King James Version (KJV) Only????
Was the translation process from original languages into English of 1611 A.D. protected from error by direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit?
"KJV only" advocates say yes!
The Facts say NO!
Irrefutable proof the translators were not inspired
Introductory notes
69 Questions for "KJV only" advocates
1611 marginal notes devastating!!!
Indisputable, universally recognized errors in the KJV
Inconsistency in translation
A Good Translation, But Nothing More
9 reasons why the KJV is NOT the best translation today.
Egyptian Corruption Argument refuted
Historical bloodline of "KJV only" false teachers
Archaic Language of the KJV
The Original translators Preface to the 1611 Edition
This outline is designed to refute the view that the King James Version (KJV) is the only modern Bible on earth that is 100% accurate and error free.
1. Foremost, we feel that the KJV is an EXCELLENT translation, but not the ONLY excellent translation. (The Compiler of these articles, Gary Amirault disagrees. The KJV was excellent for its time, but NOT based upon current knowledge of the original languages and the manners and customs of ancient times. There are MUCH better translations available today.)
2. In over 90 percent of the New Testament, readings are identical word-for-word, regardless of the family. Of the remaining ten percent, MOST of the differences between the texts are fairly irrelevant, such as calling the Lord "Christ Jesus" instead of "Jesus Christ," or putting the word "the" before a noun. Less than two percent would significantly alter the meaning of a passage, and NONE of them would contradict or alter any of the basic points of Christian doctrine. (Editor's note: While this may be true for the original languages of the Bible, it is NOT true for the common language translations which came from them. Theologians HAVE added their "traditions of men" to modern Bible translations. See the Tentmaker Internet Site for examples. http://www.tentmaker.org/ScholarsCorner.htmlhttp://www.tentmaker.org/ScholarsCorner.html) What we have, then, is a dispute concerning less than one-half of one percent of the Bible. The other 99.5% we all agree on!
3. Because there are over 14,000 manuscript copies of the New Testament we can absolutely be confident of its accuracy. With this large number of manuscripts, comparing manuscripts easily reveals any place where a scribe has made an error or where there is a variation. There are approximately 150,000 variations in the manuscripts we have today. However, these variations represent only 10,000 places in the New Testament (if the same word was misspelled in 3,000 manuscripts, that is counted as 3,000 variations.) Of these 10,000 places, all but 400 are questions of spelling in accord with accepted usage, grammatical construction, or order of words. Of the remaining variations, only 50 are of significance (such as two manuscripts leaving out Acts 2:37). But of these 50, not one alters even one article of faith which cannot be abundantly sustained by other undoubted passages. There are some manuscripts that date as early as 130 AD, very close to the completion of the New Testament. These manuscripts are nearly identical to those dating 900 years later, thus verifying the accuracy of the scribes.
4. These advocates reject all others Bible's that post-date the KJV.
5. They believe that the KJV is not only inspired in the original language, but also in the translation process.
6. This claim of an inspired translation process is not made for any other Bible translation.
7. Only a very tiny fraction of people who use the KJV actually believe that the translation process was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
8. We feel that the KJV is to be classed as one of several major standards of Bible translations including, NASB, RSV, NKJV, ASV, NIV. All these translations are equal in quality and all should be used for Bible study.
9. The TR itself was based on a very few, late scripts, not one of which contained the entire Greek New Testament and none earlier than the 12th century. In the matter of the book of Revelation, a missing page was translated from the Latin Vulgate BACK to the Greek. Acts 9:6 although found in the Latin Vulgate, and thus the TR is found in no Greek manuscript at all. In light of its obvious shortcomings, a greater number of older and more complete manuscripts were used in the translation of subsequent versions (post-1881)} (The KJV Debate: A Plea for Realism, D.A. Carson)
The Original 1611 King James Version Had Marginal Notes Proving It Is NOT Inspired.
(The reader may purchase a facimile copy of the exact original 1611 King James Version with the marginal readings found below from Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville Tennessee or any Christian bookstore.)
Proof #1: that the translators were NOT inspired in their work of translation:
There are over 8000 alternate English renderings from Greek and Hebrew manuscripts that were identical between the original 1611 King James Bible and the NASB.
The first example (Judges 19:2) below shows a place where the meaning of the Hebrew is obscure. Was it "4 months" or "a year and four months"??? Quite a difference! But the structure of the Hebrew makes it difficult to for any translators to know for sure which it is. So they show the alternate reading, NOT KNOWING THEMSELVES FOR SURE WHICH IS CORRECT!
