isa 14:12 (NIV) How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

Are you okay with that? Do you think Jesus is okay with that? (See this article for more on Lucifer vs the Morning Star.)

McElroy’s book is an excellent addition to the many on the “Which Bible” topic. The tone is easy and conversational, laying out the issues in a manner that makes the answers obvious. In fact, I suspect this will be my new “go to” introductory book for believers new to the topic.

McElroy gives an excellent overview of the preservation and translation of the Bible, presenting a clear and compelling case for why we should trust that the King James Bible is in fact the very word of God without error. His deductive logical arguments are enough to convince any sincere seeker that we can have faith in God’s book as it is preserved to us today.

But he does not stop there — McElroy isn’t afraid to point out the deficiencies of the modern and commonly held definition of inspiration, getting to the heart of the matter and demonstrating that not only do modern experts have a flawed theology of inspiration, with their own words they show that they don’t believe there ever was a perfect “act of inspiration” in the first place.

Even if you’re already a King James Bible Believer and need no convincing, this book is still a great read. I’ve had a public presence on the Internet defending the Authorized Bible for almost 20 years now, and I’ve heard it all.  McElroy must have had a peek into my inbox, because all the common “gotcha” questions are here. More importantly, they’re all answered ably.

  • Yeah? So where was God’s word before 1611?
  • The NIV and ESV are no different than the different “revisions” of the KJV.
  • So Which Edition of the KJV is perfect? What about the differences between editions?

Now, we know that in the end this is still a matter of faith. After all:

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Any time someone demands “proof” that the King James is God’s word they are seeking to avoid the issue of faith and excuse the egregious errors in their favorite Bible versions. However, it can be (and has many times been) proven beyond any reasonable doubt that modern Bible versions contain error. As McElroy demonstrates with their own writings, modern Bible editors actually believe that imperfection is often a sign of a more genuine reading.

But it’s not enough to demonstrate the corruptions of modern Bible versions, because the question will still remain: why the KJV? There are deductive reasons good enough to answer the sincere seeker willing to place faith in God that he would preserve his word, and Which Bible Would Jesus Use? provides these reasons and more.

Highly recommended!

Jack McElroy has kindly made chapter 8 of his book available in full here: Why can’t the Lord choose the ©1982 New King James Version?

Which Bible Would Jesus Use? is available in print from Amazon.com and also on Kindle. You can read more about Jack at his website.

24 thoughts on “If Jesus Preached in Your Church, Which Bible Would He Use?”

  1. Looks good Brandon. Thanks for the ‘heads-up”. I used to be a huge NASV guy for 20+ years — but I remember taking out my ink pen and correcting that John 7 passage myself. 😉 — I figured it must have been a “printer’s error”. Keep up the good work — and when you get a chance ,,, make another video !

  2. Thanks for the heads up. Just purchased the Kindle version…look forward to digging into it this weekend.

    I just purchased SwordSearcher also to help support what you are doing here. Looks like a lot to learn but I am sure the benefits will pay off.

  3. Great post! (as usual). I have been thinking about ordering that book, I will do that soon.

    Also, for anyone that wants to read it, I wrote a 34 page critique of James R. White’s “The King James Only Controversy” that I will send (PDF version) to anyone upon request.

    My contact info is on my site, http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/

    I also have a few dozen posts defending the inerrancy of the KJB http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/p/king-james-bible.html

    Keep believing THE BOOK. Blessings! –bro. Eli “Hoss” Caldwell

  4. We’re going to repost this on our website (dorightchristians.wordpress.com) in a few days after some drama dies down. I have not read all of the book yet due to the events in Israel right now and having to push my brother to a shelter every few hours, but I’m going to create a new KJV section where a select few authors will be able to post via RSS feeds.

    I would also encourage you and Jack to get involved with Steven Avery’s group where they and my brother, Dr. Elisha Weismann, are making some very significant progress in dismantling the 4th Century Codex Sinaiticus myth, and the likelihood that it is in fact a modern day forgery by Constantine Simonides.

    God bless,
    James Ach

  5. Each version said the same thing. He told them to go but he did not go at first. He went later. What am I missing?

    1. Note the word “yet” in the KJV. In the NIV and ESV Jesus tells a lie (he says he is not going but goes). In the KJV Jesus doesn’t lie. This is a textual issue — modern versions are translated from texts that drop the word “yet” from the verse.

      Chapter Three of the book reviewed here goes into more details — modern scholars actually believe that these kinds of errors existed in the original and that a lack of such contradictions is somehow a corruption.

      1. Thanks for the clarification. When i first read this passage in the NIV, i did find it strange that Jesus was telling His brothers a different story (did cross my mind that Jesus was telling a lie). And i did not bother to read into other version of this passage, thinking all Bibles are the same. Now i am really, really happy that your explanation had cleared away my doubt. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

  6. Since He’s the Author of it all, he wouldn’t need to use any of our translations. I’m pretty sure He knows every word and can recite it all from memory. He IS the Word, after all. Translations are actually more like commentaries, not that they’re inaccurate, of course. But a translator is a filter of sorts. Always refer to the original languages to fully understand any passage.

    1. It’s almost unbelievable the comments people leave, like that one. They speak as if there is no record of what Christ did during his ministry on earth. Amazing.

      1. Yes Brandon. That is true. The value of biblical accuracy cannot be overstated. The comments I’ve read so far are disheartning and very disappointing.

  7. This is very sad because everyone is arguing over a version of the Bible there are so many casualties of war I mean people dying and going to hell and we are arguing over a version of the Bible with Christ be more pleased with us to win a lost soul or argue over a version of the Bible we can’t see the forest through the trees let’s open our eyes and see the big picture

  8. Psalm 12:6 6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
    7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
    This verse tells us there that there is an inerrant, infallible Bible we can put our hands on, and it is the KJV. With so many corrupted verisions now, we have to be diligent to make sure we have it. Satan beguiled Eve by challenging Gods word, and man fell for it, and on it goes.

  9. Jesus would use whichever version was at the church he was teaching at. Even in the time of Jesus, there were multiple versions of the The Bible in Hebrew and Aramaic. The New Testament shows him quoting from various versions. Do you really think Jesus would preach to a bunch of young people using thee’s and thou’s? I think Jesus would say to get over our pride. The Holy Spirit is the one who enlightens a person and I’m sure the Holy Spirit is capable of enlightening you no matter which translation you used. The best bible translation is one that you will read and understand. One that enables God to speak to you.

  10. I found this to be a great article. You answered the question diligently. Indeed in the end; its a matter of faith and where you put that faith, In a King James Bible or a Counterfeit Bible?

  11. Jesus would not use an English translation, He would use the one He used ( the Septuagint ). The Hebrew language was just about dead and they use Greek. It is also what the early church used. People that claim Jesus would use the KJV are wrong. If you try to say that then what you saying is before the KJV. People did not have the Word of God. Even through i believe the KJV. is a good translation it is not the only one. I like what Dr, Randell Price say’s when people ask what version he uses and he replies Geek and Hebrew. The inspired version were who the the author wrote. What is the best version of the Bible is? The one you will read and follow.

    1. Jesus did not use the Septuagint. The Septuagint we have is riddled with error and there is no evidence that it was actually in existence at the time, or that if it was, that anyone was using it. Try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1mi_RcSLQ8 As for your arguments, you need to spend some time on this site — all of your arguments are answered on it…

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