Dear Brethren,
In this weekly article, I want to share to you why our Church uses the King James Version Bible (also called the Authorised Version). The King James Bible produced in the year 1611 is the English Bible born out of the 16th century Protestant Reformation which is the greatest revival sent by God in church history. The King James Bible has been a great blessing to Churches for more than 300 years till the introduction of corrupted versions of the English Bible. Sadly, many Churches today have rejected the King James Bible which is the only English Bible that has the stamp of approval from God as it is most faithfully and accurately translated. Here are the 4-fold reasons why we use the King James Bible only.
1. Superior Texts (Hebrew and Greek)
The King James Bible is the only English Bible that used the preserved Hebrew and Greek texts in its translation. The Bible is 100% inspired and preserved by God and written in Hebrew in the Old Testament and Greek in the New Testament (2 Tim 3:16; Psa 12:6-7). The Lord has preserved His Word perfectly for us which is found in the Hebrew Masoretic text and the Greek Textus Receptus (or Received text). The only English Bible that translated from these preserved texts of God’s Word is the King James Bible. All other English Bibles, including the popular NIV Bible, translated from the corrupted texts of Westcott & Hort which is really a minority text and discovered only in the year 1881. If Westcott & Hort text is a true preserved text of God’s Word, it will mean God’s people do not have the truth of God’s Word for more than 1000 years. This is not possible as God has said His Word is preserved and given to His people in every generation and forever (Psa 12:7; 119:160). Westcott & Hort text changes the New Testament in more than 5000 places. Hence, we use the King James Bible because its underlying Hebrew and Greek texts are the perfectly preserved Word of God.
2. Superior Translators
“Work on the King James Bible began in 1604. In that year a group of Puritans under the leadership of Dr. John Reynolds, president of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, suggested to King James I that a new translation of the Bible be undertaken. This suggestion appealed to James, who was himself a student of theology and of the Scriptures, and he immediately began to make the necessary arrangements for carrying it out. Within six months the general plan of procedure had been drawn up and a complete list made of the scholars who were to do the work. Originally 54 scholars were on this list, but deaths and withdrawals reduced it finally to 47. These were divided into six companies which checked each other’s work. Then the final result was reviewed by a select committee of six and prepared for the press. Because of all this careful planning the whole project was completed in less than seven years. In 1611 the new version issued from the press of Robert Barker in a large folio volume bearing on its title page the following inscription: `The Holy Bible, containing the Old Testament & the New: Newly Translated out of the Original tongues; & with the former Translations diligently compared and revised by His Majesties special Commandment'” (Edward F. Hills, Believing Bible Study, p. 64).
The King James Bible translators were all godly men who were extremely gifted in languages especially in Hebrew and Greek. In comparison with the translators of other versions of the English Bible, you will find most of them pale in linguistic scholarship and worst of all, some of them even embrace ecumenism and Roman Catholicism in their doctrinal beliefs. Translators who do not hold a high view of God and His Word will never faithfully translate the Word of God.
3. Superior Technique
The King James Bible translators used the superior technique of verbal equivalence and formal equivalence in their translation. Verbal equivalence means that the very words, wherever possible, are brought over from Hebrew into English and from Greek into English. The technique of formal equivalence means the translators brought over, wherever possible, the very forms of the Hebrew and Greek words into English. They didn’t transform the grammar. They didn’t take a noun and make a verb out of it. They brought a verb into a verb and a noun into a noun wherever possible. They were skilled translators who had a proper concept of what “translation” really is.
The other modern English versions used the inferior technique of dynamic equivalence which gives the translators the right to add to God’s Words, to subtract from God’s Words, or to change God’s Words. Revelation 22:18-19 tells us of God’s curse on those who dare to do any of those three things to God’s Word! Those who use this false technique are really paraphrasing rather than translating by putting their own meanings and thoughts into God’s Word.
4. Superior Theology
The King James Bible is a most faithful and accurate translation that glorifies God and declares all the doctrines of the Word of God faithfully. In the other English versions, you will find alterations in some translated verses which deny the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His blood atonement etc. These versions will also undermine God’s Word by declaring some verses are not part of Scriptures and even removing verses from the Bible eg. NIV has removed Matthew 18:11 and Acts 8:37.
I believe these 4-fold reasons will convince every reader that the King James Bible is superior. I like to answer one objection to using King James Bible as some people say it is difficult to understand the old English words eg. “Ye, Thee, Thou”. Do you know that these words are used purposely to identify if it is referring to a single person (singular) or more than one person (plural)? The English word “You” cannot tell if it refers to singular or plural. In the King James Bible, when you read “Thee or Thou”, it means singular only to one person. When you read “Ye”, it means plural of more than one person.
It is our duty and responsibility to God and His people to use the best and most faithful and accurate translation of the Word of God that the Lord has given to us. Without any doubt, it has to be the time-honoured and God-approved King James Bible for the English speaking world. We can hold the King James Bible in our hands and confidently say it is the Word of God!
Elder John Leong