G. A. Riplinger now (about 3 minutesinto this video) supposedly gives us an example of the how the NKJV doesn't follow the TR; it allegedly omits the word "sober" at Titus 2:4--
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Error #1: She clearly trys to make this a NKJV issue. Yet, it seems that many versions have not included "sober", and for some time. For example, a quick check of versions that have no trace of it: ESV, NASB, NLT, RSV, NIV, ASV (1901), and Darby (1890).
The ommission is not due to a Greek-text variant; other TR-based versions that do not have "sober" include The People's Bible (Chenault), and KJV2 (by Jay P. Green, Sr.). Neither does the ALT (a Majority Text based version).
Error #2: Misinterpretation and misapplication of verse.
She relates that the word "sober" was important because she wanted to advise her female students at Kent State concerning "alcohol abuse". Well, here is yet another case of a KJV 'expert' unfamilar with the archaic meaning of its words. The word "sober" here is not even about intoxication. The 1611 edition actually has a sidenote which is a clue to the meaning of this very word--
That they may teach the young women to bee \\ sober, to loue their husbands, to loue their children,
\\ Or, wise.
The thought seems to be that the young women should be earnest and wise, not just moderate drinkers. Perhaps some one else will contribute the old Oxford definition later. Other TR-based versions: Young's Literal version also has "sober-minded" (which has the meaning of seriousness or temperate), and The Last Days Bible (by Life Messengers) has "wise and sensible".
Riplinger continues to try to support her assertion by naming three or so other versons that allegedly have the word "sober", one was Tyndale (which I happen to have the 1534 English in modern-spelling). So, my Tyndale does not have just "sober", it actually has "sober-minded".
Error #3: The word "sober" is not translated into English because its not really there in the Greek.
She also asserts that the Greek word in Titus 2:4 (she never did give the book or reference) by first saying that it is "perfect translation of the Latin" which is something that means "stay away from" plus "inebrias" (sp?), that is, inebriation. Why she eludes to a Latin explanation, I do not know. Frankly, I don't see anything like it in Jerome's Vulgate--
ut prudentiam doceant adulescentulas ut viros suos ament filios diligant
She sheepishly admits that the word is an "expanded word in that case", that is, the KJV has translated several English words out of one Greek word. They get both the "they may teach" and "sober" from
sophronizo (Strong's #4994). Thayer's defines this word four ways: 1) restore one to his senses; 2) to moderate, control, curb, disciple; 3) to hold one to his duty; 4) to admonish, to exhort earnestly. Another word translated "sober" in the KJV is
sophroneo (Strong's #4993) which means to be of sound mind (either to be in one's right mind, or to exercise self control); to put a moderate estimate upon one's self, think of one's self soberly, or to curb one's passions.
She may have been confused; she seems to think the Greek word is
sophron (Strong's #4998) which is translated by the KJV in v.5 as "discreet". It is also rendered in Titus 1:8 as "sober", and in Titus 2:2 as "temporate" but these verses are not about young women. There is one other word that the KJV renders as "sober", that is
nepho which means either: 1) to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit, or 2) to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect. These definitions do not support her argument either.
A similar exhortation occurs just two verses prior (v. 2). The men are told to be "sober", but this is an entirely different Greek word. The word is
nephaleos and means: 1) abstaining from wine, either entirely or at least from its immoderate use; or 2) of things free from all wine, as vessels, offerings.
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Therfore, this is a proper translation, although many versions still render it here as self-control, or temporate. The 1611 KJV again has an alternate word: \\Or,
vigilant. I think its possible that the KJV revisors were attempting to add some symmetry to the passage by extracting the word "sober" without cause otherwise. So, it seems that rarely does the word "sober" in the KJV actually mean an abstainance from alcoholic beverages. Notice that in v.3 the writer certainly knows how to explicitly express "not given to much wine" when he wants to address the matter of drunkenness.
Error #4: She states that "the notion of sobriety, you cannot teach a young lady with a New King James Bible". Untrue; there are many passages remaining in the NKJV which can be used to show proper conduct.
She concludes that she doesn't know why the NKJV translator have left "sober" out, so we get another jest in poor taste: "unless they like to have cocktails during the translation process".
That's a lot of errors in about 60 seconds.
