KJV Q&a

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1
KJV Q&A
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About
the KJV and its Underlying Texts
by
Jeffrey Khoo, PhD
Academic Dean, Far Eastern Bible College
Bible Witness Literature Ministry
P O Box 369, Singapore Post Centre
Singapore 914013
2 KJV Q&A
KJV Q&A: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About the KJV
and its Underlying Texts
2003 by Jeffrey Khoo
Publisher:
Bible Witness Literature Ministry, P O Box 369, Singapore 914013
Website: www.biblewitness.com
Credits:
Cover: Melissa Neo
Appendix: Paul Cheong
ISBN: 981-04-8573-5
3
CONTENTS
PREFACE: REVISIONISM ANCIENT AND MODERN.............. 4
CHAPTERS
I PREAMBLE ............................................................................ 6
II QUESTIONS ABOUT THE KING JAMES VERSION......... 8
III QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INSPIRATION AND
PRESERVATION OF SCRIPTURE ...................................... 20
IV QUESTIONS ABOUT FOREIGN LANGUAGE BIBLES
AND THE MODERN VERSIONS ....................................... 39
V QUESTIONS ABOUT DIFFICULT VERSES...................... 44
APPENDIX: UNDERSTANDING KJV ENGLISH ..................... 50
4 KJV Q&A
PREFACE
REVISIONISM ANCIENT AND MODERN
S H Tow
God had spoken: His Word standeth sure, forever settled, inerrant,
infallible, perfect. Who dare doubt or question it but the father of lies and
enemy of truth. His master stroke Yea, hath God said? stumbled our
first parents and plunged the race into sorrow and curse.
That was revisionism of the spoken word at the dawn of history.
In time God gave the Written Word: holy men of God wrote as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost. That Word was denied to Gods people
by unfaithful custodians, until God sent the Reformation and the Bible of
the Reformationthe King James Version (KJV)to lift the darkness of
a thousand years.
Lovers and defenders of the KJV affirm with Dean Burgon of
Oxford that
The Bible is none other than the voice of Him that sitteth upon the throne.
Every book of it, every chapter of it, every verse of it, every syllable of it,
every letter of it, is direct utterance of the Most High. The Bible is none
other than the Word of God, not some part of it more, some part of it less,
but all alike the utterance of Him that sitteth upon the throne, faultless,
unerring, supreme.
Through three centuries, the KJV reigned supreme, the unchallenged
and unrivalled Word of God. But the enemy of truth, with diabolical
cunning and subtlety, schemed its overthrow through a Committee of
Revision headed by Westcott and Hort, masterminds of subversion and
champions of corrupted and doctored texts.
Their Revised Version of 1881, a masterpiece of intrigue, and
secret weapon of the Counter-Reformation, breached the dike of Holy
Scripture, and a hundred corrupt Modern English Versions poured
5
through the floodgate of Revisionism. In the century following, corrupt
versions had all but replaced the King James Bible.
Thank God, it was all but: He has yet a valiant remnant who stand
against the tide of corrupt English Versions, like the faithful seven
thousand in Israel (1 Kgs 19:18), their knees have not bowed before the
Baal of Modern Revisionism.
This Twenty-first Century Battle of the Versions intensifies as the
father of lies uses every wily stratagem to overthrow the citadel of
Biblical fundamentalism, hurling false accusations against the beloved
translation and the underlying texts.
But we affirm our unshakable faith in the KJV as the very Word of
Godthe best, most faithful, most accurate, most beautiful translation of
the Bible in the English language that is based on Gods infallible,
inerrant, inspired and preserved texts.
May all who love the Word of God affirm with the Scripture, that
the law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the
LORD is sure, making wise the simple (Ps 19:7), and that All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may
be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Tim 3:16, 17).
Let God be true but every man a liar. Gods Word is truth. Only the
KJV and its underlying texts preserve that truth perfectly.
Dr S H Tow is the author of Beyond Versions (see page 38), and
the contributing editor of The Defined King James Bible. He sits
on the advisory council of the Dean Burgon Society, USA, and
serves as the senior pastor of Calvary Bible-Presbyterian Church,
Singapore.
REVISIONISM ANCIENT AND MODERN
6 KJV Q&A
CHAPTER I
PREAMBLE
A Personal Affirmation of the 100% Inspiration and the 100%
Preservation of the Original Language Scriptures
Underlying the King James Version
(1) I do believe in the divine, verbal and plenary inspiration of the
Scriptures in the original languages, their consequent inerrancy and
infallibility, and as the Word of God, the Supreme and final authority
in faith and life.
