Why do some believe that the KJV Bible is the only Bible?

[john_charles]

Hey John,
I’ve been pondering your situation and I think the first thing you might want to do is bypass the whole KJV issue. If she has bought into their views on this then chances are that she has started believing in their limited understanding of Church history. If you can get her to review church history, especially through the writings of objective non-Catholics like Justo Gonzalez, it may stir the slumbering seeds of her Catholicity and get her to re-evaluate what she has done and why she is doing it. At the very least, it will be fresh in her mind when their teachings run afoul of the truth. I think you may have a long row to hoe ahead but we will be with you. And so will He.

May the Peace of the Lord be with you always,
+Nate

I have read some of the early church fathers and found them wonderfull and insightfull reads.How does Julio Gonzalez’s approach to church history differ?

 

[Chris_LaRock]

I am trying to understand WHY some people say that the only accurate Bible is the “King James Version 1611”. It seems that these believers are so entrenched with this belief that there is no room for anything other than a literal KJV only view, nothing else can be considered.Please help me understand why.

Some say the DRB is the only accurate bible too.

 

[Big_Dave]

I wonder how they evangelize the Chinese??? Or any other “foreign” language???

 

[UBERROGO]

I am trying to understand WHY some people say that the only accurate Bible is the “King James Version 1611”. It seems that these believers are so entrenched with this belief that there is no room for anything other than a literal KJV only view, nothing else can be considered.Please help me understand why.

Because they have erected thier own mini-pope who told them that.

 

[UBERROGO]

KJV-onlyists are not idiots and they are not crazy–they are simply trying to salvage the hopeless position of *Sola Scriptura *they find themselves in. If the Bible is the final rule of faith, then it requires a completely accurate translation. One would think this would demand that only the earliest Greek copies be used for this, but you have to remember that this brand of evangelical Christianity carries with it alot of Anglo-American baggage. So English it is, with the claim that the “Authorized” version is some kind of Imprimitur from the Almighty Himself, as opposed to the mundane order of noted blowhard James I.

Scott

You are right that most KJVers believe that first Hebrew was Gods language of choice, then Greek because of how wide spread it is, and now in these last days (make sure to always emphasize these last days) English is spoken world wide and English was supposedly at its greatest during the reign of King James so that is what God has chosen to save the masses.

 

[Zooey]

I have read some of the early church fathers and found them wonderfull and insightfull reads.How does Julio Gonzalez’s approach to church history differ?

Gonzalez is a Methodist minister, who writes very well indeed. I have not read his history books, but I have been in Bible studies where we used his work as a guide, & he is very even handed; he is not out to attack anyone, just to share. So he is not Catholic, & he is not anti-Catholic. He is just an honest historian. A rare thing in today’s world sometimes!!
Where someone might argue that the ECFs are being read through a Catholic lens, you can’t say that about JG. Yet, he would be more acceptable to a KJV-only person.

 

[exoflare]

I was trying to hold my tongue, but I have to say, you are a bad example of a Christian. I know many Christians in my life, many are my close friends and family, and if I didn’t knowany better I’d look at you and InJesus and think that all christians were like this. You need to check your self my dear brother. God is watching you and the angels are writting down ever word you say. Saying bad things about people and also having a pessimestic view on everything will get you no where.

And what “bad” things did I say here? You’re only mad because I mentioned something you didn’t like.

 

[lak611]

I personally like the KJV, but then again, I also happen to like Shakespeare, and I would probably be considered to be an “Anglophile” since I like British, not American literature, and I like my beer room temperature, not ice cold! My favourite Bible translations are the KJV, Douay-Rheims, NASB, and RSV. I prefer more literal translations, rather than dynamic translations, which explains the fact that I own the NAB, NIV, and NRSV, but do not particularly like those translations! By the way, my KJV also includes the “Apocrypha”, so I actually have all the books that the Catholic Church approves and then some (e.g. Psalm 151, the Prayer of Mannasseh, 1 and 2 Esdras, and 3 and 4 Maccabees, which are canonical in the Orthodox Church, but not in the Catholic Church.).

 

[JoeyWarren]

I have done some research into the KJV bible a few weeks ago. My understanding is that the KJV contained the Apocrypha from 1611 to 1827. In 1827 the American Bible Society said they would supply Low Cost Bibles if they could exclude the Apocrypha. But with all things, Catholic dollars sit in the bank just a productively as Protestant dollars, so they have returned the missing books back into certain versions.

 

[benaiah]

I am trying to understand WHY some people say that the only accurate Bible is the “King James Version 1611”. It seems that these believers are so entrenched with this belief that there is no room for anything other than a literal KJV only view, nothing else can be considered.Please help me understand why.

