I disagree that in general there are no modern translations that are better than the KJV in accuracy, faithfulness to the intent, message, etc. of the original artifacts.
Perhaps put another way--I believe that the number of verses with flaws are greater in the KJV than in some of the modern translations . . .
whether one is talking about sin or any other major issue of Scripture.
It's been too long since I reviewed the scholars on such issues to cite specifics but I'm comfortable with my last such review for my own use in choosing a variety of modern translations.
A modern translation like the NIV, NLT and THE MESSAGE [I refuse to split silly hairs over paraphrase vs word for word translation--all translations are paraphrases] will be exceedingly better at communicating the accurate meaning of the verses into the modern mind structured by modern English than will the KJV.
I haven't spent much time with the NKJV. It reportedly ALSO has some good work done on it. Quality is neither it's nor the original KJV's exclusive property or monopoly.
One can quibble over various PC sorts of issues and I have little patience with folks trying to remove male gender distinctions from God etc. But I also have little patience for folks trying to split hairs over gnat's farts worth of issues.
I can agree to a point that some of the bite may have been blunted on some issues with some of the modern translations. But the import and essence of all the major verses of all the major issues is quite sufficiently in tact, for me. The KJV also has some such flaws for sensibilities of their time. I think THE MESSAGE is one of the first modern versions to make an effective return to the punch and idiom of the original Hebrew and Greek.
If one really wants to search out a verse, then there's no modern excuse for failing to use at least 3-4, if not a half dozen translations.
And, for someone reared on the KJV and with tons of verses in my memory in KJV English--any modern translation I read is with that substrate traveling along constantly for comparison, anyway.
But, I would not have the slightest hesitation (as I have not had) passing out all the modern translations I could to Chinese ESL students. Holy Spirit has more than adequately protected the essence of the essential Scriptures AS WELL as He protected them in the KJV version. He did not get tired and quit such diligent watchfulness over the Sacred Text and it's translation when the KJV was finished long ago.
I have confidence that the unchanging Almighty God has continued to have a hand in whatever translation HE DESTINED to have wide distribution.
I personally believe that He alternately laughs and groans over all the noise and haughtiness over the relatively silly hair splitting that goes on about the KJV vs other translations. The issues much more remind me of the hair splitting gotcha questions the religious leaders loved to ask Jesus than they do anything particularly crucial or edifying.
There is more than sufficient accuracy in any of the popular modern translations to be drawn by the Word to Jesus; to establish a relationship with Jesus and His Body and to be discipled in all the essentials of the faith.
Besides, you'd be surprised what God has done in China with scraps of one chapter of one book of a modern translation of the New Testament--sometimes with dozens and dozens of people.
People who dare to scoff and joke at Scripture will reap from their sowing. I don't think KJV vs modern translation has any real direct relationship with that issue, at all.
I don't believe the better modern translations were deliberately flawed. Sometimes people with more devotion to PC than should have been allowed sometimes had more influence than warranted on some translation committees. I don't think the better modern translations were designed in any way to be a subtle attack on God's word.
SOME translations, I could buy that about. But not the better ones. I'd really have to see the vivid proof to buy into otherwise.
That's another reason I like Peterson's THE MESSAGE. No committee! LOL.
I just do not buy hyper KJV worship. I think it's sinful idolatry and counterproductive to The Gospel and the health of The Body as well as the Growth of The Body.