The new Reina-Valera Gomez Spanish Bible is not a new translation of the Bible in Spanish, but simply a revision of the beloved Reina-Valera used by God for over 400 years, says author Emanuel Rodriquez in his book, God's Bible in Spanish: How God Preserved His Words in Spanish through the RVG. Here is an excerpt from the English edition:

A misconception is that the goal of Dr. Gómez was to produce a KJV in Spanish. This is not so. He has publicly, and on numerous occasions, made it clear that his firm conviction is that God gave the Spanish-speaking world the Reina-Valera Bible, the greatest literary work in the history of the Spanish language.

This traditional form of the Bible has been and should continue to be the standard format for the Spanish-speaking people. God has placed his stamp of approval upon it. This is evidenced by its fruit, and the loyalty of Hispanic Bible believers that it has enjoyed.

The Reina-Valera Bible is part of our heritage. To try and replace it would be to dishonor what God has done for the Spanish-speaking world. Others have tried to replace the Reina-Valera by starting a whole new Spanish translation of either the KJV or one of the other ancient Spanish Bibles (such as Enzina`s New Testament). Despite how noble their intentions may have been, there is a good reason why their efforts were not successful.

We did not believe that replacing the form of the Reina-Valera was the answer. Dr. Gómez`s effort was revision not replacement. Thus, the Reina-Valera Gómez is not a Spanish carbon copy of the English KJV but rather a version of the Reina-Valera that is equivalent to the KJV, yet true to its root form. In fact, many of the changes that were made were simply readings that already existed in the original 1602 Valera. Thus, in many places the RVG has actually returned to its original form as rendered over four hundred years ago.

For example, in Luke 23:42 the KJV says: And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. The RV 1909 and 1960 both omit the word "Lord" (Señor). Yet that word "Lord" was included in this verse in the original 1602 Valera just like it is rendered in the KJV. Dr. Gómez and his collaborators reinserted the word "Lord" back to its rightful place in Luke 23:42 in the RVG, thus returning to its original rendering.

Another example is in Mark 1:2. The KJV says: As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The RV 1909 and 1960 change "written in the prophets" to "written in Isaiah the prophet..." (The NIV, ASV, RSV, and most other Alexandrian-based Bibles in English do the same thing). This is a gross error because both quotes in Mark 1:2-3 are not from the prophet Isaiah. One does quote Isaiah (40:3) but the other quotes Malachi (3:1).

So both the RVG and KJV are correct in saying "in the prophets." The original 1602 is also correct for it says "in the prophets." Dr. Gómez and his collaborators changed Mark 1:2 to read "in the prophets" (en los profetas) returning to its original wording as in the 1602 Valera and consequently matching the KJV and Textus Receptus.Many other verses in the RVG have also been returned to their original reading as they stood in the 1602 Valera.