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The KJV’s “Translators to the Reader” King James Onlyism Refuted?

In the James White / Thomas Ross debate “The Legacy Standard Bible, as a representative of modern English translations based upon the UBS/NA text, is superior to the KJV, as a representative of TR-based Bible translations” James R. White made the astonishing claim that the “Translators to the Reader” refutes King James Onlyism. I touched on the main points of Dr. White’s claim in previous review videos, and in my twelfth debate review video I examine James White’s final arguments to this end, both from our debate and his book The King James Only Controversy.

 

James White quotes the preface to prove “the need for translations into other languages.” Of course, White provides no written documentation at all from any pro-Received Text, pro-KJV, or pro-confessional Bibliology source that is against translating the Bible into other languages.

 

He quotes the Translators to the Reader to prove that the KJV translators “use[d] … many English translations that preceded their work.” Who denies this?

 

He points out that the preface supports “study of the Bible in Greek and Hebrew.” Of course! The large majority of King James Only advocates would agree.

 

White points out, concerning the KJV translators, that: “Their view that the Word of God is translatable from language to language is plainly spelled out.” Again, White provides no documentation at all of any KJV-Only group who denies that Scripture can be translated from one language to another.

 

 White claims that the KJV translators were “looking into the translations in other languages, consulting commentaries and the like.” Who is denying one should look at commentaries?

 

White argues: “[T]he KJV translators were not infallible human beings.” Of course, no advocate of perfect preservation is cited who has ever claimed that the KJV translators were “infallible human beings,” just like when White’s King James Only Controversy on page 106 talks about people who think that Beza was inspired, and on page 180-181 about people who think Jerome was inspired, and on page 96 about people who think Erasmus and Stephanus were inspired, no KJV-Only sources are provided who make these ridiculous claims, since, of course, there are no such sources.

 

Dr. White makes other unsubstantiated and absurd claims.  Learn more in the twelfth debate review video at faithsaves.net, or watch the debate review on YouTube or Rumble, or use the embedded link below:

 

TDR

The Doctrine of Inspiration of Scripture and Translation

2 Timothy 3:16

Three Words

The classic location for the doctrine of the inspiration of the Bible is in 2 Timothy 3:16.  It reads:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

The first part provides the doctrine, which says:  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.”  Those eight words translate three Greek words:  Pasa graphe theopneustosPasa is an adjective that means “all” and modifies the noun graphe, which means “writing” or “scripture.”  For instance, the latter’s verb form, grapho, means, “I am writing.”  BDAG says the verb means “to inscribe characters on a surface.”  The noun refers to the characters inscribed on the surface of a writing material.

The Meaning of the Words

Graphe in a specific way refers to sacred scripture, depending on the context.  It is a technical word for scripture.  The Apostle Paul employs that technical usage in 2 Timothy 3:16.

Theopneustos is another adjective modifying graphe.  It means literally, “God breathed.”  The KJV translators translated that one adjective, “is given by inspiration of God.”

Some people use “is” as a reason to say that theopneustos functions like a present tense verb.  They use the present tense to say that inspiration continues in a translation.  Even the original Authorised Version printed “is” in italics to say it was not in the original text.  The translators are communicating that they supplied the word “is.”  No one should treat it like it is part of the original text.

Putting together the first three Greek words of 2 Timothy 3:16, “God breathed the characters inscribed on a surface.”  It was not the men inspired.  It was the writings inspired.  God breathed out writings.  What ended on the writing surface came from God.

Inspiration, Preservation, and Translation

God also preserved those words He breathed in the original manuscripts.  The words He preserved  are still the ones God breathed.  They remain inspired.

When someone translates God’s inspired words into another language are those inspired?  God did not breath out those words.  However, if they are translated in an accurate way, a faithful manner, into the host language, those words have God’s breath in them.

The New Testament treats Greek words that translate well the Hebrew words of the Old Testament like they are the words of God.  Jesus treats His Greek words of His translation of the Old Testament as if they are the Words of God.  However, that doesn’t mean that God breaths out a translation.  The former and the latter are two different actions or events.

False Views and the True One

It is important that a version of scripture translate the original language words in an accurate manner.  The King James Version translators made an accurate translation of the original language text, both Old and New Testaments.  God’s breath is in the translation.  In that way we can call it inspired.  However, God did not breath out English words.  He did not breath out new English words later after breathing out Hebrew and Greek ones.

Part of why it is important to get inspiration and translation right is because of two false views.  One is double inspiration.  This says that God inspired the King James translation like He did the original manuscripts.  Two is English preservation, where God apparently lost the original language words, so He preserved His words anew in the English language.  Again, both those views are false.

2 Timothy 3:16 instructs people in the doctrine of inspiration.  The only time that inspiration occurred was when holy men wrote the original manuscripts.  God inspired every one of their words and all of them.

My Initial Thoughts on The James White Debate (KJV/TR vs. LSB/NA/UBS)

I am thankful for everyone who prayed for me in the debate with James White over the topic:

“The Legacy Standard Bible, as a representative of modern English translations based upon the UBS/NA text, is superior to the KJV, as a representative of TR-based Bible translations.”

 

Thank you!

 

I believe that, for His glory and by His grace, the Lord answered the prayers of His people and the debate went well.  God is concerned that His pure Word be in use among His people, and I believe He blessed the debate towards the furtherance of that cause.

 

Thank you as well to everyone who helped with all kinds of details, small and great, with the debate.  Without you it would the case for the truth of the perfect preservation of Scripture would have been much less effectively presented.  Thank you very much!

 

We arrived in Tennessee the day before the debate.  Our flights were fine on the way out, and on the way back (although THE PLANE WENT DOWN!!!   -but only when it got to the runway at the airport).  My wife and I had dinner with James White the night before the debate and had a cordial conversation.

 

We are thankful for the help of a godly KJVO Baptist in the area who helped us with things from making sure that we would be able to project slides (something was worked out with the pastor at the Reformed Baptist congregation where the debate was being held) to a way to print our notes (the church had no printer available, nor any WiFi there for me to even have my notes on an IPad–that is why it was not livestreamed.) It was recorded by a professional videographer, so it should be high quality once it comes out, Lord willing.  Please pray for the production of the video, as there have been some issues there that are quite important and could seriously impact its effectiveness.

 

The people at Covenant Reformed Baptist Church of Tullahoma, TN were kind to us.  The pastor, who makes a living rebinding Bibles, presented us with a beautifully bound KJV Bible (he gave a similarly beautifully bound LSB to James White).  So if you need you need a Bible rebound, he may be worth considering for you.

 

James White was not quite as cordial in the debate as he had been at dinner the night before, in my opinion, but I suppose I will let you decide that when you watch the debate video.  I was particularly struck by the fact that, despite pressing him on it, and the obvious fact that Biblical promises of perfect preservation, and the recognition of the canonical words of Scripture by the church were crucial to my case, he still did very little to dispute my case from Scripture, nor to present a Biblical basis for his own position.  I am still not sure if he thinks there are any promises from the Bible that indicate that God would preserve every Word He inspired, or if he just thinks that we have them, or almost all of them, somewhere, because of what textual critics like Kurt Aland say, or at least according to him they say, although his view of Kurt Aland may not be Kurt Aland’s view of Kurt Aland.

 

Overall, I think that the debate went well, and that the case for perfect preservation, and its necessary consequence of the superiority of the TR/KJV to the UBS/LSB, was clear. However, I am also well aware that I am biased in favor of my position, so you will have to watch the debate yourself to see if you agree.

 

The slides we had prepared–many of which were used in the debate, while others were not–are available at the main debate page here if you want to get a sense of what my argument was or what is going to be on the debate video, Lord willing.  I asked Dr. White if he wished to put his slides up there as well so that both of our presentations had an equal representation, but he has not responded to me as of now, whether because he is very busy or for some other reason.

 

There is much more that can be said about the debate, but that will be enough for now.  Thank you again for your prayers, and all the glory to the one God, the Father who gave the canonical words of Scripture to the Son, so that He could give them to the assembly of His saints by His Spirit.

 

TDR

James White / Thomas Ross debate format: King James Version vs. LSB

I am looking forward to my upcoming debate with Dr. James White. Please note the planned format below for the debate. Thank you very much for your fervent prayers and possible fasting for me and for the debate.

James White Thomas Ross King James Bible Legacy Standard Bible debate Textus Receptus Nestle Aland

Debate Topic: “The Legacy Standard Bible, as a representative of modern English translations based upon the UBS/NA text, is superior to the KJV, as a representative of TR-based Bible translations.”

