However, there are some people in the church that think you must use the KJV as evidence of your salvation. It is Jesus plus the KJV to be accepted by God. This is known as KJV Onlyism. They believe all other translations are not acceptable. They will even say one is going to hell for not using the KJV, even if it's the New King James Version (NKJV). Most that I have encountered are not gracious when it comes to Christians using other translations.
Many do not understand this movement, so what exactly do they believe? That is a good question, which we will get to, but before I do, I want to say this: I have no problem with any Bible professing believer using the KJV. Two of my favorite study Bibles are in the KJV. I read from it during the last birthday gathering for my wife's great-grandmother because it was the Bible she grew up using. The Puritans used it as well as Charles Spurgeon among others. I do have issues with how it was translated in some parts, but all translations are not perfect. I have sat under preaching from pastors that have used the KJV which is just as good as one using the English Standard Version (ESV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), or Legacy Standard Bible (LSB). So, I am not saying using the KJV is sinful or wrong. My problem is when certain so-called believers use the KJV is the measuring stick of your salvation. The problem with KJV Onlyism is their false gospel of Jesus Plus KJV. With that being said, let us continue:
The following is from Got Questions:
The KJV Only movement claims its loyalty to be to the Textus Receptus, a Greek New Testament manuscript compilation completed in the 1500s. To varying degrees, KJV Only advocates argue that God guided Erasmus (the compiler of the Textus Receptus) to come up with a Greek text that is perfectly identical to what was originally written by the biblical authors. However, upon further examination, it can be seen that KJV Only advocates are not loyal to the Textus Receptus, but rather only to the KJV itself. The New Testament of the New King James Version is based on the Textus Receptus, just as the KJV is. Yet, KJV Only advocates label the NKJV just as heretical as they do the NIV, NAS, etc...When the Bible is translated for the first time into a new language today, it is translated into the language that culture speaks and writes today, not the way they spoke and wrote 400 years ago. The same should be true in English. The Bible was written in the common, ordinary language of the people at that time. Bible translations today should be the same. That is why Bible translations must be updated and revised as languages develop and change. The KJV Only movement is very English-focused in its thinking. Why should people who read English be forced to read the Bible in outdated/archaic English, while people of all other languages can read the Bible in modern/current forms of their languages?
S. Michael Houdmann wrote the following:
What is the true origin of KJV Onlyism? My informed speculation is that it is due to a resistance to change. In the 20th century, when English translations of the Bible other than the KJV started becoming popular, those who were used to the KJV did not want to change and relearn all the Bible verses they knew. But, they couldn't just admit, "I'm an old fuddy-duddy and don't want to change," so they began developing arguments for the KJV and against all the new translations. These arguments have been improved upon, and have gained traction, and have been passed on to new generations of English-speaking Christians.
While they rarely admit it, advocates of KJV Onlyism essentially believe that God re-inspired the Bible in AD 1611. Ultimately, they have to go there because if they place their loyalty on the Textus Receptus (the Greek manuscript compilation used by the KJV translators), that would open the door to new translations being created. And, we can't have that, so, God must have perfectly superintended the KJV translators into creating a perfect representation of His Word in English. From their writings, it appears advocates of KJV Onlyism hate the NKJV, KJ21, and MKJV just as much as they hate the NIV, NASB, ESV, NLT, CSB, etc. No, in order for KJV Onlyism to be true, God had to have re-inspired the Bible through the KJV translators.
Does that make any sense to you? It sure doesn't make any sense to me. Now, the more scholarly KJV Onlyites will make arguments for the superiority of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts behind the KJV. But, if you ask them if a new translation could be created from those manuscripts, watch out. I would advise body armor and ear muffs. Others will argue against the translation methodology of the new translations. But, with the more literal modern translations, like the NASB and ESV, the translation methodology is not dissimilar from what the KJV translators employed. Still others will attack the integrity, morals, and motivations of the modern translators. So, evidently, the group of 17th century British Anglicans behind the KJV were sinless, had perfect theology, and had absolutely no ulterior motives.
KJV Onlyism is a good example of Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes that there is “nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). When Jerome translated the Bible into Latin, he was labeled a heretic by some for daring to “change” the Bible. Centuries later, when Jerome's Latin Vulgate became nearly universally accepted in the Western church, many who dared to attempt updates were murdered. Then, when believers in Germany, England, and other countries began translating the Bible into their common languages, they were labeled heretics, and some were burned at the stake for their vulgarity. KJV Onlyism makes the exact same mistake. Instead of focusing their loyalties on the original Hebrew and Greek, they make their preferred translation of the Bible the only true Bible and persecute anyone with a different preference. There are movements similar to KJV Onlyism in other languages as well, although, thankfully, not with nearly the same followings.
There have been some that have some that have said the KJV has fixed the original Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament. In other words, they think the KJV has fixed the Word of God. This is nothing short of arrogance thinking they contain a new revelation from God which seems to fix His previous revelation. You could say this is a form of Bibliolatry (setting the Bible up as an idol).
Most in the KJV only crowd are not gracious at times especially when you disagree with them. Their pastors are set up as the only one who can correctly interpret the Bible. These people need to be prayed for. We must do our best to present the Word of God to them and show them their error is leading people astray.
Recommended Reading:
In my experience KJV onlyist have been extreme dispensationalists. They seem to lock onto certain words that were used in 1611.
ReplyDelete2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
‘Dividing’ being the key word. No other translation uses ‘dividing’ they use handling.
At least that has been my experience.
Roger