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01/09/2026
Have you ever wondered why certain words or phrases seem to be missing in some Bible translations? Take Romans 8:1 as ...
01/09/2026

Have you ever wondered why certain words or phrases seem to be missing in some Bible translations?

Take Romans 8:1 as an example:

Modern translations (ESV, NASB, NIV, CSB, etc.): “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
King James Version (and NKJV): “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
What accounts for this difference?

The Short Answer

The New Testament text is preserved in two main Greek manuscript traditions. Since the New Testament was originally written in Greek, our English Bibles are translated from these Greek manuscripts.

1. The Byzantine Tradition (or Majority Text)
This text form arose within the Byzantine Empire (centered in Constantinople) and became the standard Greek text used by the Eastern Church for over a thousand years.
The King James Version (KJV) was translated from this tradition, specifically from the Textus Receptus, an edition of the Greek New Testament compiled in the 16th century by Desiderius Erasmus and later refined by Theodore Beza and Robert Estienne (Stephanus).
Erasmus used about six Greek manuscripts, all dating from the 12th to 15th centuries—the best available in Western Europe at the time.

2. The Alexandrian Tradition (or Critical Text)
In the 19th century, scholars discovered much older manuscripts in and around Egypt, particularly near Alexandria—such as Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, dating from the 4th century.
Modern critical editions (like the Nestle–Aland and United Bible Societies’ texts) draw from these and other ancient witnesses, including papyrus fragments dating as early as the 2nd century, possibly within decades of the originals.
Most modern translations—ESV, NASB, NIV, CSB, NLT, NRSV, and others—are based on this Alexandrian or Critical Text.

Why It Matters
The key difference, then, is one of manuscript age and abundance:
The Byzantine (Majority) Text represents the majority of later Greek manuscripts, mostly from the medieval period.
The Alexandrian (Critical) Text represents fewer manuscripts, but ones that are much earlier—closer in time to the original writings.
So, while the KJV reflects the best manuscripts available in the 16th century, modern translations benefit from discoveries made hundreds of years later—some of which are nearly a millennium older.

In Summary
Both traditions aim to preserve the inspired New Testament text faithfully. Understanding these manuscript families helps explain why some verses in your Bible may read differently—or include phrases that others do not.

In 2025 we shipped to over 55 countries. Here are some of our top destinations. If your country is not represented here ...
01/08/2026

In 2025 we shipped to over 55 countries. Here are some of our top destinations. If your country is not represented here let us know in the comments...

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