Translation Frustration

Q: Now Most English translations on John 1:21 says Elijah. But KJV says Elias- John 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Also in John 1:23 English translation says Isaiah in KJV it says Esaias- He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. Now why do all English translation give Elijah and Isaiah while KJV says Elias and Esaias If KJV is accurate then does that mean all English translation is wrong or is KJV wrong in this matter?

A: Thanks for your question. I believe the answer is quite simple. It would appear that the difference in names is simply because of translation differences. They are not different people being spoken about or anything like that. Like you, I looked through about a dozen different English translations and all of them used Elijah and Isaiah for the verses in question. In fact, while the King James Version uses Elias and Esaias in verses 21 and 23, the New King James Version translates the names Elijah and Isaiah like the other translations. Perhaps, this may indicate a "correction" of sorts to the King James Version being used today. That being the case, I would be more inclined to use the translations found in the majority of the Bibles. But, it is a personal preference on your part. There are those who have a bias towards using the King James Version over any other version. However, I would not use that version as the standard for all others. After all, the Bibles we use today are translations from the original manuscripts.

Often times what determines what version, or language, one uses is based primarily from personal biases they hold. For example, many Christians like to use Yeshua, rather than Jesus, when identifying the Lord. Is it wrong? No. Is it necessary? No. Does it change anything about who He is? No. It is simply a preference. But, unfortunately, many people can take a form of religious pride as it pertains to translations or names they use. They come across as though they are privileged to a type of "special" knowledge or revelation because of these biases. The Bible gives us a strong statement about people like this. "He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind ... (1 Timothy 6:4-5)" While this warning is given about false teachers, and not someone with a translational bias, it gives you an indication as to what we all should avoid when these discussions arise. We should avoid those interested in discussing these topics if it is anything more than just to get clarity.

There are literally hundreds of translations available. They are written for children all the way up to the serious Bible student. The best one for you to use is the one you will read. However, it is important to know that translations are not without their own biases. There are some Bible translations that were sponsored by particular religious groups. I would recommend avoiding these versions as they will tend to be written to skew the original language in order to support their own bias. Other versions of the Bible are paraphrases of the original language. Some translations are more literal to the original language. And even some are written for ease of readability, but lose something in their ability to capture the true meaning of the Bible. Then you have the King James Version. Many people enjoy reading it because its beautiful and poetic prose allows for it to be memorable. However, the use of old King James English can make this version difficult to understand. Regardless of what version a person chooses, there is one important truth to remember.

The meaning of scripture is only revealed to us through the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14)." Only Christians, relying on the Holy Spirit, can discern the true meaning of the Bible no matter what version is being used or what words we use to describe the characters contained within its pages. Determining whether or not we should be using Elijah, Isaiah, Elias or Esaias, when reading John 1:21-23, is secondary to making sure that we are relying on the Lord to discern the meaning of the passage. The proper names to use often comes down to whether one is reading the Hebrew or Greek translation of the word. After you figure that out then sit back and allow God to instruct, guide you and teach you His Word. Translations aside, it all comes together to form one harmonious story of God's love for us and the gift of Himself found in Jesus Christ. Be blessed.