The devil did it. (Genesis 3:1-5) Sarah laughed at it. (Genesis 18:12-15) The Pharisees denied it. (Luke 23:35) Demas rejected it. (2 Timothy 4:10)
And why not? The Bible is an archaic, ancient document with recorded events beginning, let’s say about 5,000 years ago. Influenced by no less than 5 cultures on 2 continents, while being written in 3 different languages. That is unless you’re Jewish, then it’s only 2.
If I didn’t know better, I think God intended for us to raise a skeptical eye towards it. The Bible is the vast story of God’s deliberate creation of and interaction with humankind. The Bible is the deceptively simple, relativity unbelievable record of the Creator’s encounters with His created. It is simply amazing that “God” would want to, interact with mere “mortals” and yet, God does.
This interaction is what makes the Bible so frustratingly intriguing. The Bible isn’t just about them, the last. It is about me, the present. The Bible is the story about how the created respond to the knowledge of and react towards the Creator. Humans express doubt, anger, love, dismissal, fascination, disbelief, grief, and often rejection.
However, not one of these emotions or intellectual states moves God to recognition. It is only through faith (Hebrews 11:1) that God is pleased (Hebrews 11:6). It is only through this ‘confident trust’ that God can be understood. Without faith, no one can be credited as righteous. (Genesis 15:6; Romans 1:17, 4:18-22) It is only by faith that the power of God in salvation is revealed. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-13)
It is that faith in the words, story, and characters that are necessary for a full acceptance of the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:12-16). And some persons will not have that faith necessary for a full acceptance of the Bible. While I am certainly disappointed in that missing faith, it is okay and to be expected. That is the very specific nature of faith in any belief system.
At the very least, may I ask that every person relay a sense of respect for someone’s faith system? Please give the Bible as much respect as the Code of Hammurabi, Plato’s Republic, or Shakespeare’s plays. As I will try to relay my own sense of respect towards another’s belief system.
Ironically enough, the angst behind this post originates from a post about the Bible from Christians to Christians. The graphic is provided below.
This is an unjust war that has been perpetrated by Christians on Christians for centuries. There is no justification for this feud aside from preference and hopefully some gentle, good-natured ribbing. While there will always be a concern about the accuracy and truth of the Bible, I encourage you to trust your translators.
Personally, I recognize the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. I trust the translators that demonstrate the necessary skill with producing an accurate text. However, I will only always trust the Holy Spirit with the truth of that text. Consider the difference.
Trust the scholarly effort, the multiple layers of research, and efforts of producing an elegant tool for Christian edification. Marvel at the beauty and simple complexity that goes into your Bible. (See if you can cram that much information on one piece of paper.) Marvel at the amount of information available. It is overwhelming! Then, trust the Holy Spirit to guide your ever growing maturity in God’s Word by using that Bible! Just remember, God’s Word has always been bigger than the bound pages of printed text.
Try not to lament on how Christians not only ignore the availability of God’s Word but dismiss it entirely.
While it is important to trust the translators, it also important to consider the various methods of translation. See these methods described here. Every translation or version utilizes a certain preference of obtaining an accurate OT Hebrew and Greek NT text. Just as every author is different, so is every translation committee.
As the link demonstrates, user preference is an option. It is the delight of God that His people enjoy reading and studying His word. Don’t limit yourself to one version. Choose a parallel Bible with four different translations! Use a paraphrase for your daily devotions or reading to your children, but take the meat to the feast during Bible study and worship. Find a really good study Bible like the Ryrie, Life Application, or Holman Study Bibles. These have maps, translation notes, study notes, a bible dictionary (often with references), topical notes, and bible cross references. Many Bibles also focus on men, women, teens, children, and topics. Take your time.
Of the translations listed in the graphic below, I cannot find the NASV. It is not the NASB or the NAB. These are different versions. The New American Standard Bible or NASB, which is my preference, holds these words in the text by brackets. The New American Bible or NAB is the Bible used primarily in association with the Catholic Church. This is one instance of a translation committee incorporating a user preference for a translation.
Please look at each of these verses. They are undoubtedly the work of later copyists that included these comments into the scripture text. The Bible as we know it was divided into chapters and verses arbitrarily (unfortunately) to aid in translation. These divisions have clashed with text criticism and NT Greek scholars.
The versions not represented (NASB, HCSB, Amplified) include these versions within their pages albeit within brackets or italicized. For instance, the NIV study bible will provide the excluded verse in the footnotes. While I disagree with pulling the verse out of the passage and prefer the brackets or italicizations, the translations and meaning of the chapters and the overall Biblical message is not diminished.
The major error with these translations is poor judgement and little explanation, not heresy. I would encourage everyone to read the NET Bible which includes the translation notes providing an explanation on why these verses are excluded. See The NET Bible notes on Matthew 18:11 graphic below. 
While the removed verses graphics creator might have had good intentions, it only breeds doubt on God’s word. While seemingly contradictory, those verses are relatively minor. Yet, it is the duty of every Believer to investigate and test God’s word. We must never dismiss it. The origin and development of the Bible is nothing less than a miracle. And the fact that we have nearly 100% OT accuracy based on Dead Sea Scroll analysis, is nothing short of mind-blowing. I suggest reading a history about the Bible came to be entitled the Origin of the Bible by Philipp Comfort.
As Christians, we must remember that in spite of us God’s word will never return void (Isaiah 55:11) and curses follow anyone that diminishes God’s word. (Revelation 22:18-19) Consider these things.
May the Lord continue to bless you with the hearing and reading of His Word.
