King James Only movement
The "King James Only movement" advocates the superiority of the Authorized King James Version (KJV) of the Protestant Bible.
The origin of the label "King James Only" is unclear, although as early as 1987[1] it was being used to refer to claims of exclusivity for the King James Version and the controversy that had been brewing over these claims for almost a decade.[2][3][4][5] American church historian and apologist James R. White states that the phrases "KJV Only" and "KJV Onlyism" are not "insulting" or "inaccurate."[6] However, KJV proponent D. A. Waite states the term is a "smear word."[7][8]
Variations
James White has divided the King James Only movement into five main types:[9]
- "I Like the KJV Best" - Although White lists this group as a division of the King James Only group, this division does not believe that the KJV is the only acceptable version, thus disqualifying them from being "King James Only." This group simply prefers the KJV over other translations because their church uses it, because they have always used it, or because they like its style.[10]
- "The Textual Argument" - This group believes that the KJV's Hebrew and Greek textual bases are the most accurate. These conclude that the KJV is based on better manuscripts. Many in this group may accept a modern version based on the same manuscripts as the KJV. White claims Zane C. Hodges is a good example of this group.[11] However, Hodges would consider that the Majority Text "corrects" the Received Text as seen, e.g., in the Majority Text textual apparatus of the New King James Version. The Trinitarian Bible Society would fit in this division; however, "the Trinitarian Bible Society does not believe the Authorised Version to be a perfect translation, only that it is the best available translation in the English language,"[12] and "the Society believes this text is superior to the texts used by the United Bible Societies and other Bible publishers, which texts have as their basis a relatively few seriously defective manuscripts from the 4th century and which have been compiled using 20th century rationalistic principles of scholarship."[13]
- "Received Text Only" - Here, the traditional Hebrew and Greek texts are believed to be supernaturally preserved. The KJV is believed to be an exemplary translation, but it is also believed that other translations based on these texts have the potential to be equally good. Donald Waite would fall into this category.
- "The Inspired KJV Group" - This faction believes that the KJV itself was divinely inspired. They see the translation to be preserved by God and as accurate as the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts found in its underlying texts. Sometimes this group will even exclude other language versions based on the same manuscripts, claiming that the KJV is the only Bible.
- "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-language Hebrew and Greek can be corrected by the KJV. This view is often called "Ruckmanism" after Peter Ruckman, a staunch advocate of this view.
These latter two views have also been referred to as "double inspiration".[14]
These types are not mutually exclusive, nor a comprehensive summary of 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.[15] The logistics of the KJV's wide availability and public domain status also come into play, on top of or apart from any theological preference. Some KJV only advocates claim that the KJV is the only version of the Bible that is not under copyright, and thus is superior. (This is in fact not the case in the United Kingdom, where it is under perpetual Crown copyright.) However, it is not the only Bible version in public domain.[16]
History
A Seventh-day Adventist Benjamin G. Wilkinson wrote a book called Our Authorized Bible Vindicated (1930) on the textual debate. Independent Baptist preacher David Otis Fuller wrote a book about the textual debate entitled, Which Bible? (1970), which draws heavily on Wilkinson's book.[17]
The translation of the English Revised Version (ERV) of 1885 by Brooke Foss Westcott and F. J. A. Hort has been criticized on a KJV-only basis. John William Burgon, an authority on early Christian manuscripts, has alleged that changes he called "the reverse of trustworthy" were brought into the ERV's text by Westcott and Hort. While Burgon has also been critical of the Textus Receptus, his detailed criticisms of the ERV were collected into book form as "The Revision Revised."
Burgon criticised all five of the oldest Greek manuscript which Westcott and Hort relied upon. Burgon claimed that they were "among the most corrupt documents extant." Each of these codices (Aleph, B, and D), he wrote, "exhibits a fabricated text and is the result of arbitrary and reckless recension."[18] The two most weighty of these codices, Aleph and B, he likens to the "two false witnesses" of Matthew 26:60.[19]
See also
Notes
- ^ Pement, Eric (March, 1987). "Gimme the Bible that Paul used: A look at the King James Only debate". Archived from the original on 2008-02-20. http://web.archive.org/web/20080220115344/http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5951/KJVOnly.html. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ Carson, D. A. (1978). The King James Version Debate: A Plea for Realism. Baker Academic. ISBN 0801024277. OCLC 5122445.
- ^ Walker, Ronald L. (1980). The King James Controversy. Baptist Bible College. ASIN B000HEDHXG.
- ^ Chinn, Douglas S.; Robert C. Newman (1980). Demystifying the Controversy over the Textus Receptus and the King James Version of the Bible. Interdisciplinary Biblical Research. ISBN 0944788033. OCLC 25398454.
- ^ Custer, Stewart (1981). The truth about the King James version controversy. Bob Jones University Press, Inc. ISBN 0890841373. OCLC 8062344.
