This article is going to focus on the history of the King James Version of the Bible and why it is my go-to version of choice. I believe it is preserved and inerrant, the best we have in the English language and all that we really need. God ordained King James, who ordained other authors?
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
The King James Authorised Version of the Holy Bible (KJV) began translation in 1604 by 47 top scholars, under the commission of King James I of England, and completed seven years later in 1611.
It was the first full translation from original sources rather than the Latin Vulgate, a vast improvement from previous English translations the Great Bible and Bishops' Bible.
Jeremiah 30:2 Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
We can see the KJV has more good fruit than all other versions combined. It passed the test of time, saving souls for 400+ years, blessed to become the most widely printed and best selling book in history. Opening the gospel to all men, not only Latin speakers nor filtered through clergy.
Deuteronomy 27:8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
With the masses able to read the Bible they were able to see the un-biblical practices and traditions in the established churches of the era and this led to a rapid rise of changes, Protestantism and many denominations branched off. It sowed the seeds for the Western Christian culture which was spread by the British Empire and took root in North America, Australia, and places all over the world.
Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Until the 19th Century, people were by-and-large content with the KJV. The linguistics were polished (for example writing U in place of V) but the content kept the same. There were alternative versions, even before the KJV was written, the Geneva Bible contained many Puritan annotations rather than letting scripture interpret scripture. This is one of the issues that sets the KJV apart from other versions: the authors were not attempting to impart any of their views onto God's word.
Psalm 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
From the 19th and especially 20th Century, a flurry of new versions began to emerge. Many of these were written by individuals with strong ideological views that they wished to impart in their version. Words were changed and diverged more and more from the source material, the word of God was becoming diluted and other things were starting to creep in under the guise of better accuracy and readability. Why fix what isn't broken? Even mainstream versions have dangerous doctrinal changes that grow by the year, as is thoroughly detailed in G. Riplinger's New Age Bible Versions.
Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
We have now reached a point where outright perversions of the Bible are being written, the intention to re-write parts that the author dislikes, regardless of if it corresponds with the true translation. One of the best example of this is the New World Translation which few (if any) serious scholars will accept. Among other things they added the name Jehovah to the New Testament to support Jehovah's Witness doctrine, but if you search the sources, the name Jehovah is never to be found.
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.
We have now reached a point where dozens of new Bibles are being pumped out yearly to make money and spread falsehood rather than spread the gospel and truth, the Queen James Bible twists verses that the author dislikes regarding sodomy, and then we have really reached a low:
Genesis 1:1 (Word on the Street) First off, nothing. No light, no time, no substance, no matter. Second off, God starts it all up and WHAP! Stuff everywhere!
Genesis 1:1 (LolCat) Oh hai. In teh beginnin Ceiling Cat maded teh skiez An da Urfs, but he did not eated dem.
If we are still around in 400 years, the KJV will still be with us, but these not so much.. but I dread to think what the new versions will look like by that time! We have a choice of meats and the KJV has thoroughly matured. It is a big and juicy steak that will fill you and everyone you share it with: friends, family, even strangers. Do not chance it: please stick with the original and best.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Further Reading:
Further Reading:
No comments:
Post a Comment