 

Affirm: James White

 

Deny: Thomas Ross

 

How the time will go:

 

Brief introduction to the speakers and an explanation of the character of the debate.

 

Opening presentation: 25/25

Second presentation/rebuttal: 12/12

Cross-examination #1: 10/10

Cross-examination #2: 10/10

Third presentation/rebuttal: 8/8

Concluding statement: 5/5

Very short break to gather any additional questions from the audience

Questions from audience the rest of the time.

 

For more information, see the James White / Thomas Ross debate page here.

Gail Riplinger & Acrostic Algebra-an Update for the LSB / KJV James White Debate

As many blog readers may know, I should have the privilege, Lord willing, this upcoming February of debating Dr. James White of Alpha & Omega Ministries on the topic “The Legacy Standard Bible, as a representative of modern English translations based upon the UBS/NA text, is superior to the KJV, as a representative of TR-based Bible translations.” Dr. White has debated or discussed the King James Only position with people like Gail Riplinger, author of New Age Bible Versions and leading New Age conspiracy theorist, and Steven Anderson, the acclaimed Holocaust denier and promoter of “1-2-3, pray after me, 4-5-6, hope it sticks” evangelism.

James White Thomas Ross debate The Legacy Standard Bible, as a representative of modern English translations based upon the UBS/NA text, is superior to the KJV, as a representative of TR-based Bible translations; Gail Riplinger New Age Bible Versions

I have found a great argument to use against the Legacy Standard Bible which will be defended by James White.  Rather than using arguments from my resources on Bibliology or from Thou Shalt Keep Them: A Biblical Theology of the Perfect Preservation of Scripture (also here; Amazon affiliate link), I have an update to Dr. Gail Riplinger’s argument from Acrostic Algebra.

 

Dr. Riplinger, as you may know, wrote the book New Age Bible Versions. David Cloud has a review of her book. She has also written a large volume about why Christians should not study Greek and Hebrew.  Ms. Riplinger herself is highly qualified in the Biblical languages-as a little girl she took Latin in school, and she taught English to immigrants from Greece.  She received an honorary doctorate from Hyles-Anderson College, indicative of the scholarship of New Age Bible Versions, with which Hyles-Anderson wishes to identify.  (I am reminded of the honorary doctorates that my first year Greek class received-all the students formed their own school one day, and we gave everyone an honorary PhD, ThD, DD, or comparable honorary doctoral degree-except for one student, to whom we gave an honorary GED.) While many Hyles graduates are not known in the scholarly world, they do excel at gathering crowds of children with candy, leading them to repeat the sinner’s prayer, and then baptizing millions of them on the backs of church buses, often baptizing the same children many times, thus creating more sinner’s-prayer-repeaters by far than the number of converts gathered on the day of Pentecost, when Peter, not having read Hyles’s church manual, told the lost to repent instead of telling them to ask Jesus into their hearts (although the converts at Pentecost seemed to stick around a lot longer, even without gifts of soda pop and candy, Acts 2:41-47).  Dr. Riplinger also has earned degrees in home economics, which help her to be qualified not only to be a keeper at home, but also to write scholarly works on textual criticism and Bible versions. Among many other fine arguments by Mrs. Riplinger, her Acrostic Alegbra stands out, proving the New American Standard Version and New International Version are inferior to the Authorized Version:

  • Step 1: (NASV – NIV) – AV = X
  • Step 2: (NASV – NIV) – AV = X
  • Step 3: (ASI + NV) – AV = X
  • Step 4: ASI + NV – AV = X
  • Step 5: SIN = X

 

Clearly, the fact that one can get to the letters “SIN” from the NASV and NIV in this fashion proves the inferiority of these Bible versions.

 

Since I am supposed to debate James White on the LSB, or Legacy Standard Bible, which is an update to the NASV, it is appropriate that I also update Dr. Riplinger’s Acrostic Algebra.  Note:

 

The LSB leaves things out, as do other modern versions.  If one leaves out the middle line of the “B” in “LSB,” one is left with “LSD,” a dangerous drug which is a SIN.  Thus, just like the NASV and NIV, through acrostic algebra, lead to SIN, so does the LSB.

