If you’ve been paying attention to the Bible changes over the years, there’s one verse that’s been coming up a lot lately—1 Timothy 4:1. Now, this verse is important because it talks about a time when many will “depart from the faith.” It warns about people turning away from God and following false teachings. But here’s where things get interesting: in the King James Version (KJV), this verse has changed.
In older writings, you could find the verse quoted like this:
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the last days many shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (KJV – how it used to be)
But if you look at the KJV today, it reads:
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (KJV – how it is now)
Notice the difference? The words “last days” have been replaced with “latter times,” and “many” has been changed to “some.” Now, these changes may seem small, but they’re significant when you dig into what they mean.
What’s the Big Deal with the Wording?
The term “last days” is something we usually associate with the end of the world—the final days before Christ’s return. It’s urgent. It has that feeling of “this is it, the end is near.” But when you switch that to “latter times,” it becomes more vague. It doesn’t have the same sense of finality. “Latter times” sounds like something far off in the future, a less pressing issue.
The change from “many” to “some” is also important. “Many” makes it sound like a large group will fall away from the faith. But “some” implies a smaller number. So, the change in wording could change the way we view the seriousness of this warning. Are we talking about a widespread falling away, or just a few individuals?
What Does History Tell Us?
Interestingly, the original version of 1 Timothy 4:1, with the phrase “last days” and “many,” shows up in theological books and writings from the 1800s and earlier. For example, in books from as far back as 1846, theologians quoted the verse with those exact words. It was used to warn people about the end times and what would happen as we approached the return of Christ.
But recently, something changed. The modern versions of the KJV started showing up with “latter times” and “some” instead of “last days” and “many.” It raises the question, why the change?
A Supernatural Shift?
As I dug deeper, I found several books that still quote the old wording. For example, in Stanley A. Vambe’s book Tears, Hope and Restoration (2016), the verse is quoted just like it was in older theological works: “in the last days, many shall depart from the faith.” It’s clear that this was the commonly accepted phrasing, even in more recent years.
This made me think: Could these changes be part of a larger pattern of supernatural Bible changes? There are a lot of verses that have been altered over the last while, and this one seems to fit right in. The idea that the wording has shifted so subtly yet significantly could be more than just a coincidence.
What Does It All Mean?
At the end of the day, these changes raise more questions than answers. Is this a sign that we’re living in the last days? Could it be that the Bible is being supernaturally altered to fulfill prophecy? Whatever the case, it’s worth paying attention to. 1 Timothy 4:1 is a serious warning about the dangers of false teachings and the falling away of believers. If the wording has changed, it could have a bigger impact on how we interpret that warning in today’s world. As always, the goal is to keep our eyes on the truth.
