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King James Only movement

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The First Page of the Book of Genesis in the 1611 printing of the KJV

The "King James Only movement" advocates the superiority of the Authorized King James Version (KJV) of the Protestant Bible. This phrase is disputed and has been described as a term meant to discredit the group of supporters that use this translation to the exclusion of all others. For instance, KJV proponent D. A. Waite states the term is a "smear word." However, theologian and apologist James R. White states that the phrases "KJV Only" and "KJV Onlyism" are not "insulting" or "inaccurate."

Adherents of the movement hold that the King James Version of the Bible is superior to all other English translations, with some teaching that it is the greatest English translation ever penned, needing no further enhancements. Previous to the completion of the King James version, a series of other English Bible translations were created in succession gradually improving the quality of each new release. It is believed by many that this version of the Bible has more greatly influenced the positive direction of Christianity than any other English Bible ever created. Even today, the Authorized Version is still considered an outstanding translation of the Greek and Hebrew Bible texts into English.

Some Christian and Protestant church leaders will use no other translation of the Bible for their individual studies and public preaching. The major reason for many moving away from this translation to newer translations is the outdated readability of the 400-year-old English text contained in this version. Since languages naturally evolve, English being no exception, over time, older translations become more difficult to understand as the current day speech of that language progressively evolves and becomes more different from the older, written text. Opponents of the King James Only movement propose that it is this natural evolution of language which demands that eventually a Bible translation will need to be replaced by a newer version.

Variations

James White has divided the King James Only movement into five main classifications:

Church sign indicating that the congregation uses the Authorized King James Version of 1611.
  • "I Like the KJV Best" – Although White lists this point of view as a subdivision of the KJVO group, this is disputed by some. This group simply regards the KJV as a very good translation and prefers it over other translations because the church they attend uses it, has always used it or prefers its style.
  • "The Textual Argument" – This group believes that the KJV's Hebrew and Greek textual base is more accurate than the alternate texts used by newer translations. Many in this group might accept a modern Bible version based on the same Greek and Hebrew manuscripts used for the KJV. White claims Zane C. Hodges is a member of this group. However, Hodges considers that the Majority Text "corrects" the Received Text. The World English Bible is an example of an English translation that uses the Majority Greek text. The views of the Trinitarian Bible Society fit into this division, but the Trinitarian Bible Society does not believe that the Authorized Version (KJV) is a perfect translation, only that it is the best available translation in the English language. The Society believes this text is superior to the texts used by the United Bible Societies and other Bible publishers, which use texts that incorporate as their basis a relatively few seriously defective manuscripts from the 4th century, which have been compiled using 20th century rationalistic principles of scholarship.
  • "Received Text Only" – This group holds the position that the traditional Greek texts represented in the Textus Receptus are supernaturally (or providentially) preserved and that other Greek manuscripts not used in this compilation may be flawed. The KJV is viewed as an exemplary English translation that is based on this Greek grouping of Bible manuscripts put together by Desiderius Erasmus, but it is also believed that other translations based on these texts have the potential to be of equal quality.
  • "The Inspired KJV Group" – This faction believes that the KJV itself was divinely inspired. They view the translation to be an English preservation of the very words of God and that they are as accurate as the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts found in its underlying texts. Often this group excludes other English versions based on the same manuscripts, claiming that the KJV is the only English Bible sanctioned by God. They believe that this English translation should never be changed.
  • "The KJV As New Revelation" – This group claims that the KJV is a "new revelation" or "advanced revelation" from God, and it should be the standard from which all other translations originate. Adherents to this belief may also believe that the original-languages, Hebrew and Greek, can be corrected by the KJV. This view is often called "Ruckmanism" after Peter Ruckman, a staunch advocate of this view.

Note: These last two views have also been referred to as "double inspiration".

These classifications are not mutually exclusive nor are they a comprehensive summary describing those who prefer the KJV. Douglas Wilson, for instance, argues that the KJV (or, in his preferred terminology, the Authorized Version) is superior because of its manuscript tradition, its translational philosophy (with updates to the language being regularly necessary), and its ecclesiastical authority, having been created by the church and authorized for use in the church. The KJV's wide availability, popularity and public domain status also come into play in addition to any theological preference.

