Preface to the Modern Pastor’s Version

Why another Bible rendering?

The King James Version has served the church for centuries with accuracy, dignity, and beauty. Many pastors still think in KJV phrases, quote KJV verses from memory, and preach from KJV-shaped outlines. At the same time, the English language has changed. Words have shifted in meaning, sentence structures that once felt natural now feel heavy and distant, and many hearers struggle to follow the text when it is read aloud.

The Modern Pastor’s Version exists to bridge that gap. The MPV aims to:

• Preserve the meaning and flow of the KJV text;
• Express that meaning in clear, current English that modern congregations can easily understand;
• Be especially useful for preaching, teaching, and public reading.

The MPV is not intended to replace careful study in the original languages or to compete with formal Bible translations. Instead, it is a practical tool to help pastors communicate the Word of God with clarity and confidence.

What the MPV is — and isn’t

How the MPV was produced

The MPV is created using a combination of careful scripting and AI-assisted drafting, followed by human review. The workflow can be summarized in three broad steps:

1. Anchor in the KJV text.
   Every MPV verse begins with the public-domain KJV text as the anchor. The structure, order, and verse boundaries follow the KJV so that pastors can move easily between the KJV and the MPV.
2. Generate a modern-English draft.
   AI tools are used to propose a modern-English rendering of each verse or passage, guided by explicit translation guidelines that emphasize accuracy, reverence, and pastoral clarity. The goal at this stage is a readable, faithful draft.
3. Review and refine.
   Drafts are reviewed for clarity, doctrinal soundness, and consistency of style. Awkward phrasing, unnecessary changes, or unclear expressions are corrected. The process continues to be refined as more books are generated and more pastors interact with the text.

While modern AI tools assist in the drafting process, the responsibility for faithfulness rests with the humans who design, review, and approve the text. Our aim is to handle both the technology and the Scriptures with humility and care.

Translation values and style choices

Several guiding values shape how MPV wording decisions are made:

• Clarity over nostalgia. When an older English word has shifted in meaning or would likely confuse modern hearers, we prefer a clearer modern equivalent, even if it is less poetic.
• Reverence without stiffness. We strive for language that honors God and Scripture without sounding distant, archaic, or overly formal.
• Consistency where it serves teaching. Important theological terms and repeated phrases are handled consistently where possible, to aid preaching and discipleship.
• Natural oral reading. Sentences are shaped so that a pastor can read them out loud in a service without needing to rephrase on the fly.

When you encounter differences between the MPV and the KJV, our intent is that you will find the same message expressed in language that people in your church can process more easily as they listen and read.

How pastors and churches can use the MPV

The MPV is offered as a resource for local churches, especially smaller congregations that may not have access to a wide library of translations and commentaries. Some suggested uses include:

• Public reading. Read the MPV aloud in worship services or Bible studies, especially when many listeners are new to church or not familiar with older English forms.
• Side-by-side comparison. Use the Compare view on this site to see KJV and MPV verses together while preparing sermons and lessons.
• Study and explanation. Project or print MPV text when walking through a passage, while still referencing the KJV or other translations as you explain the text.
• Discipleship and counseling. Use MPV wording when reading Scripture with new believers, youth, or those for whom older English is a barrier to understanding.

However you use it, we encourage pastors to keep the MPV close to the trusted translations and original-language tools they already use. Let it be a practical helper, not the only voice in the room.

Ongoing refinement and feedback

The MPV is intentionally designed as a living project. As more books are generated, more pastors use the text, and more churches read it aloud, opportunities for sharpening and improvement will emerge.

If you notice wording that seems unclear, potentially misleading, or out of step with historic Christian teaching, we invite you to share that feedback. Thoughtful suggestions from pastors and students of the Word will help strengthen the MPV over time.

Our desire is that, as this work matures, it will increasingly help pastors love God, love others, and faithfully proclaim the Scriptures.