This will be a long, long post. Whatever points you bring up will probably be at least alluded to in the post.
The Severity of the Why the Topic of Bible Transmission/KJV Only is Essential:
The Bible, if you are a Christian, is where we get all of our beliefs
from. If you get the Bible wrong, you get most, if not all, your
theology wrong. If you do not have a perfect Bible today in your hands,
you cannot have a perfect belief, because
faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Revelation 22
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Now some may argue that isn’t a literal reading or it applies only to
Revelation or whatever. It doesn’t discount the fact that the Bible at
the very least holds its own words (or Revelation’s) very important, and
at the most, threatens hell or an equivalent for those who add or
subtract words.
We do see the same words in in Deuteronomy, and thus since it is a
cross reference, it covers the whole Bible from Old to New (or at the
very least, Deuteronomy and Revelation).
The point is, handling the Bible’s words is a severe thing, whatever way you look at it.
Categories of KJV Only:
First understand not every KJV Only adherent believe the exact same things about the KJV.
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Preference KJV Only
The person only prefers to read the KJV for its language, prose, or some
other non-important reason that has no or little bearing whether it is
the Word of God or not. May feel comfortable with other versions.
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Best Manuscripts KJV Only
The line of Antioch and Majority Manuscripts used throughout church
history where the KJV is translated form versus the corrupt Alexandrian
and Minority Manuscripts rejected by church history where most newer
versions are based of. This one may be comfortable with NKJV and other
Majority text derivative translations.
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Best Translation KJV Only
Comparisons between the KJV and other versions are often a thing with
this category. Very closely related to Best Manuscripts, and may use
some Supernatural/Prophetic KJV Only arguments. Prefers the KJV as it is
the best English translation and version due to the KJV translators
exceptional translation skills and other humanistic considerations. They
may believe however that a KJV equivalent can exist or can be
achievable in otherm non-English langauges as equal to the Word of God.
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Supernatural/Prophetic KJV Only
Based on the belief that God is supernaturally active in Bible
transmission and translation and publishing and language spread today,
and is based on prophetic readings of the Word of God about the Word of
God that the KJV seems to fulfill. The KJV is the final and only perfect
Word of God for today, and that excludes other language translations as
well. So-called Ruckmanites, “double inspiration”, “KJV Superior” also
falls in this camp but is not exclusive to them. This category seeks out
to strip all humanistic reasoning of Bible transmission and replace
them with Biblically-based supernatural reasoning.
Reasons why someone can be KJV Only:
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Reasons for Perfection
Objective Truth versus Subjective Truth
Either there is an objective truth apart from myself or a subjective truth of myself.
Subjective truth deals with trying to judge interpretation, meanings,
intentions, emotions, feeling, figurative, all personal things, when it
affects me.
(For example, it is subjective when someone says this Bible passage says
to me, and sees the same meaning in a different wording.)
Objective truth however deals with trying to judge ideas, words, literalness by their own merit apart from myself.
(For example, focusing on the differences of the wording because the
wording is different in each version, even though they sound the same to
me. Each version stands on its own in objectivity. They may mean the
same in subjectivity, however, each subjectivity is different.)
An argument where the object, in this case, the Bible, is not fixed or
stable, but is wholly reliant on meaning, is a subjective philosophy.
Subjective philosophy is inherently sinful, because self is inherently sinful. Any truth must be apart from selves.
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Reasons for a Perfect Bible
The Bible claims to be Truth itself, along with the Son of God and the Spirit of God.
The Scripture of God is Truth
John 17:17
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The Son of God is Truth
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The Spirit of God is Truth
John 16:13
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he
will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you
things to come.
So if we have many valid Bibles, we have many truths. Right?
But as we note on other things called truth, they are exclusive.
There is one true Christ, and many false Christs
Matthew 24:24
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall
shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they
shall deceive the very elect.
There is one true Spirit, and many false spirits
1 John 4
4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they
are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye
have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
And in that case,
There is one true Bible, and many false Bibles
2 Corinthians 2:17
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
This passage is speaking about the many forgeries of Paul’s and other
apostle’s letters already spreading in Paul’s time. Things like Gnostic
gospels and so on. They had a Bible version problem back then. It isn’t
just a modern phenomenon.
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Reasons for a Perfectly Worded Bible
The Bible promises objective words preserved, not subjective meanings.
Isaiah 28:10
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Matthew 5:18
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
A jot is the dot on an “i” and a tittle is the line across a “t”.