The debate over this Bible translation philosophy also extends into a deeper level in regards to editions of the King James Bible, since many believe that there should be a standard or exemplary King James edition.

History

The history of the King James Version Only (hereafter KJVO) movement can best be described by a genealogical outline of writers whose books have not only given birth to the movement but also have influenced their doctrines. Dr. James D. Price's book, published in 2006, gives the same information in a summary.

Benjamin G. Wilkinson (1872–1968), a staunch Seventh-day Adventist missionary, theology professor and college president, wrote Our Authorized Bible Vindicated (1930) in which he attacked the Westcott-Hort Greek text and expressed strong opposition to the English Revised Version New Testament (ERV, 1881). He was the first to apply Psalm 12:6–7 to the King James Bible, claiming that the reference is a prooftext for divine preservation of the Scriptures.

Jasper James Ray (1894–1985), a business manager, missionary and Bible teacher, wrote a booklet entitled God Wrote Only One Bible (1955). It was nearly identical to Wilkinson's Our Authorized Bible Vindicated book without note or acknowledgement to Wilkinson's authorship. The result was a continued propagation of Wilkinson's statements but with the misconception of a separate, corroborating affirmation of Wilkinson's ideas.

Regular Baptist pastor David Otis Fuller (1903–1988) edited a book entitled Which Bible? published in 1970. It is an anthology by authors such as Robert Dick Wilson (1856–1930), Zane Clark Hodges (1932–2008) and others, who distinctly reject the "Textus Receptus only" / "KJV-Only" viewpoint and whose writings actually give some information refuting some of the extremes of the KJVO movement. This book, however, is singularly responsible for the "King James only" / "Textus Receptus only" controversial viewpoint that gained wide acceptance among KJV-Only believers. Almost half of the book is dedicated to the ten out of sixteen chapters from Wilkinson's Our Authorized Bible Vindicated.

Peter Sturges Ruckman (1921–present), a Baptist preacher, wrote many books: a series of uniformly bound books that are claimed to be commentaries on various Bible books, topical books on Bible-related subjects and books related to Bible text and translation issues. At least some of his books are characterized by harsh criticism of almost everyone involved in textual criticism, such as Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851–1921), Archibald Thomas Robertson (1863–1934), Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–1892) with the likes of Julius Wellhausen (1844–1918) and Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969). The Christian's Handbook of Manuscript Evidence (1970) is among them. Ruckman was influenced by J. J. Ray's God Wrote Only One Bible, and Ruckman's The Bible Babel (1964) is nearly identical to Ray's 1955 book. Some supporters of the KJVO movement reject Ruckman's position that the King James Version Bible is superior to existing Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, and they also criticize Ruckman because "his writings are so acerbic, offensive and mean-spirited that the entire movement has become identified with his kind of confrontational attitude."

Edward F. Hills (1912–1981), who wrote Believing Bible Study (1967) and King James Version Defended (1956, 1973) and wrote a chapter on Dean John William Burgon in Fuller's Which Bible?, did not advocate the inerrancy of the King James Version nor the Origenian origin of the Septuagint. However, Hills’ works are commonly cited to give support to the KJVO's position even though Hills never supported such KJVO positions.

Gail Riplinger (1947–present), especially known for her book New Age Bible Versions, and a number of other works, has also addressed in some detail the issue of differences in current editions of the King James Bible. However, a lengthy critical review of her book New Age Bible Versions was originally published in Cornerstone magazine in 1994, authored by Bob and Gretchen Passantino of Answers In Action, and described the book as "erroneous, sensationalistic, misrepresentative, inaccurate, and logically indefensible." They concluded by summarizing: "there is hardly a page of this book that is free from error. Riplinger does not know Greek, Hebrew, textual criticism, linguistics, principles of translation, logical argumentation, proper citation and documentation standards, competent English grammar and style, or even consistent spelling. This book would never have done more than use Riplinger's savings and fill up her garage if Christian "celebrities" such as Texe Marrs and David Hocking had not promoted it."

