To me, Walter Veith’s claim that you can’t teach Adventist doctrine from the modern translations has about as much merit as his other claim, that the modern translations downplay the deity of Christ. And to me, it’s both extremely perplexing and extremely troubling that such a well-studied man can make such damning accusations against God’s word, when they simply aren’t true. Again, all I’ll say is: something’s terribly wrong.
(I feel I have to add something here: This whole subject of using the modern translations is not like arguing over whether tomatoes are a fruit or a vegetable. In my mind, hardly anything can be more important. I’ve long been convinced, and I only grow more and more convinced, that this whole King James only movement is straight from the devil—because he hates God’s word, and he hates for people to understand it better; and the modern translations truly help people to do just that—understand God’s word better.)
And finally, I’d like to finish on a positive note (getting people to try using a modern translation, or multiple translations, is infinitely more important to me than discrediting WV): I, along with my wife and thousands of others, will tell you that using multiple translations has been a tremendous blessing. (Initially my wife, who grew up strictly KJV, was afraid to try the modern translations—she feared they might lead her astray. But now she has a program called e-Sword (which she absolutely loves—she says there’s so much she can do with it), and uses four or five modern translations along with the KJV. And as I mentioned earlier, she especially likes the NIrV. It’s simply easier to understand.) Maybe I’m biased, but as I see it you have absolutely nothing to lose and possibly a richer Christian experience to gain. (The reason I say you have nothing to loss is because if you take your time, and carefully compare what the modern translations say with the KJV, I don’t see how you can go wrong.) I can almost guarantee what will happen: you’ll find some passages where you like the KJV better, and you’ll find some passages where you like one or more of the modern translations better. (Personally, I highly recommend the 1996 NLT.) There’s one other thing I think I can guarantee you: The spirit in which you come to the Bible is infinitely more important than which translation you use.
Having said all that, I’ll leave you with these words of inspiration:
“Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name… and shall deceive many…
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
{Matthew 24:4, 5; 1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV}
P.S.—Earlier I mentioned that all of that endless, dark conspiracy stuff WV spends so much time on isn’t the true message of Adventism and wasn’t the message of Ellen White and the pioneers. I’ve actually written a little book showing that. If you’d like a copy we’ll be glad to send you one for free. Just ask for “The New World Order ~ Part of Adventism?”
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and God Bless.
Al & Tammy Roesch
5464 State Rd.
Kingsville, Ohio 44048
1-888-332-6343
You can purchase the book for $3 (includes shipping), at this link: