King James Translators Refute KJV Onlyism

Dr. Brown takes a look at the preface to the KJV Bible, further exposing the error of KJV Onlyism.

[OrthodoxJourney]

After 15+ years in the KJVO movement I'm now using the new CSB and ESV. God delivered me from the cultic KJV Onlyists.

[rebeccaly]

Thanks for your insight! I’m no Bible scholar or expert, I’m just a young adult who loves God and loves reading all my different Bible translations. My comment my be partially wrong but these are my thoughts on this topic:

I’ve gotten attacked by a couple KJV onlyists and it’s so crazy.. one guy literally told me to throw all my Bibles away because they were “corrupt.” Another said they KJV is the only true Word of God that even other languages are “corrupt.” Their arguments make no sense to me..are they saying that only English speakers who can understand old English can be saved? I don’t think God would only save English speakers. Can people who speak Spanish, French, Chinese, etc. not be saved?? This seems to really doubt the power of God because I think the Holy Spirit can work in ALL OF US through whatever Bible translation we read. God spoke to me when I read the NIV and got saved. I also feel close to God through other translations like NLT, HCSB, CSB, etc., and even in the KJV. I’m okay with people being only KJV for themselves if that’s what they feel convicted is true, but it’s horrible how some of them are extremely hateful and just plain mean online. In my opinion it would be more productive for them to share their KJV Bible with people who have never heard of the gospel before, instead of discouraging current believers from reading their own Bibles and condemning them for reading “corrupt” translations. Their way of spreading hateful comments online seems so counterproductive in my opinion. Satan is probably loving it.

A common KJV only argument is that all the other Bibles are “corrupt” because they have “missing verses” but it seems like all of them have the same “missing verses”...if anything it seems like the KJV has added additional verses rather than ALL other translations having “missing” ones. Additionally, all the non-KJV Bibles I’ve seen always have footnotes that say something like “some Bibles say ———— here” so the verses aren’t even “missing.” I’m tired of getting condemned from KJV onlyists. They have to right to determine who is saved and who isn’t..solely based on which Bible translation they use. That’s between each person and God.

In conclusion: There is no perfect Bible translation. You’d have to learn Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic from the original manuscripts that Moses and Paul (and other people) themselves wrote..this is impossible because we don’t have them anymore. Read whatever translation(s) that speak most to you and live out God’s Word in your life. We are so blessed to have so many translations in English and other languages, so why not use them and enjoy them? Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you (and others) to the truth. There’s no need to condemn each other for these petty things. Instead, we should use this energy to share the Bible with people who have never heard of the Bible!!

[omegatafkal]

Amen, I can only say! The KJV is an outstanding translation indeed, but perfect? Certainly not! I also got fooled by this KJV onlyism for a very long time

[ONEFAITHofJESUS]

“In January 1604, King James VI ...convened the Hampton Court Conference where a new English version was conceived in response to the perceived *problems* of the earlier translations as *detected* by the Puritans.
James gave the translators instructions intended to *guarantee* that the new version would *conform* to the *ecclesiology* and reflect the episcopal *structure* of the Church of England and its belief in an ordained *clergy.* The translation was done by 47 scholars, *all* of whom were members of the Church of England.”

[HiVisl]

KJO, what's worse:
1) Having less accurate and out-of-date translation that cannot clearly communicate to modern-day people; or
2) Having a more accurate and understandable version(s) that modern-day people can grasp easily?

If God has a problem with translations, as you erroneously believe, then why did God not insist that it had to be read in the original languages? Crazy stuff.

[acolytes]

" if the king James is authentic then why use a different bible that may be a translation that has a negative agenda"
That's not logical. That' like saying I don't want to get married because i might get divorced.

Use the King James all you want but don't be dogmatic against us who don't.

[jamesmansfield]

when I began to get sort of serious about the Bible/God (1992, 3?) I picked up some version (KJ?) not written in Modern English, but I struggled heavily, and soonafter put it down and continued the pursuit of profanity, So in 1997 I picked up a modern English translation and though I did not expect a different outcome, and it helped me grow in the LORD much more....I realized that even now, I almost always get more from the modern translation and I encourage others to try it....you will be much more inspired to learn even greater truth. It is more important than ever: read the Bible in the language that you are most familiar...I think it is a matter of logic that we are more likely to be inspired by the language we grew up speaking. (if you personally think that the KJV more understandable, the next step is to start learning to speak the older English so you can more perfectly spread the news in a more understandable way! This is very important!)

[DanielWesleyKCK]

The comments are what I expected. KJVO itself is a symptom of a strange hermeneutic that in its attempt to find an "objective perfection" ironically disconnects itself from the world of the text.

[suggesttwo]

Textus Receptus was used for NKJV and Modern English Version.
KJV was first translated in 1611.
It was updated in 1613, 1629, 1664, 1701, 1744 1762, 1769, and 1850.
Because the language changed over time.
1613 and 1769 were likely corrections.

[nojustno]

Here's a question for KJV onlyist... If you are truly concerned about absolute 100% accuracy in what God actually said, why don't you learn Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic since those are the languages in which He chose to transmit the word? There is no such thing as a word for word exact translation having the same word count in rendering from one language to another.

It seems very convenient that KJV onlyism exists amongst English speaking groups.

[nicholasdibari]

I only use the KJV but I’m not KJV onlyist! There is a huge difference! KJV Only is a tradition of men and a religious spirit that needs to be repented of! I love the KJV it’s my favorite version but I do admit that it’s far from perfect

[bryantfloyd]

Ezekiel 45:21 NLT
"On the fourteenth day of the first month, you must celebrate the Passover. This festival will last for seven days. The bread you eat during that time must be made without yeast.

[joericci]

Dr Brown failed to point out that scholars can not authorize any bible translation because they have no authority.
The Holy Bible is authorized by God in accordance with the scriptures.

[jesuschristsaves]

Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen

[jesuschristsaves]

For what I received I passed on to you as of [first importance]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,   that he was buried,  that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,  and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time,

[jamie]

What version do you use? Other versions take so much out that new believers could stumble. The arguments against the kj you are explaining are not that.

[jesuschristsaves]

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward.

[bryantfloyd]

I read from the New Living Translation because it's a very understandable Contemporary English Bible translation to read from.

I also read from the One Year NLT Praying Through The Bible everyday.

[MagnificentFiend]

Who else loves the King James but isn't KJV Only?

[provokingthought]

Im not a kjv onlysit but original 1611 being "very different" is a stretch. I counted about four meaningful (word) differences. I found word differences in: Genesis 39:16, Numbers 6:14, 2 Chronicals 28:11, Job 39:30

Then i note two meaningful differences between the oxford and the cambridge editions: Joshua 19:2 and Jersmuah 34:16. If anyone has a more comprehensive list of WORD differences betweem any of the editions i would welcome it. Not so much intrested in differences of spelling, punctuatiom, or capitalization.

And can anyone explain the relationship between the blayney edition and the oxford and cambridge editions? Im confused about what came first or is the blayney edition the oxford? Have had a hard time finding this info.