The “Missing” Verses of the New Testament
Every so often questions arise about the so-called missing verses of the Bible. Often these questions seem to infer a conspiracy theory intent on removing vital teachings or to suppress key doctrines. Christian influencers create videos for social media that are designed to get clicks and create confusion while questioning “What happened to that verse?”
Others platform their belief in only one English translation of scripture to be valid and use the “missing verses” controversy as proof that only the 1611 version should be read and studied.
I have received questions about such verses in the past, but recently numerous people have asked. Either a trend is gaining momentum on social media or this is simply coincidental. Nonetheless, here is a brief breakdown on such verses.
Which Verses Are “Missing?”
There are numerous examples and, in most cases, these verses appear in the King James Version (KJV) and New King James Version (NKJV), but not in the New International Version (NIV), the English Standard Version (ESV), the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), the New Living Translation (NLT), and more.
Examples of such verses are:
Matthew 17:21
Matthew 18:11
Matthew 23:14
Mark 7:16
Mark 9:44
Mark 9:46
Mark 11:26
Mark 15:28
Mark 16:9-20
Luke 17:36
Luke 23:17
John 5:4
Acts 8:37
Acts 15:34
Acts 28:29
Romans 16:24
1 John 5:7
William Mounce calls these passages the “added verses” rather than the missing verses.[1] Mounce is a theologian and author and served on the Committee for Bible Translation. He has written the best-selling biblical Greek textbook, Basics of Biblical Greek among other resources.[2]
When one hears that these verses are not included in so many modern English translations, the warning passage in Revelation comes to mind.
Revelation 22:18-19 (ESV)
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. [3]
If it is wrong to remove passages from the Bible (it is) then it is also wrong to add. Yet it should be noted that the verses that fall under the “added verses” category do not actually add any teaching to that which is revealed elsewhere in the New Testament. Other than a passage about handling snakes and drinking poison (neither are recommended as a test of faith) the so-called “missing verses” affirm that which is revealed elsewhere.
Adding to scripture is a common practice among cults. The Book of Mormon that is used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the New World Translation of the Bible used by the Jehovah’s Witnesses are perhaps the most popular add-ons and mistranslations among others. Yet removing these seventeen passages does not equate to heresy?
Since these are more accurately titled “added” verses rather than “missing” when were they added and why?
1611 and the Textus Receptus
The Authorized Version, or as it is better known, the King James Version of the Bible was translated in 1611 AD. Translators of the New Testament utilized a Greek manuscript called the Textus Receptus.[4] Textus Receptus is Latin for “Received Texts.” This was a printed text created in the 15th century AD to address the need of theologians for a Greek New Testament. This was used in various locales to translate the New Testament into native languages. For the English-speaking world, it was used in the development of the KJV. As the transmission of the text occurred, copies were made, mostly by believers who were not trained in the art of translation. Thus, there was no editorial board to ensure each jot and tittle was copied accurately. As the number of texts expanded in the various languages’ discrepancies were discovered. Thus, what is now called textual criticism became necessary.[5] Over time, the influence of the Textus Receptus waned, mostly due to textual criticism. However, this Greek translation is not bad or misleading, either theologically or practically. Technically, however, there are gaps. The KJV is called the crown of English Bibles. It is beautifully written and that which most Christians who speak English as a heart language learned and memorized. Thus, the KJV Bible is wonderful. Yet, due to a now better understanding of original texts and the impact of textual criticism there are clearer understandings of ancient Greek which reveal translations closer to the New Testament Autographs.[6]
This is a dividing line between those who stand firmly as KJV-only Christians and those who love the KJV but also utilize modern translations in their study and teaching. It should be noted, that simply because a Bible translation is a modern-English version does not mean it is good, better, or recommended for use in teaching and studying. The growth of progressive and liberal theology along with German higher criticism has left some translations on the “Do Not Recommend” list. I wrote about this here.
What does the Textus Receptus have to do with added or missing verses?
Over the past 150 years scholars such as Constantin von Tischendorf, Samuel Prideaux Tregelles, Brooke Westcott and Fenton Hort, and Eberhard Nestle and Kurt Aland have produced editions of the Greek New Testament based on the evidence of superior and older manuscripts. In these found documents, most of what has been called expansions, or added verses, that appear in the Textus Receptus have been eliminated.[7]
Perhaps the most controversial passage that seems to have been erased is 1 John 5:7b-8a.
In the English Standard Version, the passage reads as follows:
1 John 5:7-8 (ESV)
For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. [8]
In the New King James Version, it states:
1 John 5:7-8 (NKJV)
For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.[9]
The concern is that this eliminated portion seems to be the only explicit statement of the existence of the Trinity in the New Testament. However, it must be noted that this wording (not in the oldest texts) is far from the only affirmation of trinitarian teaching in the New Testament. Thus, the added words are not needed to affirm the clear teaching of One God as Father, Son, and Spirit.
The fear of liberal translations versus conservative translations is legitimate. However, the absence of the verses centered in the translation of the Textus Receptus do not equate to liberalism at all.
Should We Read the “Missing” Verses?
It is certainly not sinful to read, memorize, and study these verses featured in the KJV and NKJV. The truths presented affirm that which is revealed throughout the New Testament. These are not equal to the added books of Scripture such as the Apocrypha or the cultic books of offshoot groups. However, one should not panic thinking a “textus conspiratus” is at work. Each passage that has been declared missing by the online influencers and purveyors of confusion can be found either within brackets (as with the NKJV) or in the footnotes (as with the other modern English translations.)
As for which modern English translations to consider, please refer to this article.
For more information on this subject, check out the GotQuestions link here and Dr. William Mounce’s video explanation here.
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[1] Mounce, William D. “The Missing 17 Verses in the Bible - Mondays with Mounce.” The Missing 17 Verses in the Bible - Mondays with Mounce, 25 Jan. 2021, zondervanacademic.com/blog/the-missing-17-verses-in-the-bible-mondays-with-mounce.
[2] Mounce, William D. “About.” Billmounce.Com, www.billmounce.com/about. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Re 22:18–19.
[4] GotQuestions.org. “Why Are the Newer Translations of the Bible Missing Verses?” GotQuestions.Org, 7 Dec. 2004, www.gotquestions.org/missing-verses.html.
[5] GotQuestions.org. “What Is the Textus Receptus?” GotQuestions.Org, 7 Feb. 2008, www.gotquestions.org/Textus-Receptus.html.
[6] GotQuestions.org. “What Is the Textus Receptus?” GotQuestions.Org, 7 Feb. 2008, www.gotquestions.org/Textus-Receptus.html.
[7] “Missing Bible Verses.” Missing Bible Verses – Is the Bible Missing Some Verses?, The Bible Society of Uganda, 6 Dec. 2024, biblesociety-uganda.org/bible-missing-verses/
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), 1 Jn 5:7–8.
[9] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), 1 Jn 5:7–8.
