Corruption to the Word - 2 Corinthians 2:17

August 30, 2026

Corruption to the Word #

2 Corinthians 2:17

Introduction

We had a great meeting in Colombia. It was great to see Dr. Humberto Gomez. I have worked with him for about 20 years. He is the man responsible for the translation that I whole heartedly endorse, and stand behind as the Word of God in Spanish.

Tonight, I have a lot of information, but I hope to draw it down to the most important things.

I. Corrupters exist (2 Cor 2:17) “many which corrupt the word of God” #

  • This is not new!

A. Devil started it #

Genesis 3:1 — Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

  • The devil has been twisting Scripture since the beginning of creation!

B. Destruction #

i. Jeremiah 36:1-2 – Jeremiah wrote God’s Word #

2 Peter 1:21 — For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

ii. Jeremiah 36:21-23 – God’s Word is read to the king… king cut it up, and burned it. #

    • God’s Word cannot be destroyed, he will preserve them!

Psalm 12:6–7 —6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

iii. Jeremiah 36:28, 32 – Jeremiah instructed to write it again! #

    • God was more than able to give the same words again to Jeremiah

C. Deception #

  • “which corrupt the word”

i. It was a problem in Paul’s Day! #

  • It started in the Garden, continued in the Prophets day, was a problem in Paul’s day!
  • Sometimes good men, think they are doing a good work, even a godly work, and are completely deceived by the devil!
  • Origen 100 century scholar began to alter and corrupt Scripture!

ii. Deity of Jesus is the proof! #

  • 1 John 4:1-3 – spirit confesses

II. Credibility and Character (2 Cor 4:1-2) #

  • This is an on-going

A. Renounce dishonesty #

i. Objectivity to the Word of God #

  • The Word of God stands on it’s own, and we do not need to twist Scripture

ii. Scriptural Understanding #

2 Timothy 2:15 — Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

B. Handle God’s Word Honestly! #

  • Specifically in NT, but Origen also corrupted the OT.

i. There is a lot of dishonesty in Bible production. #

  • Men have corrupted the Word of God!

  • Origen in Alexandria Egypt corrupted very early manuscripts.

  • The “oldest and best” manuscripts are the oldest, because no one used them! Un-used books last a long time. Used books get wore out.

    • Our Bible is based off the “Received Text” which comes from a family of texts that were used by the churches… hence the name.

ii. Critical text #

    • Oldest texts, that were corrupted, and un-used.
    • These corruptions are added into the majority of modern Bibles!

C. Examples #

Galatians 5:9 — A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

  • Illustration – cup of water and dirt.

i. Genesis 2:7 – soul changed to being (NIV, NASB ESV) #

KJV — And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

ESV — then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

NASB — Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

NJKV - And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

NIV — Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

ii. 2 Sam 23:18 – changed three to thirty (ESV, NASB) #

KJB — And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.

ESV — Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them and won a name beside the three.

NASB—18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name as well as the three.

iii. 2 Kings 23:7 – sodomites changed to “perverted persons” (NKJV), “male prostitutes” (ESV, NASB, NIV) #

KJB — And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the Lord, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

NASB — He also broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes which were in the house of the Lord, where the women were weaving hangings for the Asherah.

NIV — He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the temple of the Lord, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah.

iv. Isaiah 14:15 – Sheol – in the majority of the OT of modern Bibles, Sheol is used. NKJV #

KJB— Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

NIV — But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

ESV — But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

NKJV — Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

v. Luke 16:23 – Hades – ESV, NASB, NIV, NKJV #

KJB — And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

ASV — And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

ESV — and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

NKJV - And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

vi. Ephesians 3:9 – removed “by Jesus Christ” #

KJB — And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

ESV — and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, ___ _____ ____

NIV — and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. ___ _____ ____

ASV — and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; ___ _____ ____

vii. 1 Peter 2:2 – added “unto Salvation” #

KJB — As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

ASV — as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;

ESV — Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

NIV — Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

III. Concern for the Purity of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:1-2) #

  • That word, sincere, means, pure, genuine, without hypocrisy.
  • Do you want the pure word of God? Or corrupted, bad!
Tags: Bible Translation Versions King James Bible