Posted on 01/27/2018 6:52:30 AM PST by tiredofallofit
Okay, so there is more than just one problem with the KJV Only movement. I know that. But having grown up in a KJV only church, there is one major problem that sticks out to me above the rest. It is not just a major problem; it is an insurmountable problem. And it drives me crazy.
If the King James Version, which is a 1611 English translation of the Bible, is truly the only infallible, inerrant, and inspired Word of God, then what about the billions of people who have lived and died and never understood a word of English? At this very moment, there are more than 6 billion people in the world who understand little or no English.
And lest we forget, it wasn’t until 1455 that the first Bible was printed (on the Gutenberg Press) and then much later into the 16th century before the Bible became affordable and widely available. These early Bibles were printed in Latin. This begs an important question. Did the Faithful over the centuries who either never had access to the Bible or had to read it in Latin go to hell because they never held the King James Version in their hands?
By claiming that the King James Version is God’s only chosen version, the KJV Only crowd is dismissing tens of centuries of Christendom and implying that the majority of the world populations today cannot know the truth of God’s word. Such a claim is arrogant and nonsensical. Most of these KJV types proclaim their adherence to “Sola Scriptura” yet nowhere in the King James Version does it tell us which version is the true one. Many of these same people also express their disdain for the”traditions of men” while at the same time swearing allegiance...
(Excerpt) Read more at runningawayfrommychurch.com ...
I was raised and am still a member of a Southern Baptist Church. Most of them typically use the KJV but I don’t recall any of them saying it was the only version to use.
It really does read majestically.
You have never heard of KJV Onlyism??
Never made sense to me either. How could all those German people be lost? Those who read the Gutenberg Bible or Tyndale’s Bibles in English?
The KJV was what I grew up with and used until a teen, that was when the Living Bible came out. There are still KJV highly preferred types of people, but I have trouble understanding it now. Personally prefer the ESV.
I’m not a KJ Onlyism fella. However, the KJ version has been translated into hundreds of different languages over the years.
Personally, I use 2-3 different translations for research, including Greek on the NT. However, I’m not a fan of some of the newer ones that are so-called “gender-neutral” etc. as that’s not what the old manuscripts called out. IF they can’t even get that right, then what else did they miss and/or deliberately mess up?
I stick to the older translations before “political correctness” set into the scene.
No matter what version of the Bible you use, your best understanding does not come from your intellect.
Your best understanding comes from reading the scripture, in prayer ask the Holy Spirit to help you to understand it, and listen with an open heart in meditation for the answer.
By using this method, you will find that you are guided in your search for understanding by phenomenal epiphanies. I warn you though as each answered question causes twenty more unanswered questions to surface.
Our church also uses the ESV. I had never owned one until I moved there a few years ago, but I like it.
I prefer KJV, and won’t attend a church that uses any other version. But no way have I ever thought it’s “infallible”. For just one thing, it’s translation of the Ten Commandments isn’t perfect. It’s translated, “Thou shalt not KILL”. Better translated from the original is, “Thou shalt not MURDER”. There’s a difference.
I’m Baptist preacher’s kid and attended seminary, and have never heard anyone say or imply that KJV is “perfect”. I figure some denominations, or sub-sets within denominations, go with “only-ism” — just haven’t run across them.
My grandfather was a true genius. He attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in the early 1900s. He could read Latin and Greek but not Aramaic.
I recall his telling Daddy once that the KJV was a very accurate translation. Maybe the “Good News Bible” is more accurate but not sure.
The other important thing I learned was that I do not need to convince others of the correctness of my Bible scripture interpretations. It is for me alone. If I find myself desiring to convince others, that is my ego holding onto and attached to knowledge as a possession and this is as dangerous in spiritual growth as worshipping idols. In fact it is even more dangerous to worship yourself as an idol than external artifacts.
But there does have to be SOME standard by which we measure the accurateness of Biblical interpretation? If we all just hold to our own interpretations how can Christianity be achieved?
Sorry, I meant how can Christian unity be achieved....
Apparently, as of Oct 2017, it’s been translated into 670 other non-English languages.
Oh yeah? Well, WHICH English speaking people?
Language changes and evolves constantly. It's one of the least static aspects of human life. In a few brief decades even, it evolves drastically. If I asked someone to "burn a CD" thirty years ago, they would look quizzically at me, wondering why the hell would I want to throw a certificate of deposit into the incinerator.
English isn't the same thing that it was a hundred years ago, much less four hundred.
No. But I like it because it’s errors have been written about and discussed at great length. Which makes it a great study cross reference.
Never let go of your intellect, hold onto it and use it to ground the knowledge received in prayerful meditation in the reality you are experiencing. Love is the key as it is the glue that holds the soul together, thus Jesus’ first and most important commandment.
I’ve had to change my interpretation of reality many times along the journey. My increased understanding never discounted Bible Scripture as that has been my beacon on the journey, it merely provided vaility to the Bible as the Word of God. The Bible is very scientific in what it teaches as a miracle is merely science that we currently do not understand.
I define science as the process of “Understanding How God Works.”
Remember, Jesus said, “The things that I do and even more you too shall do in my name.” If those things are not unfolding in your life, focus more on Jesus’ teachings. (That’s why I always favor a “Red Letter Edition.”)
Yes, but the King James Onlyists still claim that the English version is the perfect version and that all other translations will have problems.
I find that there are a lot of people who want to feel better about themselves who can only do so by putting down others. Onlysim — of any kind — strikes me as a prime example.
Translations or Languages?
There’s a difference.
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