1 Peter 2:2 (NA28) — 2 ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε εἰς σωτηρίαν
1 Peter 2:2 (Elzevir) — 2 ως αρτιγεννητα βρεφη το λογικον αδολον γαλα επιποθησατε ινα εν αυτω αυξηθητε
I am not a Greek scholar, expert, or anything noteworthy, but a student who is always seeking to grow, learn, and advance. As I read and study scripture, I always do my best to compare English translations with original languages to understand better “the why and the how” of English translations, choosing or not choosing how to translate various texts in the Bible.
I wanted to point out a little of the “why” of translations; in this case, the aforementioned text of I Peter 2:2 is my prime example. The first is the Novum Testament Graece (Nestle-Aland) text, and the second is an edition of the Textus Receptus.
You will notice between the two texts that everything is the same except for two additional words that appear in the Nestle-Aland text: εἰς σωτηρίαν
From these two Greek words, we get the English translation “into salvation” (ESV) or “in respect to salvation” (NASB), two translations that utilize the Novum Testament Graece (Nestle-Aland) also called the Critical Text, whereas the KJV uses the Textus Receptus.
We see the translation differences when put side-by-side:
1 Peter 2:2 (ESV) — 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation
1 Peter 2:2 (KJV 1900) — 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Do either change the tone or meaning of the text? I don’t think so, but a sense of clarity is added to the ESV text in that the ESV (based on the critical text) adds the clarifying context of the type or end of the growth (into salvation) that is alluded to by the KJV that is easily assumed should one read the Bible often. Could we argue the pros and cons of using KJV vs. ESV vs. NASB vs. etc., etc.? Sure, but I think using KJV and ESV together is helpful!
While I am sure a Greek scholar could either explain this far better than I or complicate it far more, this can be why specific translations have additional words not found in the KJV. As to translation committees, some translations in the KJV of Greek words can be archaic and don’t seem to make sense to a modern reader that other translations, like the ESV, can help make a little more sense. Here is one example:
James 1:21 (KJV 1900) — 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:21 (ESV) — 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
See how helpful it can be to supplement your KJV reading with the ESV.
So, don’t overcomplicate things. Don’t join a KJV-only club and die on the hill of translations. Our church uses KJV as the primary text, and everyone typically brings one to church because that is the text we read from, but they also know we will bring into lessons the ESV or NASB and, if we want just to provide devotional reading, we carefully and selectively pull from other translations.