Why I Continue To Use The King James Bible
David C. Bennett, D. Min.
The
King James Bible is still the supreme Bible translation in the English speaking
world.
From
1611 A.D. to 2002 A.D. the King James Bible has been read, taught, and preached
from in the entire English speaking world. It is the Bible of the great revivals
and the Christian missionary movement.
Many
Bible believing Christians are firmly convinced the Holy Spirit of God
providentially superintended in bringing together this magnificent English
translation which has become known as the Authorized Version. There are now
seventy or more English translations of the Bible in part or in whole but the
King James Bible continues to be superior to all these versions for four
reasons; its (1) Superior Hebrew and Greek Texts (2) Superior Translators (3)
Superior Translation Technique and (4) Superior Theology.
(1)
The
Texts underlying the King James Bible are the Masoretic Hebrew Text for the Old
Testament and the Received Text for the New Testament. As to the Masoretic Old
Testament Text the late Dr. Robert Dick Wilson, Princeton Seminary, said "I can
affirm that there’s not a page of the Old Testament in which need have any
doubt. We can be absolutely certain that substantially we have the text of the
Old Testament that Christ and the Apostles had and which was in existence from
the beginning." (Which Bible, 1st edition pp.80-81). For the New
Testament the vast bulk of Greek manuscripts (over 5,000) in existence today are
of the Received Text which underlies the King James Bible.
(2)
The
King James Bible Translators were brilliant scholars (Puritan and Church of
England men). They were the greatest scholars of their day, so scholarly and
learned that the scholarship of today dwarfs in comparison. Two examples of the
quality of these men are John Bois and Lancelot Andrews. John Bois was able to
read the Bible in Hebrew at the age of five years! He was a proficient Greek
scholar at the age of fourteen and for years he spent from 4 o'clock in the
morning till 8 o'clock at night in the Cambridge library studying manuscripts
and languages. His library contained one of the most complete collections of
Greek literature ever assembled.
Lancelot
Andrews was the Chairman of the overall committee and was the greatest linguist
of his day, being conversant with fifteen languages! His manual for private
devotions, prepared by him, is wholly in the Greek language.
(3)
The
Superior Translation Technique used was the verbal and formal equivalence
translation technique. The translation work was performed by 57 men divided into
six companies, following fifteen rules to govern their work. Every translator
was assigned certain books and was to translate those books from the Hebrew or
Greek into English. When each man’s committee met he had to come with the
translation in his own handwriting of those books assigned him from the Hebrew
or Greek. Fourteen times was the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, translated,
analyzed, and corrected before completion.
(4)
Lastly
the King James Bible is Superior in its Theology. By using Superior Texts the
King James Bible has retained many passages omitted in the new versions and
therefore retaining vital Bible doctrines. The King James Bible retains 1 John
5: 7, 8. The text is found in eight extant Greek manuscripts, and five of them
are dated before the 16th century (Greek miniscules 88, 221, 429, 629, 636.
There is also abundant support from the Latin translations of which there are at
least 8000 extant Latin manuscripts, and many of them contain 1 John 5:7f. These
verses should be regarded as authentic for they are the clearest proof-text in
Scripture for the doctrine of the Trinity. Then consider Mark 16:9-20. These
verses are retained in the King James Bible but either bracketed or omitted in
the other English versions throwing doubt on doctrines such as Christ’s bodily
resurrection. Dean John Burgon (1813-1888) aptly defends these verses in his
book "The Last Twelve Verse of Mark." Burgon’s defense is from the Early Church
Fathers, early Versions, Manuscript evidence, internal evidence, and
Lectionaries.
By
God’s good providence King James I authorized the English Bible translation
which gave the world a masterpiece of English literature and at the same time
God’s Word to man! Arguments will not change unbelief or the minds of skeptics
but saving "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans
10:17. 1 Peter 1:25 "…the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the
word which by the gospel is preached unto you." Mark 4:9 "He that hath ears to
hear, let him hear."