Hello John Charles,
I am a Baptist and I read and use the King James Bible. I read it, not because I was “told” to, but arrived here after many years of study.I have read it cover to cover at least 25 times or more. I also own a copy of an original 1611 King James Bible and a copy of the Nuremberg Polyglot (1599), and over 50 different modern translations of the Bible since the mid 1880’s. I have studied New testament Greek (both the 5-case and 8-case) and Hebrew (but only 2 years). I have Copies of many of the greek manuscripts and even a copy of the vaticanis mss (B).
I am not trying to pat myself on the back or insinuate that anyone has to pursue indepth study to this degree, but the point I am trying to make is for one to look at both sides of the coin.
Let me be more specific. I am on this forum to observe Catholic behavior and responses to various topics. To further my study on Catholicism I have read the 1994 Catholic Catechism endorsed by the late Pope John Paul II, the Vatican II (by Flanary), and many books by Karl Keating (which is how I found this site), and own a set of the Catholic Encyclopedia. I would not waste my time trying to explore Catholicism on a Fundamental Baptist or Protestant web site or forum. I do believe (from experience) that they would be redundant and extremely one-sided.
My suggestion would be to explore some of their web sites that are King James “only”, and see what they have written and check out their list of references/sources, to see why they believe the way they do, about the King James Bible. I would recommend the following:
www.AV1611.com , www.biblefortoday.org , www.biblebelievers.net , www.wayoflife.org and www.bibleanswers.us (this site has an open KJV forum on it). Please ignore any uncharitable remarks about Catholics if mentioned on the forum (just like I do on this or any other forum against Baptists or people who prefer to use and believe the King James Bible).
I am not trying to convince you one way or the other. I encourage you to just try to explore both sides to the best of your ability. Most Catholics that I know are pretty open minded and would not be “offended”.I think that the less censorship people are subjected to, the better. I applaud the access to the internet and forums such as this. I encourage people to know what and why they believe the way they do (I’ll get off my soap box now).
John Charles, I hope that this will be helpful in answering your original post.
God Bless,
Benaiah

 

[Zooey]

I have done some research into the KJV bible a few weeks ago. My understanding is that the KJV contained the Apocrypha from 1611 to 1827. In 1827 the American Bible Society said they would supply Low Cost Bibles if they could exclude the Apocrypha. But with all things, Catholic dollars sit in the bank just a productively as Protestant dollars, so they have returned the missing books back into certain versions.

I think that’s correct…I also have wondered at why the Bible Society doesn’t produce more Bibles with the full canon. There are certainly people like myself, who have been trying for years–without luck–to convince them to carry a wider selection. (I would love the KJV with the full complement of books. Its the Bible I grew up reading…but I have to go hunt up my half-century-old copy of the so-called apocrypha, if I want to read them!!

Benaiah, while I certainly appreciate your statement, I think you might be surprised at how many people here have done their own research.
My knowledge of Greek is nil, but I do read Latin. That combined with serious coversations with pastors who are students of Biblical languages (including my own, who rattles Hebrew off the top of his head, & who read German almost as soon as he read English), has served to convince me that KJV has serious flaws.
I have spent a lifetime looking for what I consider the best Bible for general use, & have settled upon the Douay-Rheims (my own preference). I use along side it, the RSV-CE, which the pastors (Methodist) of my acquaintance say is the closest to the original languages.
As I say, I would love to find a KJV which is not shy a considerable amount of text! (My great-great-something-grandfather, who came to this country as a Baptist minister from Wales, would have had no problem finding one in his day; it escapes me why today should be so unfairly lacking…Oh, yes!! I should also say, all his books were Latin…the 2 languages along side the other!!)

 

[Sufi]

And what “bad” things did I say here? You’re only mad because I mentioned something you didn’t like.

Saying that the Qur’an is a lie is something that I don’t like and not something nice to say since there are Muslim guests here. If I should go off because you said something bad and non Christian like, I’d be called a terrorist and the Moderator’s here will ban me right? Do unto others as you will like them to do unto you. This is the teachings of Muhammad and Jesus. You haven’t studied the whole of it with tafsir so you shouldn’t comment on it. Let those with knowledge speak and others look on.

 

[benaiah]

I think that’s correct…I also have wondered at why the Bible Society doesn’t produce more Bibles with the full canon. There are certainly people like myself, who have been trying for years–without luck–to convince them to carry a wider selection. (I would love the KJV with the full complement of books. Its the Bible I grew up reading…but I have to go hunt up my half-century-old copy of the so-called apocrypha, if I want to read them!!

