COMPARISON BETWEEN THE 1960 AND 1865 VERSION OF THE SPANISH BIBLE
This article concerning the Spanish Bible is written by a missionary, Brother Mutchell Muller, ministering in Spanish in Mexico. He made a comparision between the recent 1865 version with the 1960 version and his findings are presented as follows:
In Matthew’s genealogy there is a real propblem as it includes “Coniah” in the list of names. Yes, brother, the same Jechoniah that was written childless by Jehovah God, making a very subtle and clear proof for the virgin birth of Christ Jesus. By adding his name in the 1865 version they destroy the sets of 14 generations and also make a liar out of God, and worse, cast doubt upon the Virgin birth of our Saviour.
Mateo 1:11 – Y Josías engendró [á Joacim; y Joacim engendró] á Jeconías y á sus hermanos, en la transmigracion de Babilonia;
Mateo 1:17 – De manera que todas las generaciones desde Abraham hasta David, son catorce generaciones; y desde David hasta la transmigracion de Babilonia, catorce generaciones; y desde la transmigracion de Babilonia hasta Cristo, catorce generaciones.
According to verse 11 in the 1865 Valera, verse 17 is in error. There are 15 generations listed from David to the captivity of Babylon. And the real evil is this, the very idea of including this man’s name is altogether an affront to Jehovah God as He Himself said that this man was not to be included in the genealogy of Christ. (Jeremiah 22:30). Scholars for years have pointed to this wonderful cross reference as proof that the Virgin birth is a trustworthy fulfillment of this prophetic declaration. But we cannot do so with the 1865.
A comparison chart showing the similarities between the KJB and the 1960 and their respective differences from the 1865.
This chart is only interested in where the 1960 follows the KJB, and to demonstrate that the 1865 in fact many times does not follow the KJB whereas the 1960 does.
It does not purport to demonstrate doctrinal errors, although it does call into question a few readings of the 1865.
Again, the comparisons made are only attempting to demonstrate that the 1960 has a greater number of readings closer or exactly duplicates the readings of the KJB as opposed to the 1865.
A gnat straining approach was not used, because it would have demonstrated even more variance.
One more observation to make is as the comparison chart was being made, I did indeed notice a very stilted, forced, and oftentimes “clunky” reading in the 1865. It is certainly my opinion that the 1865 is a more laborious work, its readings oftentimes wordy and non-flowing, making it a more studious Bible to memorize than a common people’s Bible. It was decidedly lacking in the use of reflexive verbs, which lend to its labored readings.
As far as the lack of tildes (accent marks) is concerned, it was not made an issue. The grammar being from a different time period, therefore not held to accountability. But it was noticed that many of the suffixes like “cion” y “sion” carried no tildes over the “o”.
Another apparent hindrance was the extremely archaic words employed. Several times I found words that I had never heard of, and what made a few of them even more difficult was that it would be perhaps the 3rd or 4th dictionary used before I found the said word. Again, oft times, the word in question was also a secondary or tertiary meaning, making the sense of the passage doubtful.
I for one am no advocate of a perfect Spanish Bible, and that will certainly discourage some to say the least. I am a “KJB only”, without apologies. I am however offering this short study to simply make clear some issues based upon ignorance by many of the “KJB only” camp.
The 1865 is no better, no worse than the 1960. It also has some curiosities, anomalies, and doubtful readings. Let me say this very clearly. The 1960 is no KJB, but neither is the 1865, and don’t let these men in Michigan tell you that it is.
I make no defense of Eugene Nida, the 1960 or the 1865 or for that matter the 1602.
I would think that an obvious question must be asked.
If we as KJB only people mock and ridicule the idea that the Vaticanus or Sinaticaus were worthwhile efforts of translation, suspending them with the bravado of “they sat unused by God for hundreds of years!”, how can we now embrace a manuscript that sat unused by God for 150 years? Where was the 1865 for the past 150 years in the Spanish speaking world? Sitting on a shelf collecting dust, that’s where. Like it or not, we must approach the issue the same as we would any other doubt caster upon the words of God. A great part of our argument has always been the three fold cord of the preservation of the Body, the fruit borne for God and agreement with the TR readings. If we hold to those we will see that the 1960 is in fact every bit as good as the 1865. Say what they will.
I don’t have the luxury of sitting in an air conditioned office spending hours and hours pouring over these 2 Bibles comparing them. I scraped up an hour here and a few minutes there while trying to plant a work, soul win, preach the word, get my converts in the water, disciple them, train a young man for the ministry and in plainer words, do what you support me to do. Be a missionary in Mexico.
I am going to wait on embracing the 1865, I am going to give you this chart as part of the reason why I will wait for now. It matters not to me if Dr. Ruckman has just recently signed on to it, or if the article by Tim Sigrest remains on www.Biblebelievers.com or if Bearing Precious Seed of Parker Memorial Baptist Church in Michigan will continue to print them. Or Mickey Carter for that matter. I have not read him, I don’t have to. I have the Bibles right here in front of me. Isn’t that enough?
