« | 1 John 4 | » |
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God;
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the antichrist you heard is coming, and even now is already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5 They are of the world, therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.
6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us. The one who is not of God does not hear us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God.
8 The one who does not love has not known God. For God is love.
9 In this the love of God was revealed in us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation concerning our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
15 Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
17 In this is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, that as He is, so also we are in this world.
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He who fears has not been perfected in love.
19 We love Him because He first loved us.
20 If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if he does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
21 And we have this commandment from Him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.