 

-QED

 

My discovery of this argument reminded me of the quality argumentation of leading atheist Dan Barker, who, employed Dorothy Murdock’s great mythicist scholarship in my debate with him. Ms. Murdock argued that Moses is borrowed from pagan mythology because of a 16th century AD Michelangelo painting displaying horns on Moses’ head, which represent psychedelic mushrooms or LSD.  Barker also employed the weighty arguments of Barbara Walker, an author of books about tarot cards and knitting, in our two debates over the Old Testament.

 

I think that this update to Dr. Riplinger’s Acrostic Algebra should prove very convincing.  James White, get ready!

 

Note: Wishing to be fair, I tried to reach out to Ms. Riplinger by means of the website where she sells her books.  I asked her about the acrostic algebra. I would have liked to reproduce the response I received, which both asked about whether those who questioned her use of it had taken a class in symbolic logic at Harvard (which I assume she believes would somehow support her use of acrostic algebra-indicating she never took a class in symbolic logic at Harvard) and also said that the acrostic algebra was simply rhetorical rather than a substantive argument.  However, I was not given permission to reproduce the email.  So I wanted to give Ms. Riplinger a chance to defend the Acrostic Algebra in her own words, out of fairness, but I was not allowed to do so.

 

TDR

Go-To Page for the James White / Thomas Ross Bible Text and Version Debate

Thank you to all readers who are praying and/or fasting for me and for God’s kingdom and truth to be glorified and advanced in my upcoming debate with James White.

I have created a go-to page with information about the debate.  Links to the video should be posted there when it becomes available, as well as being accessible on the KJB1611 YouTube and KJBIBLE1611 Rumble channels.  The go-to page should be updated with specific debate times in case you wish to attend in person, as well as the debate livestream link which we are hoping to make available.  So:

Click here to visit the go-to page for the James White / Thomas Ross Bible Text and Version Debate

TDR

Should Christians Learn Greek and Hebrew? Yes! Part 2 of 2

While not all Christians need to learn Greek and Hebrew, knowledge of the Biblical languages has historically been viewed as necessary for students in Biblical seminaries, colleges, and institutes.  Why?

Summarizing the first five pages of the study Reasons Christians Should and Can Learn Greek and Hebrew, the Biblical Languages, the answers to this question include:

 

1.) Jesus Christ learned Greek and Hebrew. if the Savior learned and honored the Greek and Hebrew languages, those who follow Him can do likewise.

2.) Learning Greek and Hebrew shows reverence for God’s inspired and preserved revelation.  Belief in verbal, plenary inspiration and verbal, plenary preservation leads to the study of Hebrew and Greek as a necessary consequence.

3.) Greek and Hebrew powerfully aid the study of God’s Word.  Many conclusive examples are supplied in the larger study which this blog post is summarizing.

4.) Greek and Hebrew help one observe more accurately and thoroughly, understand more clearly, evaluate more fairly, and interpret more confidently the inspired details of the Biblical text.

5.) Accurate translations are authoritative in their substance, and so it is proper to refer to the English Authorized Version as inspired in a derivative sense.  However, there are details of God’s inspired revelation that can only be understood by those who know Greek and Hebrew.  One can affirm not only that the KJV is inspired whenever it is accurate, but even that it is perfectly accurate and has no errors in translation, and still see tremendous value in learning Greek and Hebrew.

 

Indeed, study of the Biblical languages is a good and necessary consequence of the fact that God has revealed Himself and His will in Hebrew and Greek words.

Please read the entirety of the first five pages here, and feel free to comment on them below.  May they prove edifying, whether or not one ever learns the Biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew.

 

TDR

New Testament Greek for Distance Students Fall 2022

Lord willing, I will be starting a 1st semester introductory Greek class which can be taken by distance students in September 2022.  If you are interested, see the post below, the schedule here, and more information here, and then please click here to contact me.

 

What Will I Learn in Introductory NT Greek?

 

We will be learning introductory matters such as the Greek alphabet, and then the entire Koine Greek noun system, after which we will get in to verbs in the indicative mood.  A second semester to follow should cover the rest of the fundamentals of Greek grammar.  At the end of the course, you will be well prepared to begin reading the New Testament on your own.  You also will, I trust, have grown closer to the Lord through your growth in understanding and application of His Word, will have grown in your ability to read, understand, teach, and preach the Bible (if you are a man; women are welcome to take the class as well, as they should know God’s Word for themselves and their families and teach other women and children), and will be prepared to learn Greek syntax and dive deeper into exegesis and more advanced Greek study in second year Greek. You will learn the basics of New Testament Greek grammar, syntax and vocabulary, preparing you to translate, interpret and apply Scripture. Recognizing the importance of using the original languages for the interpretation of the New Testament, you will acquire a thorough foundation in biblical Greek. You will learn the essentials of grammar and acquire an adequate vocabulary.