Matthew 24:35
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Nowhere in the Bible do we see the same emphasis at all at so-called “core meanings” like the Bible does with individual words.
The power of individual words are often very understated.
If you add a single word “not” in Genesis 1:1, you will reverse the whole meaning of the Bible.
Here, we see the Bible put great credence on the differences between similar words:
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
This verse is how we know that the soul and spirit are separate as a
joint and marrow are distinct. Those who hold to a figurative
interpretation often confuse soul and spirit as one thing.
And we see the hermeneutics principle of the Bible: division, not
unity, when it comes to the Bible. In other words, words that seem the
same but are different… are different more than they are the same. (For
example, Israel and the Church are related, and both are people of God,
but are ultimately distinct and divided from each other, not unified. Or
faith, hope, love are all good traits, but are different from each
other. Or grace and mercy are very similar, but are actually opposite in
definition, and must not be confused as one thing.)
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Why is this important? Each individual word is important in the Bible.
If each objective word is important, then subjective meaning is
secondary.
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Reasons for a Perfectly Worded and Translated Bible
So in this case, is the original point (Perfection) broken by this? If
an original needs to be translated to be perfect, then the original
wasn’t perfect? The original is the objective object, right?
We look at this more below in the assumptions of perfection. The
mistake of thinking that is thinking perfection is static, not dynamic.
The idea of objectivity is not broken. Adaptation does not always break
objectivity. Wrong adaptation does, however.
The Bible has been translated even in Hebrew and Greek times. In
fact, we see Jesus quote from an Aramaic translation of Isaiah, not
Hebrew Isaiah. The apostles translated Old Testament references in the
Greek New Testament. So we have a basis on how to translate the Bible.
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Reasons for the KJV being that Perfectly Worded and Translated Bible
Only the KJV has pure manuscripts, a Spirit power-filled history even in
modernity, and it is the only Bible that fulfills prophecies about the
Bible itself. I expound on why below under Basics of KJV Only, but first, let me destroy your assumptions with counter-intuition.
Addressing Assumptions:
God inspired the originals once and that’s it or in other words (Or)
God creates everything perfectly once and leaves it alone (Deistic God)
False. God does not leave even His perfect creations alone, much less the Bible.
God is not active in the Bible transmission process of inspiration, preservation, and translation (Deistic God)
Again, as noted, false. God is involved with everything, and
especially the Bible transmission process.
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Assumptions about Perfection and Concepts
Perfection is an instant process, which is why the originals were perfect!
False. There is more than one type of perfection. What you propose is a deistic, instant perfection which is not found in the Bible.
Static perfection versus dynamic perfection. Anything
on Earth and not in Heaven needs a dynamic perfection. Perfect Adam was
innocent, but not perfect, Biblically. Since the Bible came down from
Heaven, it needs a dynamic perfection, not a static one.
Patience is not instant and is one of the few times we see the word “perfect” in the Bible
James 1
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
A perfect Jesus needed to grow in wisdom, and stature, and favour. He did not come down as a static perfect angel, but a dynamically perfect Son of Man that grows.
Luke 2:52
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
In that same sense, the Bible needed to “increase” to perfection, in this case seven times
Psalm 12:6
6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
We cover the prophecy in this verse below.
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Assumptions about Languages
Hebrew and Greek are “holy” languages! God can only work through them!
False. All languages were created by God at Babel
There were many versions of Hebrew/Greek/other Bibles like we do with English
False. Only one for each language at a time. There was
one Hebrew Bible in the time of early Israel. No other competing Bibles,
whether Hebrew or another language. There was one Aramaic Bible in time
of the exile. No other competing Bibles whether in Aramaic or another
language. There was one Greek Bible for the apostolic era, then one
Syriac Bible for the era after that, then one Latin Bible for the Dark
Ages (not the Roman Catholic New Vulgate, but the Old Vulgate), then one
German Bible for Reformation (from Luther), then, finally, one English
Bible for today.
We also see that the main Bible of an era is always in the main
language of the people of God in that era. Since the Gentile Church is
the major force of the people of God today, it is English (along with
other reasons).
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Assumptions about Originals and Bible Transmission
The originals are the originals
False. The true originals reside in heaven forever. Since the ones on Earth are thus earthly originals, they have to go through a purification process.
Psalm 119:89
89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.
Only the originals given to the Bible writers are/could be perfect
They were perfect, but only for their time. They were incomplete as time went on.
Only the originals were inspired (Or)
Inspiration is a static, one-time thing!