Benaiah, while I certainly appreciate your statement, I think you might be surprised at how many people here have done their own research.
My knowledge of Greek is nil, but I do read Latin. That combined with serious coversations with pastors who are students of Biblical languages (including my own, who rattles Hebrew off the top of his head, & who read German almost as soon as he read English), has served to convince me that KJV has serious flaws.
I have spent a lifetime looking for what I consider the best Bible for general use, & have settled upon the Douay-Rheims (my own preference). I use along side it, the RSV-CE, which the pastors (Methodist) of my acquaintance say is the closest to the original languages.
As I say, I would love to find a KJV which is not shy a considerable amount of text! (My great-great-something-grandfather, who came to this country as a Baptist minister from Wales, would have had no problem finding one in his day; it escapes me why today should be so unfairly lacking…Oh, yes!! I should also say, all his books were Latin…the 2 languages along side the other!!)

Hello Zooey,
I am sure many people on this forum are good researchers and I applaud that. I hope that no one felt I was insinuating that one must master hebrew, greek or latin to read Holy Scripture. Since most people (in America) read english, I encourage them to read the Bible in english. The main differences between the KJV and RSV, NIV, NASB, etc., are the Greek and Hebrew texts they are based on. As for the Apocryphal books, I have seen this sold “NEW” separately in some book stores. I have some old KJV bibles that have them sandwhiched into the middle of the Old & New Testaments (as does the 1611), but they are old & fragile.
God Bless,
Benaiah

 

[JoeyWarren]

How does one get these old bibles?

I would like to have one.

 

[benaiah]

How does one get these old bibles?

I would like to have one.

Hello Joey Warren,
Most of the “best Condition” copies are very costly, but some can still be found in “readable” condition on sites such as E-Bay and Abebooks.com. Both sites specialize in rare books. I also have found many rare books (Bibles included) scanned to computer disc format which brings the cost down considerably. But the most enjoyable for me, is going to old book stores that carry antique books. I remember going to one up in Cincinnati, in the downtown area that, I believe had 5 or 6 floors of old books. I can’t remember the name of it anymore, but it was pretty big and had been there a long time. Also flea markets and even yard sales produce some amazing finds. I hope this helps.
God Bless,
Benaiah

 

[Wendy-Kay]

Holy cow! Y’all have just given me some great information to give to the mormon missionaries! Lots of info!

My grandmother is a “If it ain’t King James, it ain’t bible” type. No matter how I use her own 'infallible" bible to debase her once-saved-always-saved beliefs, she shuts down. Anything contrary I am saying to her is from the devil. Her church teaches this. She is so afraid for her soul that she refuses to acknowlege anything but which was what was instilled in her. I just keep on trying!

 

[Wendy-Kay]

Saying that the Qur’an is a lie is something that I don’t like and not something nice to say since there are Muslim guests here. If I should go off because you said something bad and non Christian like, I’d be called a terrorist and the Moderator’s here will ban me right? Do unto others as you will like them to do unto you. This is the teachings of Muhammad and Jesus. You haven’t studied the whole of it with tafsir so you shouldn’t comment on it. Let those with knowledge speak and others look on.

Please stick to the thread. If you want to start another comparing Muhammad with Christ, feel free.

 

[StMarkEofE]

I am trying to understand WHY some people say that the only accurate Bible is the “King James Version 1611”. It seems that these believers are so entrenched with this belief that there is no room for anything other than a literal KJV only view, nothing else can be considered.Please help me understand why.

I use it but I never thought it was the ONLY bible.

 

[lak611]

I think that’s correct…I also have wondered at why the Bible Society doesn’t produce more Bibles with the full canon. There are certainly people like myself, who have been trying for years–without luck–to convince them to carry a wider selection. (I would love the KJV with the full complement of books. Its the Bible I grew up reading…but I have to go hunt up my half-century-old copy of the so-called apocrypha, if I want to read them!!

Benaiah, while I certainly appreciate your statement, I think you might be surprised at how many people here have done their own research.
My knowledge of Greek is nil, but I do read Latin. That combined with serious coversations with pastors who are students of Biblical languages (including my own, who rattles Hebrew off the top of his head, & who read German almost as soon as he read English), has served to convince me that KJV has serious flaws.
I have spent a lifetime looking for what I consider the best Bible for general use, & have settled upon the Douay-Rheims (my own preference). I use along side it, the RSV-CE, which the pastors (Methodist) of my acquaintance say is the closest to the original languages.
As I say, I would love to find a KJV which is not shy a considerable amount of text! (My great-great-something-grandfather, who came to this country as a Baptist minister from Wales, would have had no problem finding one in his day; it escapes me why today should be so unfairly lacking…Oh, yes!! I should also say, all his books were Latin…the 2 languages along side the other!!)

Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press both make KJV with the Apocrypha. I own a Cambridge KJV with Apocrypha. Mine is actually expensive since I got the leather binding, but they make hardcover editions.

 

[Sufi]

How does one get these old bibles?

I would like to have one.

Old Bibles? What do you by old? How often do you guys re new your sacred scriptures?