The King James Only Heresy
It saddens me to see otherwise excellent Christian ministries proclaim the indefensible "The King James Bible is the (only) inspired Word of God."
There is nothing in that scripture that mentions "The King James Version", or any other version. It was originally written in Greek. You can read for yourself what it says, and means. (Not to mention, that this is just the kind of arrogant, English only statement that we Americans are infamous for, in the international community.)
Of course, the King James Version (Revised, even more so the 1611 Version) is a bit stilted and even difficult to read and understand. Unfortunately claiming "King James only" effectly limits access to God's Word to those few who are educated in reading such rarified language. This is the exact same Heresy that the Roman Catholic Church was involved in when it refused to allow the Bible to be translated from Latin to the native languages of the people. Breaking that Heresy is, ironically, the reason the King James Bible was originally written!
I'm not against the King James Version of the Bible. I enjoy it's poetry. But when I'm studying God's Word, I check my understanding of the King James against other translations, as well as with Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries (and other resources). One free tool I like to use is e-Sword an excellent Bible study program for Windows, as well as for Pocket PC.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
There is nothing in that scripture that mentions "The King James Version", or any other version. It was originally written in Greek. You can read for yourself what it says, and means. (Not to mention, that this is just the kind of arrogant, English only statement that we Americans are infamous for, in the international community.)
Of course, the King James Version (Revised, even more so the 1611 Version) is a bit stilted and even difficult to read and understand. Unfortunately claiming "King James only" effectly limits access to God's Word to those few who are educated in reading such rarified language. This is the exact same Heresy that the Roman Catholic Church was involved in when it refused to allow the Bible to be translated from Latin to the native languages of the people. Breaking that Heresy is, ironically, the reason the King James Bible was originally written!
I'm not against the King James Version of the Bible. I enjoy it's poetry. But when I'm studying God's Word, I check my understanding of the King James against other translations, as well as with Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries (and other resources). One free tool I like to use is e-Sword an excellent Bible study program for Windows, as well as for Pocket PC.
posted by Bryan at 7:30 AM
2 Comments:
You should double check your Bible history.
There were many vernacular translations which pre-dated the King James Edition.
Indeed the Venerable Bede was working on an English translation when he died.
Even the Rheims Bible predated the King James.
The restrictions on Catholics reading the Bible were actually the cost of owning one, the fact that most people couldn't read, and that the Church didn't allow them to read just any translation, which again, if you studied the history, you would understand.
Many of the translations which came out were truly dreadful representations of the Word of God.
It was actually a Catholic, St. Jerome, who said 'Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ'.
Jaye
Thanks for your comment!
Fair enough, the wording of my statement isn't technically correct. However, the King James Bible was compiled from the works of the many martyrs who were executed by the Roman Catholic Church for translating the Bible into their native languages.
For an excellent time-line article, click here.
The claim that the restrictions on Catholics owning a Bible was only the cost is true. But you must remember, the cost of owning a Bible in any language but Latin was death between 600 AD and 1600 AD or so. And the only way you could be taught Latin was to become a preist!
Jerome did his work in the 4th century AD and would likely have been martyred for his beliefs had he lived in the 14th century AD (or CE, if you prefer).
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