What to do with a King James Bible

[BernadetteM]

My daughter was given a King James Bible several years ago by a protestant who was trying to convert her.

I just found it and would like to know who I could give it to. It is not the complete Bible and I really have no need to keep it.

I would like to give it to some protestant organization, but don’t know who that would be.

It is the word of God although incomplete and I surely can’t just toss it out.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[MarkBrown]

1. Dioceses Library
2. Public Library
3. Prison Ministry
4. Close to a military base, to base Chaplain.
5. Protestant soup kitchen, homeless shelter etc.
6. Keep it for a reference for when King James fundamentalist hit you with typical KJ questions.

Fr.Mark
ACNA

 

[Hesychios]

Thanks for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

Kiss it reverently, and say a prayer for the person who gave it to your daughter.

It sounds to me like you are saying the ‘Apocrypha’ were left out of this volume, that is typical for modern editions. Is it a study Bible? That could be a problem for Catholics because the notes or glosses would be theologically slanted. I will assume that it is a reader’s edition.

It is still the Word of God, and may be useful to someone. Since it has no sentimental value I would suggest donating it to a book sale, or take it with a few other dusty things from the bookshelf to a used book store.

If it were the ‘New World’ translation I personally would lose no time in burning it, but there is probably not much wrong with this Bible beyond what you have already mentioned.

 

[Reuben_J]

Hi Bernadette.

Keep it. It’s good for reference especially about Protestant theology. You may also learn the difference between Catholic and Protestant translationss. Sometimes Bible are translated to fit into their theology. I have two copies of KJV in my collection and they always come in handy when quoting Biblical verses for Protestants.

God bless.

 

[kalt]

The next time you’re at the mall or other public place, leave the book with a note saying, “Free to anyone who wants or needs it.”

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Either keep it for a cross reference to other Bibles if you’ve got any interest in Shakespearean era English, or otherwise donate it to a Protestant op-shop or charity. They usually sell books as part of their operation and somebody might buy it.

I’ve seen King James books for sale in St. Vincent de Paul shops as well, so you could try giving it to Vinnies (as we call them in Australia). They sell pretty much whatever is given to them.

 

[James_Least]

Open the KJV to the Book of Ephesians. Read the whole Book. Re-read Ch. 1,2. Make a personal application of Eph. 2:8-10. Let the Holy Spirit bear witness.

Read the same Book in a Douay-Confraternity or other approved version using the same criteria as above.

The message is the same: if we do not understand Eph. 2:8-10, the rest makes no sense–we are like Nicodemus in John 3, Masters of Religion–outside the kingdom. Being born again–from above is the key. Do we have the key for the right lock?

Now what?

Peace,

James Least

 

[crazzeto]

If you really don’t want it, then I would personally go to a local protestant Church (though becareful, some might want to try and convert you in lol) and see if they want it. Or if you have a protestant friend, give it to them. As some have mentioned, it’s a pretty handy resource to have for apologetics.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

My daughter was given a King James Bible several years ago by a protestant who was trying to convert her.

I just found it and would like to know who I could give it to. It is not the complete Bible and I really have no need to keep it.

I would like to give it to some protestant organization, but don’t know who that would be.

It is the word of God although incomplete and I surely can’t just toss it out.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

Keep it on your book shelf as a remarkable work of English prose writing, next to your Shakespear and Milton. The KJV has influenced the English language like no other translation. While not the “whole bible”, where else can you get words like these:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

 

[Bill_Pick]

My daughter was given a King James Bible several years ago by a protestant who was trying to convert her.

I just found it and would like to know who I could give it to. It is not the complete Bible and I really have no need to keep it.

I would like to give it to some protestant organization, but don’t know who that would be.

It is the word of God although incomplete and I surely can’t just toss it out.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

Give it to any good Protestant group so just my be they will learn to read it the right way,LOL

 

[Bluegoat]

Yes, I agree with the pp who said you should keep it at least for it’s literary value. You can’t be well read in English literature without being familiar with the KJV.

 

[gcnuss]

I generally don’t use the King James Version but there are familiar parts of it that still stir my soul (and my love of language). For example, from Luke 2:

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

There is a beauty in the language that gets lost in more recent translations. Another example is the twenty-third Psalm, again one of those familiar passages with which I was raised and which has great beauty in the cadence of its words.

