This is really a topic, FK, that is worth reading and learning about.
I certainly would not, as an Orthodox Christian, agree with everything that Waite writes on this topic, but there is one point on which he is absolutely, 100% right, and that is the superiority of the Greek NT text underlying the KJV when compared to the Greek text that is used to underlie all other translations of the Scripture except for those that derive from the KJV. Of these latter, there is a good one (The Third Millenium Bible) and a bad one (the NKJV).
The second point on which the KJV is far superior to most modern translations is that it uses a principle of exact translation as much as possible, rather than the principle of so-called "dynamic equivalence." It simply follows the structure and wording of the Greek more closely. Many things that are considered to be archaic or "Elizabethan English" in the KJV are actually the result of the translators being shaped by the Greek text.
The third and most obvious superiority is the matchless language. Yes, it takes a little effort to look up a word occasionally, but if you read it aloud, there is nothing like it. It is a treasure of our language, and its loss has been tragic. It is too bad that, as Waite says, a major driving force in new translations and revisions is, quite simply, money. The KJV is in the public domain, and thus, no-one can make much money from publishing it.
And know, when you use the KJV, that you are reading direct translations of the liturgical texts of the Greek Orthodox Church. The reason why the number of manuscripts that support the Byzantine text-type is so voluminous compared to the number of texts supporting the modern critical editions is that, well, the people who actually knew and used Greek through the centuries chose to copy those manuscripts!
... The second point on which the KJV is far superior to most modern translations is that it uses a principle of exact translation as much as possible, rather than the principle of so-called "dynamic equivalence."
Thank you for the info. I suppose if I was honest, I would have to say that my main issue with the KJV is the Oh-so-unoriginal readability issue. It's not that I don't think I CAN understand it. I mean, I read Matthew Henry in his original words, so I figure if I can handle that, I can handle the KJV. :)
BUT, it is a lot more work. :) I think I have a stumbling block because even when I do the mental translation into today's English, I'm still not sure how to take some words or concepts. I don't know what the colloquialisms, etc. of the old times were, so I worry about missing something, not SOLEY due to my laziness :) for not researching, but that I could very easily miss something without even realizing it. I suppose that fear helped me to pick a version like the NIV, which hopefully, was designed to take care of issues like that.
One thing I have no grasp of at all is to what degree the KJV really is different. On this thread, people from all three sides have posted quotes from the KJV, and though I know I didn't notice every case, I can only think of one instance where the KJV was significantly different from what I would have expected. I think it was from the OT, and I can't remember the cite, but it was the "God creates/causes evil" verse. :) That one really struck me as being different.
But other than that, I know I've read dozens of quoted passages posted in the KJV, especially from Dr. E., and I've never really noticed anything I didn't expect. Of course I haven't compared them all line for line with my version, but I have on some, especially those of opponents :), and I can't really see any pattern of significant difference. Perhaps there is one I'm just not seeing. That is something that would really interest me, knowing what the important differences are. If anyone already knows of such a website, I would very much like to see it.
In any event, by no means have I ever thought the KJV was an inferior translation or anything. And, I am grateful to learn that it is, in fact, a Superior translation. That part I didn't know. :)
It is too bad that, as Waite says, a major driving force in new translations and revisions is, quite simply, money. The KJV is in the public domain, and thus, no-one can make much money from publishing it.
Now that's an aspect I hadn't thought of. Given my training, shame on me! :)