I doubt seriously if they have done the hours of work I have done on this Bible. I also doubt if they speak Spanish. I would think that any reasonable man would at least require his defectors to speak the language they are attacking. How can I take seriously any of these men when they have not demonstrated any working knowledge of the language in question? If they have I have failed to see it and will stand corrected when I do. Especially Tim Sigrest, I really have my doubts after reading his article placed on the web site of www.Biblebelievers.com. If he truly speaks Spanish, he is woefully inadequate, or is just unwilling to face the truth or a liar. I hope it’s just that he doesn’t speak Spanish. I know these men are sincere, but so are the Mormon’s, so therefore sincerity has no place.
Here’s my comparison’s on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. 4 major books to consider at the least.
| KJB | 1960 | 1865 |
| Galatians | ||
| 1:7 the gospel of Christ | El evangelio de Cristo | evangelio Cristo – this reads “Christ’s gospel” not “the gospel of Christ” is there a difference? Yes, it’s a different message, the gospel of the Kingdom. |
| 1:9 I say again | ahora lo repito | tornamos a decir – this reads “we say again” who is we? |
| 2 no diverse readings found in either, in other words the entire chapter is KJB | ||
| 3:15 a man’s covenant | un pacto | concierto humano – you may say that technically “concierto” means covenant, but I have yet to find ONE Mexican that did! |
| 3:17 the covenant | el pacto | concierto |
| 3:25 | de la mano | |
| 3:28 male nor female | varón ní mujer | macho, ni hembra – again, technically this reads “male nor female” but only if you’re a farm animal. These are not terms used for people |
| 4:24 two covenants | dos pactos | dos conciertos – if you’re thinking of a symphony, you do well. |
| 5:3 I testify | testifico | vuelvo á protestar |
| 5:19 lasciviousness | lascivia | disolucion |
| 6 no diverse reading found in either. | ||
| Ephesians | ||
| 1:3 heavenly places | lugares celestiales | en bienes celestials |
| 1:7 forgiveness of sins | perdón de pecados | remision de pecados |
| 1:12 first trusted in | primeramente esperábamos | ántes esperamos – the tense is all wrong, it’s present not past. |
| 1:13 after that ye heard the… gospel of your salvation | habiendo oído… el evangelio de vuestra salvación | en oyendo la palabra… de vuestra salud- again present tense, salvation comes AFTER we hear. And of course we are not made healthy, but saved. |
| 1:18 the hope of his calling | la esperanza a que él os la llamada | la esperanza de su vocacion |
| 2:2 according to the prince | Conforme al príncipie | conforme a la voluntad del príncipie – |
| 2:12 the covenants | los pactos | los conciertos |
| 3:1 | amor de | |
| 3:3 | es a saber | |
| 3:4 my knowledge | mi conocimiento | mi inteligencia |
| 3:5 was not made known | no se dio a conocer | no fue entendido |
| 3:6 and of the same body | miembros del mismo cuerpo | é incorporados – no body |
| 3:11 the eternal purpose | al propósito eterno | al propósito de los siglos |
| 3:21 | digo | |
| 4:1 | es a saber | |
| 4:9 the lower parts | las partes más bajas | partes inferiores |
| 4:11 pastor and teachers | pastores y maestros | pastores y doctores |
| 4:18 the blindness of heart | dureza de su corazón | dureza de su corazón – both the 1865 and 1960 stand against the KJB here. |
| 4:19 lasciviousness | lascivia | desvergüenza |
| 5:1 followers | imitadores | imitadores – didn’t Dr. Ruckman cry aloud against this wording in the “newer” Bibles? and well he should have. |
| 5:3 let it not be once named | ni aun se nombre | ni aun se miente – (thought of) the entire context is words, not thoughts |
| 5:11 reproves them | reprendedles | reprobadles |
| 5:28 wife | mujer | muger – typo no doubt |
| 6:6 the heart | corazón | ánimo – (mind) |
| 6:7 | sólo | |
| 6:13 and having done all | habiendo acabado todo | superado todo (overcome?) |
| 6:21 my affairs | mis asuntos | mis negocios |
| 6:24 in sincerity | inalterable | incorrupción – neither the 1960 or the 1865 follow the KJB here, or agree with themselves |
| Philippians | ||
| 1:5 fellowship | comuñión | participacion |
| 1:9 | a Dios | |
| 1:19 salvation | salvación | salud |
| 1:28 salvation | salvación | salud |
| 1:29 behalf of Christ | a causa de Cristo | en nombre de Cristo |
| 2:1 comfort of love | consuelo de amor | refrigerio de amor – brother, this word means to have a snack. Refreshment. |
| 2:3 lowliness | humildad | humildad |
| 2:3 each esteem other better than themselves | estimando cada uno a los demás como superior a él mismo | estimándoos inferiores los unos á los otros – I was not told to esteem myself less than, but others better. |