 

[lizaanne]

The first Bible I ever owned was given to me by the parents of a guy I was dating in my early 20’s. Hard core Baptists in North Carolina, they were hoping to convert the heathen Catholic girl from the North. While I never fell for it, that Bible will always have great meaning to me - it was the first time anyone ever thought it important enough to give me the Word of God, regardless of their intentions. So if for no other reason I keep it on the shelf. It is a gorgeous leather bound volume with gold edges and satin ribbon markers.

I also have the beautiful and very old leather bound Bibles of my great grandparents on mother’s side of the family - also Baptist. I will keep these as well as family heirlooms.

~Liza

 

[Janet1983]

It is the word of God although incomplete and I surely can’t just toss it out.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

Dearest sister in Christ,

First of all this one: You might think that it is incomplete, but it is still the word of God, even though some passages that you regard as Scripture are not in it.
Besides that there might be several valuable reasons to keep it:

• You could use it as a reference when a Protestant refers you to the Bible, so that you have the translation he is more than likely to accept.
• You could use it as a general reference. (I have a CCC for reference too.)
• You could keep it for appreciation of the language and as a product of history…

Whichever reason there are a lot good ones to keep it. And as it is still the Bible, just with a few books less, how could anyone try to convert you with that?
When I quote the Bible I usually quote the KJV and only on rare occasions I see myself confronted with different wording that might change the meaning. That’s only the more of a reason to go back and look at the original text. I don’t think that this is a tool for conversion.

May the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Him,
Janet

 

[Anna_Scott]

My daughter was given a King James Bible several years ago by a protestant who was trying to convert her.

I just found it and would like to know who I could give it to. It is not the complete Bible and I really have no need to keep it.

I would like to give it to some protestant organization, but don’t know who that would be.

It is the word of God although incomplete and I surely can’t just toss it out.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

BernadetteM,

I would consider keeping it for the sake of reference and comparison.

Not all Protestants hold the KJV in high esteem. However, the KJV has quite a history. Men died to make an English translation available.

The KJV contains many errors and inaccuracies in translation. Many of the early manuscripts, used in Bible translations today, were not available to the KJ translators.

Also the KJV contained the Deuterocanonical Books, known to Protestants as the Apocrypha, for nearly 300 years. Many Protestants are actually unaware of this fact.

I have many Bible translations and use them often to compare passages.

Anna

 

[crazzeto]

I recommended this particular bible to another poster in the apoligetics forum who asked much the same question, assuming your one of those people that like the KJV language by want a bible with an Impramatur:

Haydock Douay-Rheims Large Print Bible:
inhisname.com/product.php?product=42012

It has the text of the Consoule of Trent, a Catholic Dictionary (brief), History of the Gosples and a section for recording your family tree (so it’s a shoe in for an heirloom). The Douay Rhiems bible is the version upon which the KJV was originally based, but is reputed to not have any errors in it what so ever (though there are some awkwardly worded sentances here and there lol). It’s expensive at $125, but beleive me it’s well worth every single penny you spend on it.

 

[SingleMomMonica]

"What to do with a King James Bible" - LOL! When I read the name of this Thread I laughed and though…well duh! Read it!

But then I read your OP.

My daughter was given a King James Bible several years ago by a protestant who was trying to convert her.

I just found it and would like to know who I could give it to. It is not the complete Bible and I really have no need to keep it.

I would like to give it to some protestant organization, but don’t know who that would be.

It is the word of God although incomplete and I surely can’t just toss it out.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

Bernadette,

It may be missing some books of the Bible (in Orthodox eyes, the Catholic Bible is missing some books too) BUT It is still the Word of God even if not 100% of it.

I personally own and have opted to keep my Protestant and Catholic Bibles despite the fact that they’re missing some books.

But if you feel that you must be free of it, I’d recommend giving it to a Used Book Store, or to a Prison Ministry or you could even leave it in a Doctor’s or Dentist’s Office next visit, or what about a Laundry Mat?

 

[John_oxios]

My daughter was given a King James Bible several years ago by a protestant who was trying to convert her.

I just found it and would like to know who I could give it to. It is not the complete Bible and I really have no need to keep it.

I would like to give it to some protestant organization, but don’t know who that would be.

It is the word of God although incomplete and I surely can’t just toss it out.

