THE ERROR OF “KING JAMES ONLY-ISM”
The only reason to study the Bible is to learn about Jesus. He is what the book is all about. We are not saved by “Bible knowledge” (1 Cor. 8:1-3). We are saved by knowing and loving Jesus. The Bible leads us to Christ if it is read correctly, but unfortunately, by many religious leaders, it is not read correctly or taught correctly (John 5:39).
Because reading the Bible in your own language and knowing its meaning is so important, it is important to deal with the errors of “KJV-onlyism.” There are those, in other words, who tell believers that the King James Version is the only “correct Bible.” That it and it alone is the inspired word of God. If that is true, I don’t know where that leaves non-English speaking countries or believers. But, of course, it is not true.
Knowing something about the errors in the King James Version will help one see that modern translations are the best way to go for most people. The KJV is one of the most inaccurate translations one will ever read. While you can certainly learn about Jesus and what to do to be saved from it, building your devotional life on such an antiquated and erroneous version is not the best idea. Our faith is in the inspired word of God in its original languages, not in any single English translation done by fallible men.
There is no doubt about the fact that tradition is strong when we talk about the KJV. It has a rich history and it is very poetic in places. It can be beautiful to read (the 23rd Psalm, for example). But as far as being accurate and the best translation for your daily use, it unfortunately falls way short.
If you disagree with that and decide to use it and continue to use it, that is certainly your choice. But new believers need to be told the truth: that modern translations are the way to go. And children and young people need to be able to read Bible versions they can understand. We do a great disservice to the cause of Christ when we exalt tradition over truth. Saying that “The King James Version is the best translation,” or worse, the “only real translation of God’s word” is simply not truth. The KJV is not even among the best translations available today.
The KJV was a product of its time, and that time has passed. Its translators used the best resources available to them at the time. But that was in the 17th-century. The fact is—and this may be painful for some to accept, but it is the truth—we have older and more reliable manuscripts available to us today than the King James translators had.
The older the manuscript, the more accurate it is going to be because it is closer to the time of the original writings. And so tremendous light has been shed on the text of the Word of God by the availability of better manuscripts than were available in King James’ day. They did the best they could with what they had, but what the modern translator has access to is far better.
Those who persist in asserting that the KJV is a perfect translation, free from error, when far more accurate texts are available to us today, are not as interested in truth as they claim to be. Anytime we elevate what we are comfortable with, our traditions, over reality and the truth, we make the same mistake as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who elevated their traditions over the word of God (Mark 7:13).
Nothing should be more important to us than a pure and honest pursuit of what the Word of God actually says. Devotional study to know about Christ is best accomplished by reading a language with which one is familiar.
When Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians, for example, he did not write in language that was hundreds of years old. He wrote in the current language of the people. The Bible says of Jesus that the common people heard Him gladly (Mark 12:37). Which means He was not speaking in an ancient language to them. He spoke in the language they knew. Any Bible translation today should do the same if it is going to do its job effectively.
And there is nothing “holier” about the King James Version just because it uses Shakespearian English. Shakespeare wrote, “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?“ in his play, Romeo and Juliet. That is not holy language. That is the language of the 17th century in England.
When the KJV uses “thee” and “thine” instead of “you” and “yours,” it is not being “more respectful” to God. God does not expect us to address Him in an ancient language. In the KJV, Jesus says to Peter, “Thou art Peter,” (Matt. 16:18). He was not paying tribute to Peter by using those words of the King James language. What He said was the equivalent to “you are Peter.” And that is the way it should be translated today. There is no need to say, “incline thine ear” (Prov. 2:2) when you can and should say, “listen to my my words” in plain, every day, modern English.
The main problem with the KJV has to do with its source manuscripts, especially when it comes to the New Testament. What the KJV translated the New Testament from were a few late medieval texts. Since that time, scholars and students have discovered literally thousands of older and more trustworthy manuscripts, such as the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus. When people claim that the new translations “omit parts of the Word of God,” they are simply misguided in their conclusions. The reality is, the earlier manuscripts reveal that certain parts of the KJV text were almost certainly not a part of the original inspired writings but were added later by uninspired copyists.
The famous verses of the Comma Johanneum (1 John 5:7) were attached hundreds of years after the inspired text to assert the doctrine of the Trinity. Likewise, the story of Jesus and the adulterous woman (John 7:53-8:11) and the protracted ending of the Gospel of Mark (Mark 16:9-20) are not found in the oldest manuscripts. That does not mean that they definitely do not belong, but it does mean that their absence in the earliest texts should be acknowledged, which is what the modern translations do.
Making the reader aware of these textual differences does not equate to an assault on the reliability of the Scriptures. Rather, it means that we are serious about being true to what God has said.
Another point that should be painfully obvious to anyone who has spent time reading the KJV is that its outmoded expressions make understanding the Bible difficult for the modern reader. The King James Version translated its available texts into Early Modern English, something that is not even used in England anymore.
An extremely large amount of words used in the KJV have become obsolete or have had their meanings changed entirely in the last 400 some odd years. “Conversation” referred to the way one behaves overall rather than to spoken communication, which is what the word means today. “Let” meant “to restrain” rather than “to allow” like it does now. And statements like “we do you to wit” (2 Cor. 8:1, KJV) make absolutely no sense today. And many, many more examples of such could be given. A simple reading of a modern translation will clear things like this up.
While the King James is extremely poetic and beautiful in certain parts, and it is easy to see why people appreciate its poetic nature, this is simply no reason to use it as your only Bible—though it is still your choice—nor is it a reason to tell others that they should read from the King James Version—which is not your choice.
The language barriers of the KJV can make the Bible complicated and difficult to understand for the one seeking to learn about Jesus. And that is definitely not a good thing. People should not have to learn a new language in order to read the Word of God just because to read a modern translation is out of the comfort zone of certain people.
By using and recommending modern translations of the Word of God, we show that our desire is truly for the truth of God. It shows that we want everyone to understand God’s word, not just those who are familiar with 17th-century English.
Doing better and learning better by using better resources that were not available in times past does not reflect negatively on those who were faithful to God in former days who read the King James Version. It means that we are willing to do whatever is necessary to have the best understanding of what God has said that we can possibly have.
Our allegiance as believers is to Jesus and to the inspired Word of God as it was given by the Holy Spirit through the apostles and prophets of the first century. It is not to a particular English translation of the original writings.
When we employ modern translations, compare them, and make use of what modern scholarship has provided for us, we are centered on Christ and dedicated to having and maintaining the best awareness of the heart of the Gospel message that we can have.
Diligence to the truth means that we want to “present ourselves approved to God” (2 Tim. 2:15) by not rebuffing the acceleration of available tools that God has given us to know and follow His holy word.
Bryan Dewayne Dunaway
