It doesn’t make sense to me, either, as somebody newly Saved. I was reading NIV for a short time, but on a website called Jesus Is Savior, I read that there are instances in which the NIV appears to alter the meaning of certain KJV phrases. I must admit, “God made manifest in the flesh” (KJV) sounds much more descriptive and elegant than “he appeared in the body” (NIV).
There’s a beauty and a majesty to the KJV that’s just right somehow, but then again I grew up with that translation. There are perfectly fine modern translations for those who struggle with the sometimes archaic language usages, but to me they fall flat, they just don’t soar and inspire as the KJV does, and shades of meaning are lost.