 

The course should be taught in such a way that a committed high school student can understand and do well in the content (think of an “AP” or Advanced Placement class), while the material covered is complete enough to qualify for a college or a seminary level class.  There is no need to be intimidated by Greek because it is an ancient language.  Someone who can learn Spanish can learn NT Greek.  Indeed, if you speak English and can read this, you have already learned a language—modern English—that is considerably more difficult than the Greek of the New Testament.  Little children in Christ’s day were able to learn Koiné Greek, and little children in Greece today learn modern Greek.  If they can learn Greek, you can as well, especially in light of principles such as:  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

 

The immense practical benefits of knowing Greek, along with plenty of edifying teaching, will be included. The class should not be a dry learning of an ancient language, but an interesting, spiritually encouraging, and practical study of the language in which God has given His final revelation.  It will help you in everything from preaching and teaching in Christ’s church to answering people’s objections in evangelism house to house to understanding God’s Word better in your personal and family time with the Lord.

 

Furthermore, you will be learning Greek in such a way that at the end you will actually know it.  That is, this course, and successor courses in 2nd year Greek (syntax) and 3rd year Greek (book exegesis of Ephesians and Romans), are designed for you to actually know the language at the end, so that you can draw closer to the Lord, be more effective in preaching and teaching God’s Word, and reap the other tremendous benefits of learning Greek the rest of your life. Greek is not an agonizing drudgery you should barely survive and at the conclusion of which you forget everything you learned.  The course sequence will teach you to preach expository messages, or teach Scripture, so that the main points of your sermons or lessons are what the main points of the passage are, powerfully impacting those you are shepherding with the sharp sword of the Word. As, by God’s grace, you learn the language and regularly read the Greek New Testament, God’s final glorious revelation will become familiar to you the way the Bible in French or German or Spanish is familiar to native speakers of those languages, and both you and others will be transformed as you behold the glory of Jesus Christ in the mirror of Scripture by the Spirit in a greater way (2 Corinthians 3:18).

What Textbooks Will I Use in Introductory NT Greek?

Required class textbooks are:

1.) Greek New Testament Textus Receptus (Trinitarian Bible Society), the Greek NT underneath the Authorized, King James Version:

alternatively, the Greek New Testament Textus Receptus and Hebrew Old Testament bound together (Trinitarian Bible Society):

 

2.) William D. Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar, ed. Verlyn D. Verbrugge, Third Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009) (Later editions of Mounce are also fine, but please do not use the first or second edition.):

 

4th edition:

3.) William D. Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek (Workbook), ed. Verlyn D. Verbrugge, Third Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009)

 

4th edition:

 

4.) T. Michael W. Halcomb, Speak Koine Greek: A Conversational Phrasebook (Wilmore, KY: GlossaHouse, 2014):

 

4.) T. Michael W. Halcomb, 800 Words and Images: A New Testament Greek Vocabulary Builder (Wilmore, KY: GlossaHouse, 2013):

 

Recommended texts include:

5.) Danker, Frederick William (ed.), A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, 3rd. ed. (BDAG), Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2000.  This is the only text that you can buy for Accordance Bible Software or Logos Bible Software and then use as a Bible software module instead of having a physical copy.  All other books should be physical.

6.) The Morphology of Biblical Greek, by William D. Mounce. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Company, 1994

(Note: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. To save money on buying books on the Internet, please visit here.)

 

We are using Speak Koiné Greek as a supplement to Mounce because studies of how people learn languages indicate that the more senses one uses the better one learns a language.  Speaking and thinking in Greek will help you learn to read the NT in Greek.  We are using Halcomb’s 800 Words and Images because learning Greek vocabulary with pictures and drawings helps to retain words in your memory (think about how children learn words from picture books).  Mounce is a very well-written and user-friendly textbook, and Halcomb’s works will make the material even more user-friendly.

 

What Qualifications Does the Professor Have to Teach Greek?