No one questions the Greek and Hebrew is inspired. But if the translators were also inspired by the Holy Spirit, in their work of translating the inspired Hebrew into English, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN GUIDED BY DIVINE INSPIRATION THE CORRECT RENDERING, hence no need for any alternate readings in the margin.
Remember, although we have only shown one example of this first type of marginal reading, there are over 8000 more we have not shown!
"But his concubine played the harlot against him, and she went away from him to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah, and was there for a period of four months." Judges 19:2 NASB
"And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her fathers house to Bethlehem Iuda, and was there foure whole moneths." Judges 19:2 1611KJV
Marginal KJV and NASB reading: "Heb. A woman a concubine, or a wife a concubine."
Proof #2: that the translators were NOT inspired in their work of translation:
Everyone agrees that there are minor variations in the copies of the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. These errors are typical of types of errors men make when they copy things and make absolutely no doctrinal difference. Jesus promised that "scripture cannot be broken" John 10:36 and Peter said, that the "imperishable ... word of the Lord abides forever" 1 Peter 1:23-25.
Now KJV ONLY advocates believe that the translators were directed by the Holy Spirit to make the correct choice between two variations in the Greek or Hebrew text.
There are a number of marginal readings that indicate alternate manuscript readings. This is different from two English readings from identical manuscripts.
The fact that the translators placed into the margin alternate manuscript readings PROVES BEYOND ANY DOUBT that they WERE NOT GUIDED by the Holy Spirit as to which one of the two readings were correct.
We have included in this collection 13 different places in the original 1611 edition of the KJV where the translators give alternate manuscript readings. (Note: The spelling in the KJV is as it actually appears. The English language has changed greatly since that time.)
"Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai" Ezra 10:40 NASB
"Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai" Ezra 10:40 1611KJV
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Or, Mabnadebai, according to some copies."
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"For my days have been consumed in smoke, And my bones have been scorched like a hearth" Psalm 102:3 NASB
"For my dayes are consumed like smoke: and my bones are burnt as an hearth." Psalm 102:3 1611KJV
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Or (as some reade) into smoke."
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"and to Josiah were born Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon." Mat. 1:11 NASB
"And iosias begate Iechonias and his brethren, about the time they were caried away to Babylon." Mat. 1:11 1611KJV
Marginal reading NASB and 1611KJV: "Some read, Iosias begate Iakim, and Iakim begat Iachonias."
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"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." Luke 10:22 NASB
"All things are deliuvered to me of my father: and no man knoweht who the sonne is, but the father: and who the father is, but the sonne, and he to whom the sonne will reuele him." Luke 10:22 1611KJV
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Many ancient copies adde these words, And turning to his Disciples he said."
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"*["Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left."]" NASB*Margin: "Many manuscripts do not contain this verse" Luke 17:36 NASB
"Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left." Luke 17:36 1611KJV
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "This 36. Verse is wanting in most of the Greek copies."
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"And after he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea; and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought." Acts 25:6 NASB
"And when hee had taried among them more then ten dayes, hee went downe vnto Cesarea, and the next day sitting in the iudgment seat, commanded Paul to be brought." Acts 25:6
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Or, as some copies reade, no more then eight or ten dayes."
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"And, masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him." Eph. 6:9 NASB
"And ye masters, do the same things vnto them, forbearing threatning: knowing that your master also in in heauen, neither is there respect of persons with him." Eph. 6:9 1611KJV
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Or, moderating. Some reade, both your, and their master."
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"But someone may well say, "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:18 NASB
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I haue workes: shew mee thy faith without thy workes, and I will shew thee my faith by my workes." James 2:18 1611KJV
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Some copies reade, by thy workes."
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" For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps" 1 Peter 2:21 NASB
"For euen hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for vs, leauing vs an example, that yee should follow his steps." 1 Peter 2:21 1611KJV
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Some reade, for you."
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"And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned" 2 Peter 2:2 NASB
"And many shall follow their pernicious wayes, by reason of whom the way of trueth shall be euill spoken of:" 2 Peter 2:2 1611KJV
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Or lasciuious wayes, as some copies reade."
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"whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord" 2 Peter 2:11 NASB
"Whereas Angels which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord." 2 Peter 2:11
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Some read against themselves."
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"For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error" 2 Peter 2:18 NASB
"For when they speake great swelling words of vanitie, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonnesse, those that were cleane escaped from them who liue in errour." 2 Peter 2:18 1611KJV
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Or, for a litle, or a while as some read."
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"Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what *we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward" 2 John 8 NASB
"Looke to your selues, that wee lose not hose things which wee haue wrought, but that we receiue a full reward." 2 John 8 1611KJV
Marginal reading of NASB and 1611KJV: "Or, gained. Some copies reade, which yee haue gained, but that ye receiue, &c."
