KJV Only

TwinMommy · Feb 28, 2013

I hope this is the right place to post this.

I am in the process of moving. I am figuring out what churches I will be visiting once moved. I have been to Baptist churches in the past. One of the ones I am looking at is KJV. I have not been to a KJV only church before.

I am curious as to the reason some feel the KJV is the only Bible to use. I am not wanting to debate because I honestly don't know, so I wanted to get some thoughts on it.

Qnts2 · Feb 28, 2013

TwinMommy said:
I hope this is the right place to post this.

I am in the process of moving. I am figuring out what churches I will be visiting once moved. I have been to Baptist churches in the past. One of the ones I am looking at is KJV. I have not been to a KJV only church before.

I am curious as to the reason some feel the KJV is the only Bible to use. I am not wanting to debate because I honestly don't know, so I wanted to get some thoughts on it.

Among the KJV onliests, there is a wide spread of belief, and of course with this wide spread are differing answers as to why KJV only. Here are differing answers which come from differing levels of belief behind KJV only.

1. They think the KJV translation is the best, or like it best
2. They believe that the manuscripture used for translation is the most accurate.
3. The Received Text used for translating the KJV was divinely inspired.
4. The translators of the KJV were divinely inspired, and corrected the Hebrew and Greek.

Just from my view, number 1, they think the KJV is the best and like it best is a good answer. I just can not argue against personal preferences.

From my view, number 2 is a debatable argument but not a big deal. Different people prefer different Greek manuscripts. I don't think the one used for the KJV is most accurate but lots of people do.

For 3, I personally do not believe any Greek manuscript can be said to be divinely inspired. The original Greek as written by the writers of the NT were divinely inspired.

And for 4, I personally believe this is dangerous ground as it says the the authors of the KJV were inspired to correct the Hebrew and Greek. (The translators of the KJV thought they were translating and not that they were inspired. Actually, there was a follow on translation of the KJV with correction of errors that the translators realized they made.)

TwinMommy · Feb 28, 2013

Qnts2 said:
Among the KJV onliests, there is a wide spread of belief, and of course with this wide spread are differing answers as to why KJV only. Here are differing answers which come from differing levels of belief behind KJV only.

1. They think the KJV translation is the best, or like it best
2. They believe that the manuscripture used for translation is the most accurate.
3. The Received Text used for translating the KJV was divinely inspired.
4. The translators of the KJV were divinely inspired, and corrected the Hebrew and Greek.

Just from my view, number 1, they think the KJV is the best and like it best is a good answer. I just can not argue against personal preferences.

From my view, number 2 is a debatable argument but not a big deal. Different people prefer different Greek manuscripts. I don't think the one used for the KJV is most accurate but lots of people do.

For 3, I personally do not believe any Greek manuscript can be said to be divinely inspired. The original Greek as written by the writers of the NT were divinely inspired.

And for 4, I personally believe this is dangerous ground as it says the the authors of the KJV were inspired to correct the Hebrew and Greek. (The translators of the KJV thought they were translating and not that they were inspired. Actually, there was a follow on translation of the KJV with correction of errors that the translators realized they made.)

Thank you. I loved hearing your view. I am researching about why some feel that is the only version to use. Every site is saying the same thing, so hearing personal thoughts helps me more.

Keachian · Feb 28, 2013

People holding on to their traditions to the detriment of the text of Scripture.

MatthewDiscipleofGod · Feb 28, 2013

TwinMommy said:
I hope this is the right place to post this.

I am in the process of moving. I am figuring out what churches I will be visiting once moved. I have been to Baptist churches in the past. One of the ones I am looking at is KJV. I have not been to a KJV only church before.

I am curious as to the reason some feel the KJV is the only Bible to use. I am not wanting to debate because I honestly don't know, so I wanted to get some thoughts on it.

It's hard to explain in a forum and it would probably just end up in a debate with others. I'll just give you a link that will answer your question. Feel free to message me if you need more information. I'm not sure if I'll check back on this specific thread.

Keachian · Feb 28, 2013

I'm just going to leave this here:

What's the Big Deal with King James Onlyism? Part 1 - YouTube

iwbswiaihl2 · Feb 28, 2013

A lot of them are KJV only and will not accept other version. Personally, I would not go to one that told me I had to read a certain translation. It is a form of legalism and I have attended a few to visit when going to a new community and only went once to each. They were smaller churches and almost every one I visited just one time would reference the KJV as the only reliable translation. That is my personal conviction and each will have to make their own decision. I have never heard a person or a church that had a legalistic view on one topic not have at least another or more, that is why I avoid them.

th1bill · Feb 28, 2013

The KJV Only argument is one of Satan's most divisive tricks. For people that speak only one language, most of the world, it is impossible to understand the trouble with translations and when one adds narrow minded bigotry into the mix, a real mess is the result and none to very little will have to do with God. Over the years I've owned 18 or 19 different versions of the scriptures and the amazing thing is that when they are carefully and thoughtfully examined, they all say the same thing in the end.

In my case, the most argued point by the KJV Only crowd is inspiration of the Original Text and when this is considered, intellectually, their basis for argument is the very point of their downfall. The KJV is not an original text, it is translated from, arguably, the original texts, just as are the ASV and the NASB.

My personal preference is the NASB because it is the closest to a word for word translation one can purchase, here, in English. Let me blow a small amount of honesty about here for a moment. When I was in Germany, excuse my German spelling, if a man asked me, "Vos est los," "What is happening," I would have answered, "Der hundt est los." Litteraly I told him the dog is happening but translated, thought for thought, I told him nothing is happening.

So it is that there are two major schools of thought on translating the scriptures, first is the thought for thought method (KJV and many others) and the second is the word for word method as is used in the NASB. Anyone that knows languages can tell you I just lied and I can not argue with them over it. Just as I demonstrated with the answer to Vos est los, it is impossible to do a word for word translation and that is why when we look at the matter it is best seen on some sort of a graphic. When viewed on a lateral graph with absolute word for word on one end and absolute thought for thought on the other end the NASB is just short of being completely word for word as is the KJV just short of being a compete thought for thought version.

I have two printings of the KJV and four printings of the NASB and they are not the limit of the versions I use to teach from. The biggest problem with any version only church is their focus. They are not focused, completely, on the mission Jesus appointed to them in the Great Commission.

TwinMommy · Mar 1, 2013

progmonk said:
People holding on to their traditions to the detriment of the text of Scripture.

Why do you feel that way?

TwinMommy · Mar 1, 2013

MatthewDiscipleofGod said:
It's hard to explain in a forum and it would probably just end up in a debate with others. I'll just give you a link[/URL] that will answer your question. Feel free to message me if you need more information. I'm not sure if I'll check back on this specific thread.

Thank you for the link. I will be checking that out today. Debate is not something I want but I know anything can really turn into a debate here. I am sure I will be messaging you.

TwinMommy · Mar 1, 2013

progmonk said:
I'm just going to leave this here:

Thank you. I will be watching that later after my kiddos are off to school.

TwinMommy · Mar 1, 2013

iwbswiaihl said:
A lot of them are KJV only and will not accept other version. Personally, I would not go to one that told me I had to read a certain translation. It is a form of legalism and I have attended a few to visit when going to a new community and only went once to each. They were smaller churches and almost every one I visited just one time would reference the KJV as the only reliable translation. That is my personal conviction and each will have to make their own decision. I have never heard a person or a church that had a legalistic view on one topic not have at least another or more, that is why I avoid them.

Legalism I want to avoid. I am checking out a few churches, all very different from the next. I asked the Pastors why KJV only. He said it is a word for word translation and not thought for thought. I will be emailing him back today and asking more questions.

TwinMommy · Mar 1, 2013

th1bill said:
The KJV Only argument is one of Satan's most divisive tricks. For people that speak only one language, most of the world, it is impossible to understand the trouble with translations and when one adds narrow minded bigotry into the mix, a real mess is the result and none to very little will have to do with God. Over the years I've owned 18 or 19 different versions of the scriptures and the amazing thing is that when they are carefully and thoughtfully examined, they all say the same thing in the end.

In my case, the most argued point by the KJV Only crowd is inspiration of the Original Text and when this is considered, intellectually, their basis for argument is the very point of their downfall. The KJV is not an original text, it is translated from, arguably, the original texts, just as are the ASV and the NASB.

My personal preference is the NASB because it is the closest to a word for word translation one can purchase, here, in English. Let me blow a small amount of honesty about here for a moment. When I was in Germany, excuse my German spelling, if a man asked me, "Vos est los," "What is happening," I would have answered, "Der hundt est los." Litteraly I told him the dog is happening but translated, thought for thought, I told him nothing is happening.

So it is that there are two major schools of thought on translating the scriptures, first is the thought for thought method (KJV and many others) and the second is the word for word method as is used in the NASB. Anyone that knows languages can tell you I just lied and I can not argue with them over it. Just as I demonstrated with the answer to Vos est los, it is impossible to do a word for word translation and that is why when we look at the matter it is best seen on some sort of a graphic. When viewed on a lateral graph with absolute word for word on one end and absolute thought for thought on the other end the NASB is just short of being completely word for word as is the KJV just short of being a compete thought for thought version.

I have two printings of the KJV and four printings of the NASB and they are not the limit of the versions I use to teach from. The biggest problem with any version only church is their focus. They are not focused, completely, on the mission Jesus appointed to them in the Great Commission.