 

I have taught Greek from the introductory through the graduate and post-graduate levels for a significant number of years.  I have read the New Testament from cover to cover in Greek five times and continue to read my Greek New Testament through regularly.  I can sight-read most of the New Testament.  I am currently reading the Septuagint through as well; I am about halfway through the Pentateuch and am also reading Psalms.  I have also read cover to cover and taught advanced Greek grammars.  While having extensive knowledge of Koine Greek, students of mine have also thought my teaching was accessible and comprehensible.  More about my background is online here.

 

My doctrinal position is that of an independent Baptist separatist, for that is what is taught in Scripture. Because Scripture teaches its own perfect inspiration and preservation, I also believe both doctrines, which necessarily leads to the belief that God has preserved His Word in the Greek Textus Receptus from which we get the English King James Version, rather than in the modern critical Greek text (Nestle-Aland, United Bible Societies).

What Do I Need to Get Started?

 

Unless you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you will need a computer or other electronic device over which you can communicate. We can help you set up Zoom on your computer in case you need assistance with that.

 

The class should begin in early September, 2022.  The class will count as a 4 credit college course.  Taking the class for credit is $185 per credit hour.  The class can be audited for $100 per credit hour.  Auditors will not take tests or be able to interact with the class.  Taking it for credit is, therefore, likely preferable for the large majority of people. When signing up, please include something written from your pastor stating the church of which you are a member and his approval for your taking the class.  A church that utilizes the class as part of its seminary, college, or institute curriculum may have alternative pricing arrangements; please direct questions to the leadership at your church for more information. Students with clear needs who live outside of North America and Europe in less well-developed countries in Africa or Asia (for example) may qualify for a discount on the course price.  One or two students located in any part of the world who are able and willing to help with video editing also would qualify for a course discount.

 

For any further questions, please use the contact form here.

 

I am thinking about starting a 1st year Hebrew class for distance students soon as well. Please also let me know if you are interested in learning the language in which God revealed the majority of His infallible revelation.

TDR

Editions of the King James Version and the Criticism of Not Updating It

I’m sure someone has made this argument, even though I haven’t heard it.  Someone might call the five previous editions of the King James Version an argument for another update.  Four editions followed the original 1611.  Why no sixth edition?  Why did we stop at 1769, the date of the last edition, what is called the Blayney Edition?Benjamin Blayney, English Hebraist, updated the King James Version.  Dot Wordsworth in The Spectator wrote (based on his reading of Gordon Campbell’s Bible: The Story of the King James Version):

Dr Blayney made thousands of changes to the text of 1611. In vocabulary he incorporated amendments from another version from 1743, for example, fourscore changed to eightieth, neesed to sneezed, and the archaic crudled to curdled. In grammar he changed, among other things, number, so that ‘the names of other gods’ became ‘the name of other gods’; and tenses, so ‘he calleth unto him the twelve and began’ changed to ‘he called unto him the twelve, and began’. There were changes in spelling, in punctuation, and in the choice of words to italicise (which had been intended to indicate words not literally present in the original languages).

A highly documented paragraph in the Wikipedia entry on the King James Version says the following:

By the mid-18th century the wide variation in the various modernized printed texts of the Authorized Version, combined with the notorious accumulation of misprints, had reached the proportion of a scandal, and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge both sought to produce an updated standard text. First of the two was the Cambridge edition of 1760, the culmination of 20 years’ work by Francis Sawyer Parris, who died in May of that year. This 1760 edition was reprinted without change in 1762 and in John Baskerville’s fine folio edition of 1763.  This was effectively superseded by the 1769 Oxford edition, edited by Benjamin Blayney, though with comparatively few changes from Parris’s edition; but which became the Oxford standard text, and is reproduced almost unchanged in most current printings. Parris and Blayney sought consistently to remove those elements of the 1611 and subsequent editions that they believed were due to the vagaries of printers, while incorporating most of the revised readings of the Cambridge editions of 1629 and 1638, and each also introducing a few improved readings of their own. They undertook the mammoth task of standardizing the wide variation in punctuation and spelling of the original, making many thousands of minor changes to the text. In addition, Blayney and Parris thoroughly revised and greatly extended the italicization of “supplied” words not found in the original languages by cross-checking against the presumed source texts. . . . Altogether, the standardization of spelling and punctuation caused Blayney’s 1769 text to differ from the 1611 text in around 24,000 places.