| 2:4 this mind be | este sentir | mismos sentimientos – plurality, and this word reads, “the same feelings” |
| 2:10 under the earth | debajo de la tierra | infernal – yes brother, this words means exactly what you think it means. |
| 2:11 salvation | salvación | salud |
| 2:15 without rebuke | sin mancha | sin culpa – neither lines up with the KJB |
| 2:17 I joy | me gozo | me huelgo – see note * |
| 2:18 ye joy | gozaos | holgáos – see note * |
| 2:21 Jesus Christ | Cristo Jesús | Cristo Jesús |
| 2:23 it will go with me | van mis asuntos | van mis negocios |
| 2:28 the more carefully | con mayor solicitud | más presto |
| 3:3 which worship | servimos | Servimos – neither follow |
| 3:7 | amor | amor – neither follow |
| 3:8 | por amor | por amor – neither follow |
| 3:9 the righteousness which is of God | la justicia que es de Dios | la justicia de Dios – one speaks of imputed righteousness, the other of God’s. |
| 3:10 the power of | el poder de | el virtud de |
| 3:15 be thus minded | mismos sintamos | mismos sentimientos – “feelings” |
| 3:16 let us mind | sintamos | sintamos – this is shown to demonstrate the difference between “sentimientos” and “sintamos” they are not the same. |
| 3:19 whose God | cuyo dios | cuyo dios – note the lower case “d” |
| 4:1 mind | sentir | Sentimientos |
| 4:8 pure | pure | santo |
| Colossians | ||
| 1:14 forgiveness | perdón | remision |
| 1:24 | por amor | |
| 2:9 Godhead | Deidad | divinidad – lower case “d”, say what you will, this does not say what the KJB says. |
| 2:21 touch not | no manejas | no comas |
| 3:2 set your affection | poned la mira | poned vuestro corazón |
| 3:5 life is hid | vida está escondida | vida está guardada |
| 3:6 disobedience | desobediencia | rebellion |
| 3:8 blasphemy | blasfemia | maledicencia – (slander) |
| 3:12 | de espíritu | |
* this word huelgo from the verb holgar is certainly a rare one, but it means “lazy, idle, rest”. In colloquial usage we say, “Needless to say” or in Spanish, “huelga que decir”. So what it means here I can’t say.
So what am I saying? I am saying that in 4 books of the Bible given as a sample, verse by verse, we have a total of 503 verses. 2 times the 1960 strayed from the KJB. 2 times. 57 times the 1865 did not follow the KJB. 57 times out of 503, while the 1960 followed the KJB 501 times. 446 times the 1865 stayed a breast of the KJB. 501 to 446. Those are the facts, undeniable and presented for your perusal. I would say that a lot of hype is going into this 1865.
I do not ignore the dozen or so cases where the 1960 has inserted Alexandrian readings. I am certainly aware of its weaknesses. What I am saying is that one does not thrust a foreign text upon the English speaking peoples and play on their emotions by claiming that the 1960 is a Roman Catholic Bible, that its translators were all charismatic and Catholics. That it’s “whore’s milk” and “toilet water”. Do not tell us that “it’s not to be trusted” when I have just demonstrated that the 1960 is closer to the KJB in 4 of Paul’s epistles than the 1856. Demonstrably closer. 501 times to 446 closer, that’s 25% better.
As I have time I will continue to research and compare the versions side by side. I suspect that it will continue to be a case for gnat strainers who are $elling a book.
Use your God given gift of discernment. Ask yourself, where was the 1865 while literally 10’s of thousands left the Roman Catholic church and not only entered into fundamental, orthodox Bible preaching churches, but became Bible believing soul winning Christians as well? For the last 40-50 years Mexico has seen an unparalleled exodus from Roman Catholicism and a swelling of ranks amongst the Independent Baptist ranks. I know that numbers don’t beat all, but they sure mean something when it’s good! Where was the 1865 during the time that Mexico saw almost a dozen fundamental Bible preaching schools started and train over 1000 men who are now in the ministry even now training others to win souls, preaching the gospel and building fundamental works?
God decided to use the 1960, and he shelved the 1865 150 years ago. It had its chance and God by passed it. Who are we to drag it out of its grave, and try to resurrect it again, forcing it upon a movement in mid stream? Are we to actually believe that we are to exchange weapons in the middle of the greatest campaign against the devil that Mexico has ever seen?
You tell me brother. You tell me.
I for one am going to simply trust the providence of God and believe that He knows what he is doing, and try to stay out of His way. What will you do?
A concerned brother in Christ,
Pastor Mitchell Muller
Iglesia Bautista Calvario
Chetumal, Q. Roo Me