See also

Notes

  1. Waite, Donald (2007-02-03). "King James Only As Slander #1". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. Waite, Donald (2007-02-06). "King James Only As Slander #2". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. White, James (1995). The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations?. Minneapolis: Bethany House. p. 248. ISBN 1-55661-575-2. OCLC 32051411.
  4. G. A. Riplinger, In Awe Of Thy Word: Understanding the King James Bible Its Mystery & History Letter By Letter
  5. LifeWay Christian Resources, Facts & Trends magazine, May/Jun 2004
  6. White, James (1995). The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations?. Minneapolis: Bethany House. pp. 1–4. ISBN 1-55661-575-2. OCLC 32051411.
  7. White, James (1995). The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations?. Minneapolis: Bethany House. p. 5. ISBN 1-55661-575-2. OCLC 32051411.
  8. Watts, Malcolm H. (2007). "The Accuracy of the Authorised Version" (PDF). Quarterly Record. 578 (1). Trinitarian Bible Society: 8.
  9. "The Text of the Bible used by the Trinitarian Bible Society", from Principles <http://trinitarianbiblesociety.org/site/principles.asp>
  10. Price, James D. (2006). King James Onlyism: A New Sect. James D. Price Publisher. p. 279. ISBN 0-9791147-0-5.
  11. Wilson, Douglas. "Hearers of the Word". Credenda/Agenda. 10 (1). Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  12. tbsbibles.org (2013). "Editorial Report" (PDF). Quarterly Record. 603 (2nd Quarter). Trinitarian Bible Society: 10-20.
  13. Price, James D., King James Onlyism: A New Sect, p. 4
  14. The Unlearned Men: The True Genealogy and Genesis of King-James-Version-Onlyism, second paragraph, or search on "All writers who embrace" phrase.
  15. The Unlearned Men: The True Genealogy and Genesis of King-James-Version-Onlyism, 2nd paragraph, or search on "Wilkinson was the first" phrase.
  16. The Unlearned Men: The True Genealogy and Genesis of King-James-Version-Onlyism, 3rd paragraph, or search on "when J. J. Ray" phrase.
  17. The relationship of Ray's booklet to Wilkinson’s text is documented in Gary Hudson's article, "The Real Eye Opener," Baptist Biblical Heritage, Vol. II, No. 1, Spring, 1991.
  18. The Great Which Bible Fraud, 10th paragraph, or search on "The book Fuller edited" phrase
  19. The Great Which Bible Fraud, first sentence
  20. The Great Which Bible Fraud, 2nd paragraph, or search on "But the overwhelmingly longest" phrase
  21. The Unlearned Men: The True Genealogy and Genesis of King-James-Version-Onlyism, 11th and 12th paragraph, or search on "Also in the third generation" phrase
  22. James White, The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations? (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1995), 1–4.
  23. White, 109. Sam Schnaiter and Ron Tagliapietra, Bible Preservation and the Providence of God (Xlibris, 2002), 364.
  24. The Unlearned Men: The True Genealogy and Genesis of King-James-Version-Onlyism, 13th paragraph, or search on "A word needs to be said" phrase
  25. G. A. Riplinger. "Settings of the King James Bible" (PDF).
  26. http://answers.org/bookreviews/newagevers.html
  27. http://answers.org/bookreviews/newagevers.html

Further reading

  • Anderson, Robert (1903). The Bible and modern criticism. ASIN B00069Y39O.
  • Ankerberg, John (2003). The Facts on the King James Only Debate. Eugene, Or.: Harvest House. ISBN 0-7369-1111-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Beacham, Roy E. (2001). One Bible Only? Examining Exclusive Claims for the King James Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications. ISBN 0-8254-2048-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Carson, D.A. (1978). The King James Version Debate: A Plea for Realism. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House. ISBN 0-8010-2427-7.
  • Comfort, Phillip W. (2000). Essential Guide to Bible Versions. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN 0-8423-3484-X.
  • Dewey, David (2005). A User's Guide To Bible Translations: Making The Most Of Different Versions. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press. ISBN 0-8308-3273-4.
  • Macgregor, Alan J (2004). Three Modern Versions: A Critical Assessment of the NIV, ESV and NKJV. Salisbury, Wiltshire, England: Bible League. ISBN 0-904435-87-3.
  • Mauro, Philip (1924). Which version?: Authorized or revised?. Boston: Hamilton Brothers. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  • Paisley, Ian R. K (1997). My Plea for the Old Sword. Emerald House Group. ISBN 1-84030-015-9.
  • Ryken, Leland (2002). The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books. ISBN 1-58134-464-3.

External links

Pro King James Only

Anti King James Only

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