Excuses I've Heard for Not Using the RVG

by Don Rich

Missionary to Peru

March 29, 2022

These are some of the excuses I've heard for not wanting to use the RVG.

• "I've always used this version. I was saved using this version."

That is nice, and I understand. But your salvation hasn’t changed and won’t be affected. Keep that Bible as a keepsake and start reading the pure Word of God.

• "Change will cause division."

The Word of God causes division. Jesus Christ caused division. The TRUTH causes division.

Sometimes division is necessary for growth. A human cell divides many times before it becomes a human body. Even God allowed and used division due to religious persecution to advance His kingdom.

If Casiodoro de Reina was worried about division, we would not have the Bible in Spanish! We do not want division in or between churches. But if there is division because a pastor wants what his convictions dictate for his church…If he wants to change something for the betterment of his church, and for that there is division, I believe it is right.

The truth is that I have not yet been told of even one church that has divided because of the RVG here in S. America.

In August of 2019 we completed delivery of our latest shipment from Victory Baptist Press. We have now distributed over 100,000 RVG whole Bibles in our ministry to all nine Spanish speaking countries in S. America and the number of requests continue to grow.

I have always said that the RVG will stand or fall on its own merit. It seems to be standing tall as more are educated on the topic of the purity of God’s Word and are shown the truth of the original manuscripts.

I recently taught a class to a group of pastors in an area that had been negatively influenced against the RVG by a well-known national pastor and lay seminary professor. After teaching this same information to them we have received many requests for the RVG in that area. We understand that change takes time and education.

In the year 1960, the version Reina Valera 1960 was published. Before that, there was the 1909. It was around for 51years. Before that, there was the 1865. That version was used for 44 years. Before that, other versions were used, back to the 1602.

Each time that a new version came out, I am sure that there was division between those who wanted to “change” and those who didn’t. But with time, pastors, missionaries, and church people accepted them.

Sadly, each new version multiplied the problems that were in the one before it.

It takes a man of honor, courage, and integrity, with a love for the pure Word of God to study the differences and stand by his decision, even if it is not what others are doing.

Other excuses I've heard for not using the RVG

• I don't want a Bible translated from an English Bible, the King James.

It wasn’t. When there were questions about how to translate a word or phrase, it was compared to what is considered the closest English Bible to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. This only makes sense, right?

The 1960 was compared to THREE Bibles in English and one English commentary. The English Revised Version of 1885, American Standard Version of 1901, and the Revised Standard Version of 1946.

At least the RVG noted what it was compared to in the front pages.

Open a 1960 version of the Bible and read the first page. It says nothing about the three versions that came from the Critical Text and the English commentary they used.

• I've heard that some don't want to use the RVG because those who love the King James Version are using it.

If we believe the King James Version is the purest, the closest to the original words of God, what should we want? What should we use? It's the same reason we want the RVG!

• There are those who believe that the Received Text, the text trusted for centuries by the church fathers, is not the correct text.

There is nothing that we can say or show to a person like this. Their basic beliefs are different from ours. Although they may be our brothers, we are not in agreement with the basics. It is like trying to show from the Bible that Hell is real when the person with whom we

are talking does not believe that the Bible is the Word of God.

• Some believe that it doesn't even matter which text they used to translate the Bible. They think that either is ok.

But how can we trust in the Received Text AND the Critical Text when they contradict each other?

We can’t mix the text to our liking. It is like mixing clean water and dirty water. The result is not healthy.

What they are really saying is that they are not concerned with the purity of the Word of God. It is not important to them.

Some have said:

• “I don’t like that the Bible has Gomez’s name on it.”

The name is just a way to distinguish the difference between new revisions and versions. Bro. Gómez himself did not want it placed on there but was convinced that it would help in differentiating between versions and revisions.

How many people think about who they are referring to when they call their Bible the “Reina Valera”? It is only a reference. If you don’t like the name you can cover it with a permanent marker. It is what is on the inside that matters.

Other reasons for rejecting the RVG:

• Laziness: Some don’t want to go through the hassle of studying it themselves and instead trust what someone else has said.

The majority of the persons whom I have spoken to directly who were against the RVG, including a seminary director, have admitted that they have not personally compared it or studied it out but are just trusting the opinion of others.

• Pride: Some have been using another version for a long time and saying it was the best when in reality it had faults. They are too proud to admit their error.

• Arrogance: I have known people who would not change because they knew someone involved in the work and didn’t like them.

That is arrogance that says that “my feelings” come before the purity of the Word of God. If they had known Reina or Valera, they might not have liked them either.

• Fear: of losing friends, losing financial support, losing popularity/standing, etc.

What we should be afraid of is standing before our Holy God one day and giving an account of our decisions. It is God that supplies all our needs.

• Peer pressure: There are pastors who are concerned of what others will think of them. Some belong to groups or associations of pastors who may pressure them.

Missionaries may be pressured by their mission agency to stay

with a certain version.

But the #1 reason I believe that someone doesn’t change once they see the truth and are convinced – Lack of integrity and conviction.

It takes a person with backbone to stand for their beliefs in spite of what anyone around them says or thinks. A person of integrity will not allow any excuse to stand in the way of the purity of the Word of God.

Proverbs 30:5-6  “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”

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This article is an excerpt from Don Rich's booklet titled "Spanish Bible Versions: What You Need To Know." To read the entire book, click here.