False. Scripture is given by inspiration, and scripture
by definition means copies (script-, writing -ture, repeated), not
originals. We know it is speaking about copies because the same word are
used to talk about the manuscripts of the Old Testament that Paul had,
which are definitely copies, not original autographs.
Inspiration only happens with Bibles
Humanity, too, is inspired the same way. Adam the original human was
inspired by God the same way He inspired the originals. The Bible uses
the same word of inspiration and breathing for both instances.
Thus with that, we can make direct analogies from humanity’s transmission to the line of Bible transmission.
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Assumptions about Manuscripts
The older a manuscript is, the better and more accurate, right?
False. The more numerous a manuscript is, the better.
because God is involved in the Bible transmission, it follows that the
majority of the Bibles the Church uses in its history would be correctly
preserved. The fact we have older manuscripts that differ from the
majority means those were reject copies, rejected by the Church at large
in history. This is the same reasoning why we don’t accept the extra
gospels to the canon is because they weren’t accepted by the church at
large.
Also, rejected older manuscripts can only be found if they are
preserved, which means they weren’t used at all. The ones the church
actually uses, broke down, of course, and so new copies had to be made.
This is why we have so many copies of the Majority Text but so little of
the Minority Text: the church trusted it, and so they made more copies
of it, and the older copies wore out quick, which is why we don’t see
older Majority manuscripts.
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Assumptions about Translations
Translations can never be holy or supernatural! ( Or We never see translation in the Bible!)
False. Translation is in the Bible, both the spiritual act, essence, and process.
First, we see God translating Enoch. And as I note, humanity is inspired
the same way as Bibles were inspired and took the same supernatural
act, thus we can note that this translation also applies to correct
Bible translation.
Second, we see in the Gospels Jesus reading an Aramaic translation of
the Hebrew Isaiah, not the Hebrew Isaiah. Hence we know translation of
the original can be valid.
Third, we see how the apostles translated Old Testament passages to
New Testament references. For example, we see how the apostles
translated the Isaiah passage Jesus quotes from to the Greek New
Testament. This process is very close to how the KJV translators
translated to English and is very different from the scholarly
translation process we see today.
Translation is a human/secular/scholarly thing apart from Bible transmission!
False. As noted, Inspiration and Translation are both
parts of the same human transmission, and hence there is no reason to
conclude translation is apart from divine Bible transmission
Translations were never done in Bible times
Look above for the answer.
Translations can never be better than the originals
False. As I have shown, Enoch the translated is superior to Adam the original.
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Assumptions about Word-to-Word Equivalency and Accuracy
This Bible version has a better word-to-word equivalency rating than the KJV!
This is often said about comparing ESV, NASB, etc. to the KJV. However, the basis of the accusation is faulty at best.
The root assumption of a better word-to-word equivalency comes from
uninspired Hebrew and Greek to English lexicons. No, dictionaries are
not inspired, but the Bible is.
Also, another assumption is that word-to-word equivalency is a valid
standard. It isn’t. We see how the Bible translates Old Testament
passages it references in the New Testament. For example, the Hebrew
Tetragrammatron, God’s name spelled out, is translated by the apostles
into Greek
Kyrios, which just means Lord. And you can
technically spell it out in Greek, but the apostles in inspiration of
the Holy Spirit “reduces” it to mere
Kyrios.
- Assumptions concerning Updates and Relevancy
Covered more under
Archaic Words in the Bible below.
Basics of KJV Only:
The Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts, the Minority Manuscripts,
often said as older, were found in the equivalent of church trash cans
and with recent research considered possible forgeries
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Translation Evidence
It is no secret the exceptional pedigree of the King James translators.
Their work was double checked and triple checked and debated in
different languages.
Their translator’s methodology is also very transparent, documented
in the Preface and elsewhere. Often, they are accused of Anglicanism, or
colluding with the king, but we have their documents to show what they
were thinking in translating whichever word or not. In character and
spiritual matters, too, they were off the charts. Modern translator
methodology however is very centralized, usually with an
editor-in-chief.
We also see the King James translators consistently translate the
Bible how the apostles themselves translated Old Testament passages
references to the New Testament, and took that methodology and applied
it to English.
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Historical Evidence
We see the KJV behind both of the nationwide Revivals (such as the Welsh
revival), Great Awakenings, the Missionary Movements, which is
considered the Philadelphia Church Age. We see the founding of the
first “Christian” nation, America and its subsequent rise to superpower.
(while the term “Christian nation” is controversial, compared to other
governments’ founding documents and such, it definitely is, and that’s
all that matters, and besides, all mentions of “Christian” in the Bible
talks about outward appearance, not salvation). No other version can
boast of being part of those movements in any significant manner.
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Prophetic Evidence
Only the KJV can fulfill Psalms 12:6
Psalm 12:6
6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
English is the seventh language the Bible was translated in.
The King James is the seventh English translation.
The 7th edition of the KJV is the world’s best selling book. Yes, this includes all other Bibles and KJV editions.
Isaiah canon of 66 explained below in Miscellany.
Jeremiah prophecy of an evil king creating a perfect Bible explained below in Miscellany.
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Versions Comparison Evidence
Perhaps the most common evidence. This includes comparing the KJV with
the NIV, ESV, etc. where the modern versions remove key words, phrases,
and entire verses. Or sub in a fotnote that casts doubt upon truth such
as “this chapter is not present in the oldest manuscript” blahblah.
There is no space for that, Google is your friend for comparisons.
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Modern Evidence
English as the fastest growing international Gentile language
The KJV is the best selling book and Bible of all time
The 7th edition of the KJV is the best selling book of all time
The KJV is also the one read most by Christians
The great success of the KJV means it does have fruit.
Acts 5
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Even in the flood of modern versions we have today, the KJV reigns
supreme. Compared to KJV’s 85% superiority, the closest we see is NIV at
11%.
Miscellany:
Evil King creates a Perfect Bible in the Bible
How about the person of King James (or Anglicanism or something)?
Accusation of the influence of the king on translation is overblown.
But more importantly, we see in the Bible that God creates a perfect
rendition of Jeremiah’s books along with other books of the Bible under
an evil king’s command in Jeremiah 30. To accuse King James of being
evil is actually fulfilling Bible prophecy and pattern.
Archaic Words in the Bible
Should archaic words be updated to synonyms?
The Bible actually
does speak about archaic words.
I Samuel 9
9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
Here we see the Bible acknowledging that
seer is an archaic word in comparison to the word
prophet. Yet in the next passage, it continues to use
seer instead of
prophet. Just simply put, an archaic synonym of a word is still preferred if it is more accurate.
Since the Bible is our guide, we should follow
The Bible Canon (66) in the Bible
Did we get the canon through historical or scholarly or otherwise
humanistic reasons? Yes, they were trusted by the churches and whatnot.
However, supernaturally, the current 66 book canon (and the 39 and 27
Testament division) we have is largely based on Isaiah’s 66 chapters
which is also divided into 39 and 27. Each chapter of Isaiah corresponds
to a book by theme in order. Coincidence? If one believes in the hand
of God, no.
Before anyone says that chapters do not show up in original
manuscripts, they actually do in Isaiah, as evidenced by the Dead Sea
Scrolls Isaiah Aleph having the same 66 and 39/27 divisions we have
today.
Verses and Chapters in the Bible
The claim is made that chapters and verses do not appear in originals manuscript, and that makes them a bad thing.
However, chapters do appear in older manuscripts for some books. As I
already said, Isaiah does. Psalms does, too, you can see the divisions.
However, chapters and verses are actually improvements. It makes it
easier to find passages. And since Jesus was often quoting passages by
themselves, having a divided Bible is not wrong (and as I show, the
Bible says to divide it, not unify it)
Lack of copyright of the KJV
The King James Bible lack a copyright. A copyright on a Bible signifies
someone else other than God owns that version. A copyright also
signifies that it must be at least 30% different from any other material
for it to be legally sold. So whenever a new version comes out, it must
be 30% different from the NIV, the ESV, etc. for it to be legal. And as
I note, since the Bible places a huge importance on words, a 30% is way
over threshold for it to be safe.
Why KJV Onlyists are often/usually Young Creationist,
Dispensational, Fundamentalist, Baptist, etc. (Not all the time, but
enough to warrant a point)? Since we take the Word of God
literally when it says “every word”, as in every literal word, we tend
to beliefs that depend on literal interpretations. Young Creationist
comes from interpreting Genesis 1 literally, for example.
Dispensationalist comes from interpreting Israel and Church as totally
separate entities. Things like that.
Having multiple versions destroys literalist beliefs based on
objectivity of the Bible. Which is why most who do not hold the above
beliefs often will not have a KJV.
Conclusion:
This is a massive evidence dump. Yes, you can probably nitpick some of
the “weaker” points (really only mostly I haven’t developed them here
for lack of time and space), but taken as a whole, no version of the
Bible can claim all the evidences at once.