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Two More Important Marginal KJV Readings
The following two marginal readings of the 1611 King James Bible have been added by the compiler of this series of articles, Gary Amirault. I've inserted them to show that there ARE doctrinal issues involved among leading English translations despite what some of the other writers assert. The following two marginal readings of the original King James Bible will point this out. It will also point out that Christian writers, Bible translators and publishers can be quite dishonest in their writings, books, and even Bible translations.
The writer who selected the previous 13 KJV marginal notes COULD have selected some marginal readings proving that one of our leading Christian doctrines, the Doctrine of Hell, may not actually be in the original Greek text. He chose not to. The following two marginal 1611KJV readings bring this out:
"O DEATH, where is your victory? O DEATH (gr. hades), where is your sting?" 1 Cor. 15:55 NASB
"O death, where is thy sting? O graue (gr. hades), where is thy victorie?" 1 Cor. 15:55 1611KJV
The marginal reading of the 1611KJV is "Or hell" and the NASB mysteriously eliminates the marginal reading completely.
So the King James translators can't seem to be able to make up their mind whether "hades" is simply the grave or Hell. The NASB translators think its death, at least in this verse. They have to contradict themselves in other places like Revelation 20:13 because "death (thanatos) and hell (hades) are thrown into the lake of fire. If "hades" really is "death" as they translated in 1 Corinthians 15:55, then if they were consistent in their translating, they would have to render Revelation 20:13 "and DEATH and DEATH delivered up the dead which were in them." As we can see, many English Bible translations, the King James AND the NASB among many other leading "selling" Bibles are FAR from consistent. Dark Age tradition still remains in most leading selling Bible translations.
Getting back to hell, or grave, or death, or whatever hades means, this storyline gets even more interesting:
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, everyone of them according to their deeds." Revelation 20:13 NASB (Note: no marginal reading)
"And the sea gaue vp the dead with were in it: and death and hell deliuered vp the dead which were in them: and they were iudged euery man according to their works." Revelation 20:13 1611KJV (Note: Marginal reading in some 1611KJV Bibles "Or hell, and in some others, "Or grave."
Interesting…in the same year two different printings of the same original KJV with different marginal readings. But it gets much more interesting. In Revelation 20:13 we find the same Greek word "hades" as in 1 Cor. 15:55, but this time the King's translators put the word "hell" in the text and two completely different marginal readings "Or hell" in one printing and "Or grave" in the other printing. Surely the King's translators had a most difficult time with that word. Where "grave" was in the text 1 Cor. 15:55 and "hell" in the margins, now they reversed it. Obviously the "Or hell" reading in Revelation 20:13 was a mistake because it would make no sense having hell in the text and "Or hell" in the margins. The second printing of the 1611KJV in the year 1611 corrected this mistake and hundreds of others!
The complete story behind this is somewhat complicated but very interesting. I'll give the short version here. The original printing of the 1611KJV was riddled with spelling errors and other mistakes like the marginal reading of Revelation 20:13 being "or hell" when in fact "hell" was already in the text. The marginal reading was obviously a mistake and corrected in subsequent printings.
In 1611, at least two different printings occurred, one being dubbed by historians as the "He" Bible and the other printing being called the "She" Bible. These nicknames came about from one printing in Ruth 3:15 contained the reading "he" and the other printing containing the reading "she" in the very same verse. They couldn't determine who was being referred to in this verse. (Another major proof against the teaching that the translators were inspired.) According to Craig Lampe, co-owner of Jonathan Byrd's Rare Books and Bibles, claiming to have the largest private collection of antiquated Bibles in the United States, the original printings of the King James Bible in 1611 were bound not only in the year 1611, but in 1613, 1617, 1634 and 1639 as well. He was kind enough to send me photocopies of the originals of these Bibles so that I could see for myself that there were two different renderings of the margins in Revelation 20:13 in the first year the KJV was printed.
Anyway, the important point to note, is that the original translators of the original King James Bible couldn't make up their minds whether "Hades" should be translated "grave" or "hell." And the NASB translators couldn't make up their mind whether hades meant "death" or "hell." Both Bible translations, as well as the NIV, NRSV, Living Bible, Amplified Bible and a host of others continuously contradict themselves regarding a handful of key Hebrew and Greek words. Why? Because they refuse to let go of certain "traditions of men and doctrines of demons." The word "hell" does NOT belong on the pages of the Bible. The only reason they sought to put it in the Bible in the first place is because they were translating out of "tradition" NOT from the true meaning of the original languages.
