Is the King James Version the only TRUE Bible?

by Rev. Daniel M. True

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With that statement in mind, here is yet another item for discussion — the King James Version — is this the only truly literal translation of the Bible?

Having grown up in the “Bible Belt” I experienced much dogmatism in “religious” matters. Other than how you would baptize someone, Bible translations or interpretations rate very high for discussion. I was “raised” in the Episcopal Church where only the “1928 authorized King James Version” of the Bible as well as the Book of Common Prayer  were used in services and classes.  Being a youngster (age 6 and up) I had great difficulty in understanding the Elizabethan language – archaic words and terms that were discontinued in societal communications centuries ago! When I left that church (due to relocation – there was no Anglican church where I moved), I was exposed to other variations of the Bible, primarily the RSV. Only years after my entering adulthood were there proliferates of  other versions.

The Episcopal Church, in the 1960′s, allowed an updated version authorized to be used in services,  however many rejected it, and even today there are those congregations who adamantly refuse, and still use the 1928 version!

Quite frankly, until I was given a “Living Bible” as a young man was I able to back-associate Scripture that I had read previously and was then able to understand the meaning in the KJV! In short, if I had that version as a “beginner” I would have been a lot further along in my Bible studying. Even today, when working with a new “convert” I give that person two Bibles – the LB and the KJV. I always suggest that when that person is “comfortable’ in studying and understanding the Living Bible, to then move to or at least “parallel” the KJV. That provides a good migration.

Even the KJV has had a lot of metamorphoses since “my” Bible of the 1920′s. Look at this chart of just a few King James Versions of the Bible:

You can see that there are MANY King James variations!

Now, let’s discuss the OTHER (non-KJV translations). First, let’s differentiate between a translation and an interpretation: a translation is a word-for-word conversion from one language into another, such as Spanish to English.  An interpretation is to take one language and transpose it (in the interpreter’s opinion) as to what the general theme, context or thought is, into the second language. We see a lot of that in United Nations language work.

In the case of the KJV Bible, it was begun in 1604 and finished in 1611, by an association of 47 Hebrew and Greek scholars, appointed through the then King of England, James I, a learned person himself. In the seven years of compilation, the scholars transposed the original languages into the “common” spoken language of the time. In this case, they “interpreted the meaning” of the Hebrew and Greek, rather than a direct word-for-word translation, into English.

In recent times, following the discovery of the “Dead Sea Scrolls” in the caves of  the Qumran Wadi, and with the increase of understanding of the original ancient languages (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic), more modern and “clarified” versions of the Bible “hit the streets”, much to the chagrin of loyal King James purists (many of my friends!). Yes, some words have been changed or eliminated, based on the use of modern tools of research. Many are direct translations of the original language(s) rather than interpretations.

There are as many comparisons of language differences in the KJV as there are criticisms of the later versions! One, for instance, is the word “love”, as used in John 21:15-17. In the KJV (and most others!), the word love is used three times, appearing to be redundant. However, in the original Greek, there were actually two different words used: agape (God’s love) and philio (brotherly love). Only the Young’s Literal Translation comes close to the original meaning and context of Jesus’ questions.

Many of the Hebrew and Greek words can have as many as seven or more definitions; the KJV scholars selected (interpreted) what they thought would be the one best definition to assign to a specific word.

In short (and this discussion could go on forever, without resolution!), the 1604 team of professors did an excellent job in those eleven years of work to provide a viable Book to be read by the English-speaking people of the time . But, in 400 years, our spoken language and technology have changed and we need to adapt, without compromise or maintaining strong dogmatism, to the needs of today’s reader. I can read some Greek , however if I had to depend on teaching a (New Testament) Bible study using only my Greek testament, without attending more classes on the Greek language, I (and my class) would be lost!!

I have received multiple pages of “documentation” in how BAD all the versions except the KJV are, and I appreciate everyone’s concerns. However, in most cases the theme hasn’t been altered, just some of the words. And remember, based on the above, the King James Version is a collection of “opinions” (decisions by the interpreters as to what meanings of words were to be applied) for the needs and understanding of their  own people, in that day.

In concluding this article, I will share with you the name of a small church in the little in East Tennessee town where I lived for 20 years: “The King James, Father, Son and Holy Ghost Church“.  I guess you don’t go in there carrying a NEW King James version! Yea, verily, verily, thou durst goeth not within lest thou be chastened, forsooth !

— In ANY language; Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic, the meaning is the same  —  “Jesus IS Lord” !!

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