All four of these Bibles (KJV, NIV, ESV, NLT) teach the same core Christian doctrines: that Jesus is God, that He died for sins, rose again, and is the only way to salvation.
However, they do differ in which ancient manuscripts they use, which can make it seem like they are changing a belief if you only look at one specific verse in isolation.
Here is a breakdown of why they differ, how they handle the "Word of God" question, and a comparison of their "beliefs."
1. Do they preach the same doctrines?
Yes. If you read the Gospel of John or the book of Romans in all four versions, you will come away with the exact same theology.
The Deity of Christ: All four teach Jesus is God.
The Trinity: All four teach the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God.
Salvation: All four teach salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone.
2. Why do they sometimes look different? (The Manuscript Issue)
This is the main source of confusion.
The KJV (1611) was translated from a set of Greek manuscripts called the Textus Receptus (Received Text). These manuscripts were younger (from around 1000–1200 AD) but were the best available at the time.
The NIV, ESV, and NLT are translated from the Critical Text. This includes manuscripts discovered after 1611 that are much older (some from 200–300 AD).
Because the modern versions use older manuscripts, they sometimes leave out phrases that scribes may have added later for clarification.
Example 1: The Trinity (1 John 5:7)
KJV: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
6 (Explicit mention of the Trinity).NIV/ESV/NLT: "For there are three that testify..." (They stop there).
The Difference: The KJV includes the bolded phrase (the Johannine Comma). Modern scholars generally agree this phrase was not written by John but was a margin note added by a Latin scribe centuries later that accidentally got copied into the text. Modern Bibles omit it not to deny the Trinity, but because they don't believe John wrote that specific sentence. (They prove the Trinity elsewhere, like in Matthew 28:19).
Example 2: God in the Flesh (1 Timothy 3:16)
KJV: "God was manifest in the flesh..."
NIV/ESV: "He was manifested in the flesh..."
The Difference: In the original Greek, the word for "God" (Theos) and "He/Who" (Hos) look almost identical—a difference of one tiny pen stroke. The KJV translators followed manuscripts that said "God"; modern translators followed older manuscripts that said "He".
Does this change belief? No, because the context is still about Jesus. Whether it says "God was manifest" or "He [Jesus] was manifest," the doctrine that Jesus is divine remains in both Bibles.
3. Are they the "Word of God"?
The "Originals" View (Most Common): Most theologians believe the "Word of God" is perfect in the original writings (autographs). They view translations (KJV, NIV, etc.) as reliable copies of the Word of God. In this view, all four are the Word of God insofar as they accurately reflect the original Hebrew and Greek.
The "KJV Only" View: Some Christians believe the King James Version specifically is the preserved perfect Word of God for English speakers, and that any other translation is corrupt. If you belong to this camp, you would view the NIV/ESV not as the Word of God but as flawed books.
4. Connection to your previous question: "The Messenger"
You asked about the "Messenger" (Jesus) in Malachi 3:1. Interestingly, despite their differences, these translations agree here.
KJV: "...even the messenger of the covenant..."
NIV: "...the messenger of the covenant..."
ESV: "...and the messenger of the covenant..."
NLT: "...The messenger of the covenant..."
They all preserve this specific title for Jesus.
Summary Comparison Table
| Feature | KJV | ESV | NIV | NLT |
| Translation Style | Word-for-Word (Literal) | Word-for-Word (Literal) | Thought-for-Thought (Balance) | Thought-for-Thought (Readable) |
| Reading Level | 12th Grade (Shakespearean) | 10th Grade (Academic) | 7th Grade (General) | 6th Grade (Conversational) |
| Manuscript Base | Textus Receptus (Byzantine) | Critical Text (Alexandrian) | Critical Text (Alexandrian) | Critical Text (Alexandrian) |
| Doctrinal Bias | None (High Christology) | None (High Christology) | None (High Christology) | None (High Christology) |
Recommendation:
If you want to study deep theology and exact wording: Use KJV or ESV.
If you want to read huge chunks of the Bible and understand the flow of the story: Use NIV or NLT.