The King's translators' hands were tied even before they began to translate. This is also the case for most modern English translations. Modern Bible publishers bind the hands of their translators just as much as the King James' translators' hands were bound. I know. I've talked with some of them.
Below is a list of rules King James drew up from which the translators could not deviate. These rules forced them to adhere to Church of England doctrines and traditions even if the Greek or Hebrew text contradicted those traditions. When modern publishers commission translators for new Bible translations, they alsomust sign a statement Here are the fifteen rules King James imposed upon them:
The Rules to be observed in the Translation of the Bible
(Imposed upon the KJV Bible by King James I of England)
1. The ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly called the "Bishops Bible," to be followed, and as little altered as the Truth of the original will permit.
2. The names of the Prophets, and the Holy Writers, with the other Names of the Text, to be retained, as nigh as may be, accordingly as they were vulgarly used.
3. The Old Ecclesiastical Words to be kept, viz. the Word "Church" not to be translated "Congregation" &c.
4. When a Word hath divers Significations, that to be kept which hath been most commonly used by the most Ancient Fathers, being agreeable to the Propriety of the Place, and the Analogy of the Faith.
5. The Division of the Chapters to be altered, either not at all, or as little as may be, if Necessary so require.
6. No Marginal Notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek Words, which cannot without some circumlocution, so briefly and fitly be expressed in the Text.
7. Such Quotations of Places to be marginally set down as shall serve for the fit Reference of one Scripture to another.
8. Every particular Man of each Company, to take the same Chapter or Chapters, and having translated or amended them severally by himself, where he thinketh good, all to meet together, confer what they have done, and agree for their Parts what shall stand.
9. As any Company hath dispatched any one Book in this Manner they shall send it to the rest, to be consider'd of serious and judiciously, for His Majesty is very careful in this Point.
10. If any Company, upon the Review of the Book so sent, doubt or differ upon any Place, to send them Word thereof; note the Place, and withal send the Reasons, to which if they consent not, the Difference to be compounded at the General Meeting, which is to be of the chief Persons of each Company, at the end of the Work.
11. When any Place of special Obscurity is doubted of Letters to be directed by Authority, to send to any Learned Man in the Land, for his Judgment of such a Place.
12. Letters to be sent from every Bishop to the rest of his Clergy, admonishing them of this Translation in hand; and to move and charge as many as being skilled in the Tongues; and having taken pains in that kind, to send his particular Observations to the Company, either at Westminster, Cambridge, or Oxford.
13. The Directors of each Company, to be the Deans of Westminster, and Chester for that Place; and the King's Professors in the Hebrew or Greek in either University.
14. The translations to be used when they agree better with the text than the Bishops Bible: Tindoll's, Matthew's, Coverdale's, Whitchurch's (Great Bible), Geneva.
15. Besides the said Directors before mentioned, three or four of the most Ancient and Grave Divines, in either of the Universities, not employed in Translating, to be assigned by the Vice-Chancellor, upon the Conference with the rest of the Heads to be Overseers of the Translations as well Hebrew and Greek, for the better Observation of the fourth Rule above specified.
(Above list was taken from "A Book About the English Bible" by Josiah H. Penniman, 1919, Macmillan publishers. He got this list from A.W. Pollard's "Records of the English Bible, pp. 53-55)
As we can plainly see, the King James Version is FAR from an original translation not only slavishly following previous English translations, but also being enslaved to the traditions and ecclesiastical words of the Anglican church and church fathers. The English translations which the translators were bound to stay close to used the corrupt Latin Vulgate as their base. The true rendering of the meaning of the original languages of Greek and Hebrew seemed to be a secondary goal, NOT the primary one. I think it is plain for any reasonable person to see that the King James Bible was destined to be riddled with errors before the translators even began their work and this series of articles points some of the most glaring ones out.
But what I find more outrageous than the hanky panky that went on in the 1600's is the fact that this kind of dishonesty in translating continues to go on among Bible publishing companies of today. The NASB Lockman Foundation brought many of the marginal readings of the King James Version into their version. That's reasonable. After all, the NASB was supposed to only be a "revision" of the American Standard which was to be only a "revision" of the King James Bible. So why did the Lockman Foundation purposely remove the marginal readings of 1 Corinthians 15:55 and Revelation 20:13? I (Gary Amirault) maintain that it was because the publishers of the NASB, (the Lockman Foundation) did not want the reader to know there is doubt among the translators whether Hades should be translated "hell." The publishers are proponents of the hell-fire doctrine and they want the Bible to contain this teaching even if the original manuscripts teach otherwise.
(End of Gary Amirault, editor's comments.)