- ^ White, James (1995). The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations?. Minneapolis: Bethany House. p. 248. ISBN 1556615752. OCLC 32051411.
- ^ Waite, Donald (2007-02-03). "King James Only As Slander #1".
- ^ Waite, Donald (2007-02-06). "King James Only As Slander #2".
- ^ White, James (1995). The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations?. Minneapolis: Bethany House. pp. 1–4. ISBN 1556615752. OCLC 32051411.
- ^ Riplinger, Gail A. (2003). "The Breath and Heartbeat of God". In Awe of Thy Word. http://www.chick.com/reading/books/284/0284_09.asp. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ White, James (1995). The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations?. Minneapolis: Bethany House. p. 5. ISBN 1556615752. OCLC 32051411.
- ^ Watts, Malcolm H. (2007). "The Accuracy of the Authorised Version" (PDF). Quarterly Record (Trinitarian Bible Society) 578 (1): 8. http://www.trinitarianbiblesociety.org/site/qr/qr578.pdf.
- ^ "The Text of the Bible used by the Trinitarian Bible Society", from Principles <http://trinitarianbiblesociety.org/site/principles.asp>
- ^ Price, James D. (2006). King James Onlyism: A New Sect. James D. Price Publisher. p. 279. ISBN 0979114705.
- ^ Wilson, Douglas. "Hearers of the Word". Credenda/Agenda 10 (1). Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070927223854/http://credenda.org/issues/10-1thema.php. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
- ^ http://www.biblewiki.be/wiki/Public_Domain_Bible_Resources
- ^ Which Bible? Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids International Publications, 1970. 3rd ed. 1972. ISBN 0-944355-24-2
- ^ Burgon, Dean, The Revision Revised, p. 9.
- ^ Burgon, The Revision Revised, p. 48.
Further reading
- Anderson, Robert (1903). The Bible and modern criticism. ASIN B00069Y39O.
- Ankerberg, John; John Weldon (2003). The Facts on the King James Only Debate. Eugene, Or.: Harvest House. ISBN 0736911111.
- Beacham, Roy E.; Kevin T. Bauder (2001). One Bible Only? Examining Exclusive Claims for the King James Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications. ISBN 0825420482.
- Branderburg, Kent (2003). Thou Shalt Keep Them: A Biblical Theology of the Perfect Preservation of Scripture. El Sobrante, Calif.: Pillar & Ground Pub.. ISBN 0974381705.
- Burgon, John William (2000). The Last Twelve Verses of the Gospel of Mark. ISBN 1589600142.
- Burgon, John William (2008). The Revision Revised. Collingswood, NJ: Dean Burgon Society Press. ISBN 1888328010.
- Carson, D.A. (1978). The King James Version Debate: A Plea for Realism. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House. ISBN 0801024277.
- Comfort, Phillip W. (2000). Essential Guide to Bible Versions. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN 084233484X.
- Dewey, David (2005). A User's Guide To Bible Translations: Making The Most Of Different Versions. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press. ISBN 0830832734.
- Ehrman, Bart D. (2005). Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why. ISBN 0739469843.
- Fuller, David Otis (1997). Counterfeit or Genuine?. Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids International Publications. ISBN 0825426154.
- Fuller, David Otis (1997). True or False?. ISBN 0944355129.
- Fuller, David Otis (1975). Which Bible?. Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids International Publications. ISBN 082542612X.
- Holland, Thomas (2000). Crowned With Glory: The Bible from Ancient Text to Authorized Version. San Jose: Writers Club Press. ISBN 0595146171.
- Macgregor, Alan J (2004). Three Modern Versions: A Critical Assessment of the NIV, ESV and NKJV. Salisbury, Wiltshire, England: Bible League. ISBN 0904435873.
- Mauro, Philip (1924). Which version?: Authorized or revised?. Boston: Hamilton Brothers. http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1924_mauro_which-version.html. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- Paisley, Ian R. K (1997). My Plea for the Old Sword. Emerald House Group. ISBN 1840300159. http://www.ianpaisley.org/plea.asp.
- Price, James D. (2006). King James Onlyism: A New Sect. James D. Price Publisher. ISBN 0979114705. http://www.jamesdprice.com/kingjamesonlyism.html.
- Riplinger, Gail (2004). In Awe of Thy Word: Understanding the King James Bible Its Mystery and History Letter by Letter. Ararat, Va.: A.V. Publications Corp.. ISBN 0963584529.
- Riplinger, Gail (1993). New Age Bible Versions: An Exhaustive Documentation of the Message, Men & Manuscripts Moving Mankind to the Antichrist's One World Religion. Monroe Falls, Ohio: A.V. Publications. ISBN 0963584502.
- Ryken, Leland (2002). The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books. ISBN 1581344643.
- White, James (1995). The King James Only Controversy. Bethany House. ISBN 1556615752.
External links
Pro King James Only
Anti King James Only