With all of the above in mind, why hasn’t the KJV been updated like some call for?  It might seem to follow along a pattern already set for the King James Version.  Some today criticize King James Version and Textus Receptus proponents for not giving the King James Version an update to eliminate obsolete or archaic words.The changes occurring in the past updates or editions of the original King James Version did not retranslate the Hebrew Masoretic text of the Old Testament or the Textus Receptus of the New Testament.  They are still the King James Translation.  The Wikipedia article provided a comparison between the 1611 and the 1769 for 1 Corinthians 13:1-3:
[1611] 1. Though I speake with the tongues of men & of Angels, and haue not charity, I am become as sounding brasse or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I haue the gift of prophesie, and vnderstand all mysteries and all knowledge: and though I haue all faith, so that I could remooue mountaines, and haue no charitie, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestowe all my goods to feede the poore, and though I giue my body to bee burned, and haue not charitie, it profiteth me nothing.
[1769] 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Reading that, you can see how Blayney made 24,000 spelling or punctuation changes.  Changing from “feede” to “feed” counts as one of them. 1769 also does not read at all like a retranslation.  Compare that to a different translation of those same verses, the NASV with the above 1769 KJV.

[NASV] 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

None of the four editions proceeding from the 1611 King James Versions read like a new translation or an update in the translation.  They didn’t do that.  The updates or editions of the King James Version are not a new translation.  They don’t look anything like a new translation.Would another update of obsolete or archaic words in the 1769 Blayney edition represent the spirit of the previous editions of King James Version?  My honest assessment is that it wouldn’t.  Critics, who don’t prefer the KJV, want something more than a new edition.I have not read an official explanation for why no continued updates to the King James Version.  No authorized figure said, “This is our last update.”  I think that they stopped in 1769 because they were done.  They had done enough.  No one was motivated to update again, because the 1769 Blayney edition accomplished what people wanted at the time.  It hasn’t been done again, because no one agreed it was significant to do.Men like Mark Ward and others criticize people such as myself and Thomas Ross for not endeavoring to update the King James Version.  They see our lack of support for an update as a sign that we really, actually believe the preservation of scripture occurred in the English translation.  If I did, however, I would advocate for foreign translations from the English King James Version. I don’t. I support foreign translations from the Hebrew and Greek original language text.  That doesn’t sound like someone who believes preservation of scripture in the English translation.Previous to the King James Version, men made several translations of the English Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek Testaments.  The momentum for translation changed after the completion of the KJV.  Churches accepted the King James Version.  Updates didn’t continue after 1769.  Churches were satisfied with the updates.The King James Version was changed after 1611.  The concept of an update is not foreign to the King James Version.  Changes occurred.  Why not further updates to the King James Version?  To be an update, what would need to happen?  The answer to this second question also explains why it hasn’t happened and probably won’t.

WHY NOT FURTHER UPDATES TO THE KING JAMES VERSION?

1.    The 1769 Blayney Edition Is Good

Despite the “false friends” of Mark Ward, the existence of words obsolete and archaic to today’s English reader, the Blayney Edition of the King James Version is good.  It is a good translation of the preserved original language text.  True churches accepted it.  It has had a supernatural impact over the centuries.  It is still causes a great effect on the souls of men.  The Blayney Edition of the KJV is proven.Most people still read the King James Version after all these years.  Almost three times the people read the King James Version than read any other single version of the English Bible according to Statista.  A study published in 2014 by The Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University and Purdue University found that 55% of Americans read the King James Version.  Next was the NIV at 19%.

2.    Change Is Worse Than Possible Improvements

Think of the concept of changing the Bible.  Consider how much people already change the Bible.  Think about everything that is changing in the world.  The left wants to change everything and the meaning of everything.The Bible stands over men.  When men say, “I want to change the Bible,” then they are in a sense standing over the Bible.  Yes, updates were made, but it is very serious to change.Once men were settled on the Blayney edition, they didn’t keep updating.  The Bible should be very difficult to change or update.  It should at least be more difficult than changing the United States constitution.Changing the Bible requires a certain amount of ego.  True scholars translate the Bible.  Someone else comes along and says that they didn’t know enough, so they change it.  Later others say they’re even smarter, so they change it.  John MacArthur recently led in another translation of the Bible.  He’s studied the issues of text and translation, while preaching in his church, and he has the power and resources to create his own translation that favors most or all of his desires for a Bible.  He’s got his own Bible now that he reports is the best ever.Once another edition of the critical text arises and further collation of newly found manuscripts occurs, what will stop changing of MacArthur’s Legacy Standard Bible?  These never ending changes take away from the perception of the authority of the Bible.  That is more dangerous by far than anything else.The constant changing of the Bible looks like a bigger problem than updating obsolete and archaic words.  People who can’t explain those words have bigger problems than those words.  Updating those will not take away those problems.

3.    King James Version Churches Don’t Want the Update

I hear non-KJV people crying for a change.  I don’t hear King James Version churches doing that.  Men like Mark Ward won’t motivate KJV churches to change to a different Bible.  He won’t impel men like Thomas Ross and I, who know original languages, to set in motion another update.  No one on my side of this issue talks about updating the King James Version.Mark Ward and men like him incite churches that are already changing.  He’s provided some cover for pushing forward changes.  Rick Warren wants changes too.  He’s kindled changes to many churches looking for numerical growth.

4.    An Update Is Far From a Priority

Updating the King James Version pales next to other issues and problems for churches.  Before another English translation, churches could work on the first translation into other languages from the preserved text of the Old and New Testaments to get the Bible to millions others.Churches are declining everywhere.  It’s not because of the King James Version.  Even among churches that use the KJV, they deny the necessity of repentance for salvation.  Their people are more worldly.  They are colder toward evangelism. They are more pragmatic.An update should arise from some movement toward the truth.  It should accompany desire for God and His Word.  It should proceed from a rise of repentance toward biblical belief and practice.

TO BE AN UPDATE, WHAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN?

1.    King James Version Churches Would Want an Update

A successful update of the KJV would arise from more than a desire of one church.  A large majority of the King James Version churches would want it.  If 75% of those churches called for it, they might accomplish it.  A poll of those churches, I’m guessing, would receive less than 10% desire for an update.The Holy Spirit works equally in all true believers.  Faith is “like precious faith” (2 Peter 1:1).  That same Spirit and that same faith will show up in more than one church.  Scripture would give common basis for necessary change.

2.    King James Version Churches Would Unify For an Update

Update would so motivate KJV churches that they unify to do so.

3.    King James Version Churches Would Provide the Good, Qualified Men from their Midst, Who Could Work Together to Accomplish an Update

If the KJV churches want an update, they would gather the men who could accomplish this task.  Those men would stop whatever else they were doing because this was more important.  With me it would take attention off evangelism, discipleship, the gospel, preaching, apostasy, sanctification, and the church itself.  I’m sure that’s the same for other men.  They don’t want that.

4.    King James Version Churches Would Approve of the Update

After finishing the update, the churches would still need to show approval. They would want the updated translation.  Maybe that would occur if the first three on this list occurred.  We’re not close to those and so many other things are more important, I don’t see those happening.  Most KJV churches would likely say that on the translation issue, the departure from the KJV is a bigger and more serious priority than the updating of the KJV.

5.    The Updated King James Version Would Become the King James Version for King James Version Churches

KJV churches do not want or use the new translations completed by individual churches and men from the same text as the KJV.  They find very little acceptance.  Why?  KJV churches don’t want them.  They don’t like them.If KJV churches represent New Testament Christianity, and they don’t want an update of the KJV or a new translation of the underlying text, then New Testament Christianity doesn’t want that.  If they are not New Testament Christianity, then that’s the bigger issue.  I believe that among the KJV churches is New Testament Christianity.  Only among those is belief in biblical doctrine of preservation of scripture.

The Preservation of Scripture: Historical Evidence from a Perfect Preservationist, TR/KJV Perspective

There are many resources on this blog defending the perfect preservation of Scripture and its necessary consequence of the use of the Hebrew and Greek Textus Receptus and the KJV, as well as other resources on my website on that topic.  The video below presents a summary of the historical evidence from a perfect preservationist perspective, combining the Biblical view that God has preserved His words with historical evidence for the preservation of Scripture.  You can click here to view “Historical & Biblical Evidence for the Perfect Preservation of Scripture, which covers both the Old Testament Hebrew text and the New Testament Greek text from which the KJV comes, on YouTube (from the last Word of Truth Conference at Bethel Baptist Church), or click here to view the video on Rumble, or view the embedded video below:

TDR

AUTHORS OF THE BLOG

  • Kent Brandenburg
  • Thomas Ross

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