German is such a beautiful language. Took 3 years of it in school. Way too long ago to really remember any of it. That is an awesome example. I use NASB and love it. I have used many other versions. Yeah I do not want the focus to be on a Bible. From sermons I have listened to, the version of a Bible is not preach on.

dysert · Mar 1, 2013

TwinMommy said:
Legalism I want to avoid. I am checking out a few churches, all very different from the next. I asked the Pastors why KJV only. He said it is a word for word translation and not thought for thought. I will be emailing him back today and asking more questions.

While this is basically true (word-for-word), the KJV is not the only translation with this philosophy. The same could be said for the NKJV and the NASB (and probably others). I think the real question is, which translation gets you the closest to the original, inspired text of Scripture. The KJV-onlies I've known believe the KJV is the closest to the original, however I think most other Christians disagree.

Keachian · Mar 1, 2013

TwinMommy said:
Why do you feel that way?

Their claim is that one version above the originals is inerrant, a new revelation some will claim. A claim where even the manuscripts that we have get compared to it. When earlier manuscripts agree with each other in opposition to the KJV, the KJV will for them win out. No longer for them is it important as to what the Apostles actually wrote, all they care about is what translation choices were made 400 years ago by a group of Anglican churchmen.

Keachian · Mar 1, 2013

TwinMommy said:
Thank you. I will be watching that later after my kiddos are off to school.

Dr White has a great pastoral heart, but he's also rather no nonsense.

His KJVO stuff is what started my path to the doctrines of Grace

TimAuthor · Mar 1, 2013

From what I've heard most preachers in my area say over the years is that the newer translations were taken from different manuscripts. One popular report I've heard was that the newer versions were taken from a manuscript that was actually thrown away. Does anybody know anything about that?

To me it is very important to know if the newer versions translated from the same original manuscripts, and are they translated correctly.

dysert · Mar 1, 2013

TimAuthor said:
From what I've heard most preachers in my area say over the years is that the newer translations were taken from different manuscripts. One popular report I've heard was that the newer versions were taken from a manuscript that was actually thrown away. Does anybody know anything about that?

To me it is very important to know if the newer versions translated from the same original manuscripts, and are they translated correctly.

Well, first of all there are no "original manuscripts" to be translated from. The oldest mss. that exist (for the NT) date back to around the mid AD100s, but they aren't the originals. As for whether they're translated correctly, that's the point of the art/science of textual criticism. I think it's safe to say that the translators who hold a high view of Scripture have done an excellent job at representing the original text from what's extant. The better translations (NKJV, NASB, HCSB, et al.) bear this out.

Yes, the newer translations were taken from different (i.e., more) mss. When the KJV was developed, there were only about a dozen or so mss. that were used. Since 1611, though, we've discovered thousands more. So the good translations have made effective use of this additional data.

th1bill · Mar 1, 2013

dysert said:
While this is basically true (word-for-word), the KJV is not the only translation with this philosophy. The same could be said for the NKJV and the NASB (and probably others). I think the real question is, which translation gets you the closest to the original, inspired text of Scripture. The KJV-onlies I've known believe the KJV is the closest to the original, however I think most other Christians disagree.

I'm probably misreading your comment but if I'm not a good scale comparison can be looked at in many places on the web but a good one is at Bible Versions and Types - Word for Word (Literal), Thought for Thought, and Paraphrase, and if you were not calling the KJV a Word for Word, I'm sorry but I misunderstood. I haven't looked lately but there used to be another good comparison on the Life Way Book Store web site.

TwinMommy · Mar 2, 2013

I am very grateful to everyone's insight on this. I have been digging deep into this issue and letting God lead me. I am starting to feel uncomfortable with some things I am hearing. One (there are many more lol) of my problems right now is that I am loving the sermons from the KJV only churches I am looking at but not really seeing why they choose KJV and will not allow other Bibles. The websites I have looked at and the videos I have watched are totally unbelievable. I have read too many times that other translations are from satan. Taking things a bit far I would think. I am also looking at another Baptist church, is not KJV and am really interested in this church. I am in limbo right now because there are just so many options infront of me. I don't want to be in a legalistic church. I want to be somewhere that Christ is the focus.

KJV Only

Enjoying The Journey That God Is Guiding Me On

Well-Known Member

Enjoying The Journey That God Is Guiding Me On

On Sabbatical

Senior Veteran

On Sabbatical

Newbie

A Believer/Follower

Enjoying The Journey That God Is Guiding Me On

Enjoying The Journey That God Is Guiding Me On

Enjoying The Journey That God Is Guiding Me On

Enjoying The Journey That God Is Guiding Me On

Enjoying The Journey That God Is Guiding Me On

Member

On Sabbatical

On Sabbatical

Author of Time Cruisers

Member

A Believer/Follower

Enjoying The Journey That God Is Guiding Me On

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency