The Error of KJV-Onlyism

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Bible_Highlighter

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2023
2,052
334
83
Oooh... let's make yet another fallacious comparison.

I wonder if the average person, new to the Bible, has ever heard of the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level assessment. I would suspect not, and I would further suspect that they wouldn't care.

In other words, the above is irrelevant. If a person perceives the KJV to be difficult, then it is difficult (for them). Period. Technical assessments mean nothing. The same goes for any translation.

By the way, I wouldn't recommend the ESV to most people unless they were avid graduate-level readers. It's not a beginner's translation.
This is why I am Core KJB. I actually do not agree with my fellow KJB-only brethren that the King James Bible is always easy to understand. While I believe the KJB is the perfect Word of God and is without error, I believe it is necessary to use older dictionaries and Modern English translations to help flesh out what the King James Bible says in many places. I believe the KJV was archaic on purpose by God because His words are holy and separate from our current-day English. As the Scriptures say, God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.

I warn against Modern Bibles in that we cannot trust them like the KJB because they teach many false doctrines. But I am not against using them to help guide and aid my spiritual growth if they line up with what the King James Bible says. God can turn bad situations around for a “greater good. “ I believe we can do the same. But a person needs to have ONE Bible we can fully trust, and not many. God is not the author of confusion. We need to have a final word of authority. If not, one will be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,931
29,301
113
I believe the KJV was archaic on purpose by God because His words are holy and separate from our current-day Engkish.
Jeepers. Scripture was not given to us in English originally. You make ridiculous remarks to prop up your core.
 

Bible_Highlighter

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2023
2,052
334
83
Jeepers. Scripture was not given to us in English originally. You make ridiculous remarks to prop up your core.
Of course, you have misread what I said. I believe the Old Testament was originally in Hebrew and Aramaic, and copies were made of them. I believe the New Testament was originally written in Greek, and copies were made of them. Eventually, these copies were translated into Latin (Note: Latin was written on the sign on the cross), with the Latin Italic Bibles of the Waldenses that were destroyed by the Catholic Church. The King James Bible would be the next language God would choose to preserve his words (Which would be in Early Modern English or 1600s English). This was later updated yet again slightly by Paris, and Blayney and their KJB editions (With the font and grammar in their time in the last 1700s). I believe the final purified Word of God for today is the Pure Cambridge KJB Edition (circa. early 1900) put out by A.W. Pollard This is the KJB at Biblehub.com, and or the Cambridge Edition you can pick up by Holman Publishers via Amazon or other bookstores. The Pure Cambridge is the seventh purification of the prophetic words in Psalms 12:6-7.

I hope this helps to clarify what I actually believe.

May the Lord Jesus Christ get all the glory.
 

Bible_Highlighter

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2023
2,052
334
83
Of course, you have misread what I said. I believe the Old Testament was originally in Hebrew and Aramaic, and copies were made of them. I believe the New Testament was originally written in Greek, and copies were made of them. Eventually, these copies were translated into Latin (Note: Latin was written on the sign on the cross), with the Latin Italic Bibles of the Waldenses that were destroyed by the Catholic Church. The King James Bible would be the next language God would choose to preserve his words (Which would be in Early Modern English or 1600s English). This was later updated yet again slightly by Paris, and Blayney and their KJB editions (With the font and grammar in their time in the last 1700s). I believe the final purified Word of God for today is the Pure Cambridge KJB Edition (circa. early 1900) put out by A.W. Pollard This is the KJB at Biblehub.com, and or the Cambridge Edition you can pick up by Holman Publishers via Amazon or other bookstores. The Pure Cambridge is the seventh purification of the prophetic words in Psalms 12:6-7.

I hope this helps to clarify what I actually believe.

May the Lord Jesus Christ get all the glory.
Meant to say "late 1700s" and not "last 1700s."
 

true_believer

Well-known member
Sep 24, 2020
939
360
63
So, basically tell them that the KJV is outdated? Even though millions continue to read it daily? How about an encouragement to study?
It is obviously outdated. Nobody uses that style of English unless they are a thespian in a Shakespearean play or a classical literature professor.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,404
13,747
113
In regards to your claim that Erasmus said a similar thing to the serpent in questioning God's words:

Well, as you said to me here in another thread,

"Great claims require great evidence."
Quote by: ~ Dino246​

Please keep in mind that I was able to provide evidence when you made this quote, and yet now you are not providing any for me when I am asking for it.
Why would I keep that in mind? You're asking for documentation for something Erasmus, in principle, thought. That's ridiculous.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,404
13,747
113
When one confesses the Lord Jesus, one is agreeing with the testimony concerning the Lord Jesus. Compared to confessing that Jesus is Lord, one is confessing that Jesus is Lord of their life. Big difference.
Where is that in Scripture?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,404
13,747
113
This is why I am Core KJB. I actually do not agree with my fellow KJB-only brethren that the King James Bible is always easy to understand.
Good!

I believe the KJV was archaic on purpose by God because His words are holy and separate from our current-day English.
You are free to believe what you like, but that requires a belief that God reinspired the KJV translation, which I categorically reject. In fact, I would say He has done the opposite (of making the KJV archaic), taking care to make His word accessible, even if it takes effort to understand its full meaning. One purpose of the translators was to make the word accessible to all English readers--from the prince to the plough boy--and making the wording intentionally obtuse is contrary to that purpose.

As the Scriptures say, God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.
You've taken the verse out of its context and misapplied it here.

I warn against Modern Bibles in that we cannot trust them like the KJB because they teach many false doctrines.
So you claim. I have seen you and other KJV-onlyists interpret verses from modern translations in the worst possible way, but that is quite different from the version actually "teaching" what is claimed it teaches.

But a person needs to have ONE Bible we can fully trust, and not many.
Where is that in Scripture?

We need to have a final word of authority. If not, one will be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.
Again, where is that in Scripture? (the bolded part, not your out-of-context quotation)
 

Bible_Highlighter

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2023
2,052
334
83
Why would I keep that in mind? You're asking for documentation for something Erasmus, in principle, thought. That's ridiculous.
Back in your post #1461, you stated, I quote:

”...no matter how much you want to deny it, Erasmus asked exactly the same question: "Did God really say...?"
Quote by: ~ Dino246​

First, by your words above, you said nothing about how that is what Erasmus thought.
Second, how would you know what he thought by the statement you made in post #1461?
Do you have a Time Machine and a mind reader device?
 

Bible_Highlighter

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2023
2,052
334
83
It is obviously outdated. Nobody uses that style of English unless they are a thespian in a Shakespearean play or a classical literature professor.
Meanwhile Textual Critic believers make it even more difficult to understand the Bible by saying that the real way to understand the Bible is to look to the original languages. Try reading Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek to people today and they will be totally clueless. So this like the pot calling the kettle black. Your Modern English Bibles keep shape shifting every few years. The same NIV edition will just shape shift again in a few years. What you thought your Bible said will be changed. Even the Nestle and Aland shape shifts every few years. There is no settled words of God. It's silly.
 

Bible_Highlighter

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2023
2,052
334
83
Good!You are free to believe what you like, but that requires a belief that God reinspired the KJV translation, which I categorically reject.
I know how you might feel. Even fellow KJV-only brethren would disagree with me on this one. But I must follow my conviction of what the Word of God says plainly. Even some of my fellow KJV-only brethren believe 1 Peter 1:20-21 is referring to the sole act of inspiration alone when the text does not say it is the sole act of inspiration. Yes, it is indeed one important part of the giving of the original text... but nothing is said here in 1 Peter 1 about how it was the only source of inspiration. Job 32:8 says inspiration of the Almighty gives man's spirit understanding. 1 John 2:27 says, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." So this is the inspiration of the Almighty that gives men's spirits the understanding of the things of God. So when an accurate copy is made of the original texts of the Bible by the guidance of God's hand, the inspiration of the Almighty is involved to make sure that is what He wanted it to say in the preservation of His words. ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). This would be any true copy or translation of the Scriptures and not the Bibles that are corrupted.

You said:
In fact, I would say He has done the opposite (of making the KJV archaic), taking care to make His word accessible, even if it takes effort to understand its full meaning. One purpose of the translators was to make the word accessible to all English readers--from the prince to the plough boy--and making the wording intentionally obtuse is contrary to that purpose.
Jesus did not sit down with His disciples and create a model of the city and used hand puppets to enact what was going to happen with His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus spoke of His resurrection in front of His disciples, but they did not understand it. Jesus obviously had His reasons for not revealing the full truth to them on this point. It was only after the resurrection happened, that He first explained to two of the disciples about being His being risen by the Scriptures. I believe the same is true when God uses words that are more veiled like we see in the Parables in the New Testament. The richness of meaning of the archaic word has sometimes shown to me why it was veiled. When God reveals the truth to us after reading it many times, we get excited because God is involved in the active communication of His Word to us. They are not dead words on a page, but they are like fire and like a hammer.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,404
13,747
113
Back in your post #1461, you stated, I quote:

”...no matter how much you want to deny it, Erasmus asked exactly the same question: "Did God really say...?"
Quote by: ~ Dino246​

First, by your words above, you said nothing about how that is what Erasmus thought.
Second, how would you know what he thought by the statement you made in post #1461?
Do you have a Time Machine and a mind reader device?
Again, you're being ridiculous. What was Erasmus doing? Trying to determine what was originally written, and to render it in one Greek volume.

Do you believe he was doing something fundamentally different than that? If not, then why the silly badgering?
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,028
6,534
113
62
Again, the two lies in the Garden by the Serpent should give you a clue as to what is wrong with most of Christianity today.
Most Christians do not believe in a perfect Bible and they believe that it is okay to question the text like Textual Critics do in certain places of the Bible to hopefully one day figure out perfectly what God said. This is like the words of the serpent when he said, "Yea, hath God said...?" (Genesis 3:1). The other lie by the Serpent that he was pushing was that, "ye shall not die" (Genesis 3:4). Meaning, it was the lie that one could break God's command and not die. Adam and Eve did not die physically the day they disobeyed God, but they died spiritually. Obviously living like the devil on some level, and being unfruitful sounds appealing to many in this Laodicean age. Just read the last chapter of the Bible (Revelation 22). While we are initially saved by a belief alone by believing the gospel message in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, that is not the only requirement as a part of our faith (See: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, Galatians 6:8-9, Romans 8:13, 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Timothy 6:3-4, James 4:6). In Revelation 22:14-15, it doesn't sound like a "Perpetual Belief Alone Salvationism" to me. But if that helps you to sleep at night believing the easy and wide gate path put forth by the teachings of men, go ahead and believe whatever you wish. This is not really the argument involving the KJB position. Neither do I argue for the secondary aspect of salvation in my 101 Reasons for the KJB, either. It's not necessary. There is enough evidence already to refute the false belief of Modern Textual Criticism and to trust in a perfect Word of God.

In any event, I see your post here as an attempt to drive a wedge between me and my fellow KJB Bible believers. We may disagree on certain things (like sin and salvation), but we both believe that the King James Bible is the Word of God, and it is our final authority for all matters of faith and practice. Note: There is another KJB Only believer who believes Eternal Security is false (Safeguardyoursoul.com). Anyway, most today do not have a final word of authority. That's the problem. The Bible says we are all to speak the same thing, that is simply not possible in the world of Textual Criticism.


Side Note:

I also do not technically believe in works salvationism as if that was the only form of salvation I believe in (Which is implied by what you said).

I believe in two aspects of salvation.

Aspect #1. We are initially saved by a belief alone in Jesus as our Savior and the gospel message in that Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and risen the third day for our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9) (Titus 3:5). Also, if a believer unintentionally sins again on rare occasion, they do not go out and do a good work to absolve themselves of that sin before God, but they boldly come before the throne of grace and seek forgiveness with the Lord Jesus (See: 1 John 1:9, and 1 John 2:1). We also continue to believe the gospel message in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. So we are initially and foundationally saved by God's grace.

Aspect #2. God has chosen us to salvation through the Sanctification of the Spirit and a belief of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
Sanctification is to live a holy life. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. But many believers today do not believe this verse. They do not think the word "fear" means "fear" as we would understand that word because they don't like what this verse plainly says. It has no advantage for them in their current belief that they can sin and still be saved on some level. But without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Holy living will require one to be fruitful. Remember, in the parable of the Talents, the unprofitable servant was cast into outer darkness (Matthew 25:30).

Most folks fail to see what happened in Acts 15 in regards to the false belief of Circumcision Salvationism. They do not understand that is what Paul was fighting against in many of his letters.

Anyway, if you want to continue this discussion involving my view of sin and salvation, it would best to do so in another thread.

May God bless you and your family (even I disagree with your beliefs strongly).

Sincerely,

Bible Highlighter.
You're wrong about my purpose. I don't want to put a wedge between any Christians. I was responding to a comment you made. Your contention was that a poor translation was easier to misinterpret than a more accurate one. This is true. But it is hardly the main reason for poor doctrine. The more obvious and rampant reason is the lack of spiritual discernment. One can have a perfect translation, but be useless without spiritual discernment. One can have a poor translation and still not go astray if one possesses the Holy Spirit. God is still able to lead in all truth.
This information was the content of my intention.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,404
13,747
113
But I must follow my conviction of what the Word of God says plainly. Even some of my fellow KJV-only brethren believe 1 Peter 1:20-21 is referring to the sole act of inspiration alone when the text does not say it is the sole act of inspiration. Yes, it is indeed one important part of the giving of the original text... but nothing is said here in 1 Peter 1 about how it was the only source of inspiration.
I strongly suspect you mean 2 Peter, not 1 Peter. Since 2 Peter 1:20-21 is talking about prophecy specifically, and not Scripture in general, whatever you think about it is limited to that context.

Job 32:8 says inspiration of the Almighty gives man's spirit understanding. 1 John 2:27 says, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." So this is the inspiration of the Almighty that gives men's spirits the understanding of the things of God.
But those passages aren't saying anything about the writing of Scripture under inspiration.

So when an accurate copy is made of the original texts of the Bible by the guidance of God's hand, the inspiration of the Almighty is involved to make sure that is what He wanted it to say in the preservation of His words.
The bolded part is speculative, not fact-based. Everything you wrote after that depends on your speculation being sound, and it is impossible to prove that. A machine can make a more accurate copy now than a human can; would that mean the machine is "under the inspiration of the Almighty"? Um, no. It is the original message that is inspired, and that inspiration is preserved through copying and translation. There is no other "inspiration" until the believer reads the text and seeks the Spirit's help to understand it.

This would be any true copy or translation of the Scriptures and not the Bibles that are corrupted.
Go back and read the 1611 KJV Translators' Preface to the Reader. Carefully.
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
4,110
960
113
KJB

Romans 10: 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
ESV

Romans 10:9 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Here might be a difference, in the KJB, Paul is stating in respect, the title name of Jesus which is ‘Lord’. Generally, anyone can call that name or confess to it. This confession is to acknowledge his work at the cross resulted in the preaching of the gospel or the word of faith as in v.8. In v.12 is a clear rendering that there’s no difference between the Jew and the Greek (Gentile) to normally call on him being the Lord. Paul is stating that acknowledging Christ for what he did with your mouth and believing in the Lord Jesus in your heart as Saviour will be saved.

Confessing him ‘Jesus is Lord’ is good but as per context, the confession ‘Jesus is Lord’ in ESV makes it redundant, to say the least since both Jews and Gentiles after all, can at any time call on him being “…the same Lord is Lord of all... “ Romans 10:12 ESV

So, the better rendering, I believe is found in KJB as far as translation is concerned.
 

Bible_Highlighter

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2023
2,052
334
83
You're wrong about my purpose. I don't want to put a wedge between any Christians. I was responding to a comment you made. Your contention was that a poor translation was easier to misinterpret than a more accurate one. This is true. But it is hardly the main reason for poor doctrine. The more obvious and rampant reason is the lack of spiritual discernment. One can have a perfect translation, but be useless without spiritual discernment. One can have a poor translation and still not go astray if one possesses the Holy Spirit. God is still able to lead in all truth.
This information was the content of my intention.
But how would you really know it is poor spiritual discernment? By what standard? God told me in a dream or vision or by some prayer? No, it is by His Word that we know when a person has bad doctrines. 10 different people can say they are led by the Spirit to come to an understanding of a particular passage and yet they all can come away with different interpretations or understandings. Only one person can have the correct understanding, and I believe God had written it down so that we are without excuse. Jesus even said in John 12:48 that if we do not receive His words, those words will judge us on the last day. You have to have the right set of Jesus’ words for them to judge you. Modern Bibles remove certain words by our Lord Jesus. Modern Bibles even attack our Lord and make Him appear to sin. That’s how bad and corrupt they are. If any man does not agree with the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of godliness, they are proud and they know nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4). James 4:6 says God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. What words of Jesus do many believers not accept today? Oh, words from our Lord like Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, Matthew 12:37, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 9:62, and Luke 10:25-28. Even Paul said that what he had written should be regarded as the Lord’s commandments (1 Corinthians 14:37). Many do not even understand 1 Timothy 5:8 because they reject what it plainly says. We are living in the last days indeed where many will not endure sound doctrine. Men shall be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. They will turn God’s grace into a license for immorality or licentiousness (Jude 1:4).