While an understanding of the history of the Critical Text is useful, it is not necessary to understand that the text is corrupt. A simple comparison of the Received Text and Critical Text is sufficient evidence to prove that there are doctrinal corruptions. The corruptions of the Critical Text are obviously intentional and try to weaken important Christian doctrines such as the virgin birth and the deity of Christ. Like the Septuagint (LXX), the Critical Text creates contradictions and errors in the Bible.
While a list of all the more than 8,000-word changes would be too extensive for this study, some of the greatest errors will be discussed here. One of the most popular Critical Text Bible versions is the New International Version (NIV). This version will be compared with the King James Version (KJV) which follows the traditional text. Both Bibles follow opposite texts and opposite philosophies in regards to the preservation and purity of the Word of God.
Firstborn removed – Matthew 1:25
(KJV) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
(NIV) But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
The first example of corruption is in Matthew 1:25. The word "firstborn" (πρωτότοκος) is present in the traditional Bible but is missing in the NIV and the Critical Text. The word implies that Jesus was not the only child of Mary. The Bible teaches that Mary and Joseph had children after Jesus was born (Mark 6:3). It seems that this change could have been made to support the catholic doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity.
The Virgin Birth – Luke 2:33
(KJV) And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
(NIV) The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
An obvious attack on the virgin birth of Christ in the Critical Text is found in Luke 2:33. In the traditional Bible, the name of Joseph (Ἰωσήφ) is used because Joseph was not the father of Jesus. In the Critical Text, this is changed to πατήρ(father). To call Joseph the father of Jesus is an obvious contradiction with the verses that teach that Christ was without an earthly Father such as in Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:34, etc. God intended to say "Joseph" not "father" to emphasize the fact that Joseph was not the father of Jesus. This is a devilish change and it shows the intentional corruption of the Critical Text.
The Model Prayer – Matthew 6:13
(KJV) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
(NVI) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Another obvious error in the Critical Text is seen in the exclusion of the last phrase of the model prayer in Matthew 6:13. The removal of this last portion of the model prayer that is in the Received Text shows a clear error and the textual corruption of the Critical Text.
The Doctrine of Fasting - Matt 17:21 & 1 Cor 7:5
Matthew 17:21 (KJV) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:21 (NIV)(omitted)
1 Corinthians 7:5a (KJV) Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer;
1 Corinthians 7:5a (NIV) Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.
The doctrine and practice of fasting is commonly attacked in the Critical Text. In Matthew 17:21 the KJV and traditional text mention the need for prayer and fasting. The NIV and Critical Text delete the entire verse. In 1 Corinthians 7:5 the Received Text says that sexual relations in a marriage can be halted voluntarily for times of prayer and fasting. The word fasting is removed in the Critical Text and the NIV.
Entire Verses Omitted
The Critical Text omits many verses from the traditional Bible. Translations that follow the Critical Text often vary in how many they choose to omit. The following examples show some of the verses omitted in the NIV as a result of following the Critical Text.
Matthew 17:21 (KJV) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:21 (NIV)(omitted)
Matthew 18:11 (KJV) For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Matthew 18:11 (NIV)(omitted)
Matthew 23:14 (KJV) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Matthew 23:14 (NIV)(omitted)
Mark 7:16 (KJV) If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Mark 7:16 (NIV)(omitted)
Mark 9:44 (KJV) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:44 (NIV)(omitted)
Mark 9:46 (KJV) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:46 (NIV)(omitted)
Mark 11:26 (KJV) But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:26 (NIV)(omitted)
Mark 15:28 (KJV) And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
Mark 15:28 (NIV)(omitted)
Luke 17:36 (KJV) Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Luke 17:36 (NIV)(omitted)
John 5:4 (KJV) For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
John 5:4 (NIV)(omitted)
Acts 8:37 (KJV) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts 8:37 (NIV)(omitted)
Acts 15:34 (KJV) Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
Acts 15:34 (NIV)(omitted)
Acts 24:7 (KJV) But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
Acts 24:7 (NIV)(omitted)
Acts 28:29 (KJV) And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
Acts 28:29 (NIV)(omitted)
Romans 16:24 (KJV) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Romans 16:24 (NIV)(omitted)
The Doctrine of the Trinity – 1 John 5:7
(KJV) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
(NIV) For there are three that testify:
Many other verses are only partially removed, but damaged sufficiently to hide important doctrines. A great example of this is the doctrine of the Trinity in 1 John 5:7.
The Doctrine of Hell – Mark 9:45
(KJV) And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
(NIV) And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
The doctrine of hell is heavily attacked in the Critical Text. There are several examples of this in the book of Mark. The Critical Text removes the last phrase of Mark 9:45 and therefore, the eternal nature of hell. The same attack is seen in Mark 9:44 and Mark 9:46. Both verses are entirely removed, thereby weakening the doctrine of hell.
The Blood Atonement – Colossians 1:14
The importance and necessity of the blood of Christ is also diminished in the Critical Text. An example of this can be seen in Colossians 1:14.
(KJV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
(NIV) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
In the Critical Text "through his blood" is removed. This phrase does appear in the traditional Bible. The blood atonement is a doctrine that the devil hates. Its omission in the Critical Text is a strong example of this doctrine being attacked.
The Doctrine of the Deity of Christ – Rev 1:11
(KJV) Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches...
(NIV) which said: Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches:
The doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ is heavily attacked throughout the Critical Text. This doctrine has been attacked by cults throughout all of church history. In Revelation 1:11 the phrase "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" is removed in the Critical Text. We will see many examples of this attack when we examine the Critical Text in popular Spanish Bibles. There are many examples of the name of Christ being deleted all throughout the New Testament in the Critical Text. The deity of Christ is the doctrine most attacked in the Critical Text.
Conclusion
Many other examples could be given of corruption in the Critical Text, but these should be sufficient to show that key doctrines of the Bible are attacked. The Critical Text creates doctrinal contradictions and inconsistencies in the Bible. Therefore, the Christian who cares about the purity and preservation of the Word of God should stay as far away from this corrupt text as possible. He should desire a Bible that does not include any of the corrupt Critical Text, and is faithful to the preserved texts that God has given us.