Thanks for any suggestions. Bernadette

Hello Bernadette,
Better to learn the difference’s than to ban the Book, Learn about them so that you can go back to that Protestant friend with some answers.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Only_movement

James R. White, wrote a book called ‘The King James Only Controversy’

christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=206054&item_code=WW&netp_id=558428&event=ESRCN&view=details#curr

He explains a few things, i.e the original KJV included the Deuterocanonical s, The printers of the KJV Bibles later asked if the books were not necessary, if they could leave them out, Why? they could print Bibles with less pages, thus making them smaller and cheaper to print.

2nd) todays version of the KJV is the 1789 version, it took 160 yrs to get most of the errors out of it.

30 the ‘textus receptus’ which they swear by, because the 70 KJV translators used it primarily was written in the 16th Century, By a Roman Catholic named Erasmus, he translated the Latin Vulgate back to the Greek and Hebrew as best he could… he never meant it to be something as absolute, in fact most of the ancient Manuscripts were unavailable to him at the time.

Before reading James R. White’s book had to learn this, to stop a Jehovah Witness in their tracks

there is the 1John 5:8 verse, controversy, it really doesn’t belong in the Bible,

A Jehovah Witness will knock on your door, trying to fool you, with a KJV, and then try to confuse you by getting you to think, well what else was added in? All you do is break out your NAB, NASB and show them, there knocking on the wrong door and why.

the simple answer is does this addition change your faith? No!
But they’ll take it elsewhere

Some scholars insisted that Erasmus include that verse in his ‘Textus Receptus’ but his argument for leaving it out was he could not find in in any ancient MSS available to him, well theses scholars are said to (maybe producing a ms with it in there) Erasmus simply agreed. The Truth is that it doesn’t belong there!! It’s not in any Catholic Bible, it may appear in the footnote, but not in the text!

Where did it come from? A Priscillian Monk who was a staunch Trinitarian, added that verse to his Vulgates, the RCC got wind of it and burned(so they thought) every Bible which contained the added in vs. Somehow a few of these Vulgates were still around, during the printing of the KJV… it doesn’t change the fact it was added in, and wasn’t in most of the oldest Mss.

On the Good side, the KJV authors tried to keep the poetic beat and meter, of the original Hebrew, they sacrificed some words to do that, but that’s why it is so easily memorized, it is also one of the greatest literary books of all time.

You can get KJV’s with the Deuterocanonicals included as a compromise!

Check out this list of Bible vss not included in Modern Translations versus the KJV:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_omitted_Bible_verses

God bless,
John

 

[John_oxios]

"What to do with a King James Bible" - LOL! When I read the name of this Thread I laughed and though…well duh! Read it!

But then I read your OP.
It may be missing some books of the Bible (in Orthodox eyes, the Catholic Bible is missing some books too) BUT It is still the Word of God even if not 100% of it.

I personally own and have opted to keep my Protestant and Catholic Bibles despite the fact that they’re missing some books.

But if you feel that you must be free of it, I’d recommend giving it to a Used Book Store, or to a Prison Ministry or you could even leave it in a Doctor’s or Dentist’s Office next visit, or what about a Laundry Mat?

Hello Single Mom,
Laugh all you’d like, the truth of the matter that as late as the early 1900’s Catholics were getting whipped in the streets of New York City for refusing to read aloud out of the KJV.
Try and give a Catholic Bible to a fundamentalist? Baptist? Evangelical, or a Jehovah Witness?
Me I have a collection of bibles, study Bibles of every faith I can get my hands on… I’ll read them and look for differences… but it doesn’t change the fact I am Catholic, nor will it ever. What Protestants will do is try to influence your beliefs first by showing the similarities, we’re almost the same, they may even impress you with their knowledge of the Bible and memorization of vss, then try to sweep you away from your belief, by accepting theirs. It all starts with giving you a bible, inviting you to a service, and meeting their tight knit community,which is one of their better strengths.
God bless,
John

 

[Mrs_V]

When I converted I kept my KJV because I had owned it since I was about eight and didn’t feel right throwing it out.

After a few years and some major purging I realized that since I was most likely never going to use the bible again there was no reason to have it taking up extra space in our small home. I offered the bible to a few of my baptist family members and after no one wanted it took it (and a few more bags of books) to the used bookstore.

I used the money to buy my kids a couple of cute Catholic picture books.