For example, you can bring up other Bibles without a copyright. Or
other Bibles translated from the Majority Text. Fine and all. But no
other copyright-less or Majority Text Bibles have the same history and
prophetic and power and spread. Thus all the evidences must be taken
holistically as a whole, not just one or two things.
If you are intent in holding on your Bible version, it doesn’t matter
anyways, as I don’t really aim to change your mind. My only aim is that
we do have a comprehensive case, and that this doctrines about Bible
transmission and translations, are essential.
FAQ:
What about the Apocrypha in the early copies of the KJV?
Why do you have an uninspired map in the back of your Bible? I
guarantee you that map mistakes where Mt. Sinai truly is. The Apocrypha
was never considered to be part of the Bible proper. It is the same as a
map in the back of your Bible, useful for history and reference. The
translators noted as such, and since I believe in a purification
ideology, it being removed is further evidence of purification.
So people who do not use the KJV are unsaved?
No, that’s a strawman. Usage of Bible versions have nothing to do if
someone is unsaved or not. All Bible versions have enough salvation
information in them for salvation’s sake. But also does a gospel tract.
At any rate, salvation passages alone do not make a perfect Bible.
If you are talking about the Revelation 22 passage, we have ample
evidence the passage is talking about the actual Bible translators and
scribes who do intend to remove or add words to the Bible. The book of
life, which is for physical life, is not the Lamb’s book of life, which
is for salvation.
How about people in the past (Adam, Jesus, Paul, etc.), did they have a perfect Bible?
Yes and no. This goes back to the dynamic perfection part. The Bible
they had back then was perfect for their time. But not today’s time.
Why? Well, the Jews had the Old Testament, but lacked the New Testament.
That makes the Bible they had back then incomplete. But it was perfect
for their time. Even in the New Testament, the epistles have not been
gathered into one place, making the Bible splintered. We now have the
full 66 book canon in our hands in our own language.
As I put in the question, why didn’t God give Adam a whole Bible?
This problem still plagues those who believe the originals are the only
true Bibles. If the originals are the only true Bibles, then the true
Bible was only available back then. Not before they were given, not way
after they were given. So in this KJV Onlyism beats the originals
philosophy.
How about people who do not have English as their language? Can they have a perfect Bible in their own language?
( Or
What makes English special?)
As a holder of the supernatural and prophetic KJV Only category:
Accurate, yes. Perfect? No. English seems poised to dominate all
languages. Yes, the Chinese language may be spoken by more people
numerically, but English is spoken by more nations, if not all nations.
English is taught in virtually all countries actively while as many as
2000 languages die each year.
This is a speculation, but since modern statistics do support it: In
conjunction to having the perfect Word of God in English, English will
become the language of the End Times to reflect the fulness of the
Gentiles when Christ raptures the Gentile Church and the Antichrist
comes.
This word in the KJV is better rendered as this other word in this other Bible translation, etc.
The root assumption here is that the Hebrew or Greek Interlinear
Lexicon or Dictionary you use to prove this is inspired. Which they are
not, and cannot be inspired. With translations, it is possible they or
at least one is inspired.
Also, most so-called word problems are easily solved by context
reading, careful literal reading, and/or cross referencing. For example,
Easter in the KJV is correct instead of Passover because it is in the
context of a pagan king’s festival, the feast of unleavened bread, which
the Passover is, already passed, when one reads the passage in
question. Virtually all word rendition problems are solved that way.
What about different KJV editions? There
are differing reasons about the editions. The first reason is the reason
by comparison: changes between KJV editions is minor, spelling and
punctuation most of the time, and whole words some of the time.
Differing editions would be at least 10x smaller scale changes compared
to modern revisions.
The second reason is what I tend to believe, and that the editions
are part of the purification process. The editions were perfect for
their time. But the final one, which is the most prominent and best
selling book of all time (yes, that specific edition) is the perfect
Word of God we have today.
Despite all this, I will stick with my version. What’s the worse that can happen?
Well, you won’t lose your salvation if you’re not KJV Only, as I note.
However, it does bear noting what errant philosophies you may hold in
regards to the Bible, God, and whatnot. First, the erring philosophy of
subjectivity, which means you will hold passages that are literal to be
not literal. Second, an assumption that God may be deistic (at least in
Bible transmission). Thirdly, you will not have a perfect belief.
Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Some other question not in this post? I’ll update this thread as needed.