(2) I do affirm the biblical doctrine of providential preservation that the
inspired words of the Hebrew OT Scriptures and the Greek NT
Scriptures are kept pure in all ages as taught by the Westminster
Confession.
(3) I do believe that the Texts which are purest and closest to the
autographs of the Bible are the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text
of the Old Testament, and the Traditional Greek Text for the New
Testament underlying the King James Version.
(4) I believe that the purity of Gods words has been faithfully
maintained in the Traditional/Byzantine/Majority/Received Text,
and fully represented in the Textus Receptus that underlies the KJV.
Providential preservation is not static but dynamic.
(5) I do believe that Gods providential preservation of the Scriptures
concerns not just the doctrines but also the very words of Scripture
to the jot and tittle (Ps 12:6-7, Matt 5:18, 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke
21:33, Rev 22:18-19).
(6) I do not deny that other faithful Bible translations, including foreign
language ones, that are based on other editions of the Textus
Receptus can be deemed the Word of God.
7
(7) I do believe that Scripture cannot contradict Scripture, and hence
there can be no discrepancies in the Bible. All alleged discrepancies
are only apparent and not actual. Principles of harmonisation should
be employed to offer possible solutions, but calling such
discrepancies scribal errors is not one.
(8) I do not believe we need to improve on the TR underlying the KJV. I
do not want to play textual critic, and be a judge of Gods Word. I
accept Gods special hand in His providential work of Bible
preservation during the Reformation.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to
give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope
that is in you with meekness and fear (1 Pet 3:15).
KEPT PURE IN ALL AGES
by Jeffrey Khoo
There is a battle to be fought today. It
is a battle for the Bible. The battle in
the l ast century concerned the
doctrine of Bible inspiration. In this
new century, the battle concerns the
doctrine of Bible preservation. The
doctrine of inspiration is meaningless
without the doctrine of preservation.
The same God who inspired His Word
has promised to preserve His Word.
The Westminister Confession affirms
the twin doctrines of Bible inspiration
and Bi bl e preservati on: The Ol d
Testament in Hebrew (which was the
native language of the people of God
of old), and the New Testament in
Greek (which, at the time of the writing
of it, was most generally known to the
nations), being immediately inspired
by God, and, by his singular care and
providence, kept pure in all ages, are
therefore authentical.
ISBN 981-04-5021-4 Price: $6.00
FEBC Bookroom
Tel: (65)6254-9188, Fax: (65)6251-3891
Email: [email protected]
PREAMBLE
8 KJV Q&A
CHAPTER II
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE KING JAMES VERSION
(1) Is the KJV the Word of God?
The King James Version (KJV) is the best English translation of the
Scriptures, made by godly translators from uncorrupted Hebrew and
Greek texts. Among all English Bibles today there is none that can
surpass the KJV. Indeed the KJV is the very Word of God, and fully
reliable. Thus it should be used exclusively not only for public ministry
but also private study. [See transmission chart on the next page.]
(2) Is the KJV inspired?
God inspired or breathed out (theopneustos, 2 Tim 3:16) His
words in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Strictly speaking, the divinely
inspired words were the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek words God gave to
His writers. The KJV, since it is a faithful and accurate translation of
Gods Word, can be regarded as inspired or Scripture, but only in a
derived sense. Dr Timothy Tow says, The original text may be likened to
ginseng, and its translation ginseng tea.
(3) Is the KJV as good as the original language Scriptures?
No Bible translation is 100% equivalent to the inspired Hebrew/
Aramaic and Greek Scriptures. No translated words can be better than the
inspired Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek words. When using the KJV, it is
necessary to go back to the original language Scriptures for clarity and
fulness of meaning.
By way of illustration, the original language Scripture underlying
the KJV is like the perfect platinum yardstick of the Smithsonian
Institute, inerrant, infallible, authoritative. The KJV and other accurate
and reliable translations are like the common yardstick, though not 100%
are good and safe enough for use. Although there may be a need to
consult the underlying Hebrew and Greek texts especially when
9
NEW TESTAMENT GREEK TEXT
AUTOGRAPHS
APOGRAPHS
CORRUPTED
(ALEXANDRIAN TEXT)
PRESERVED
(BYZANTINE TEXT)
Codex
Sinaiticus
Codex
Vaticanus
MINORITY TEXT
(Rejected by end of 4 Century)
t h
Discovered in 1860s
Promoted by
WESTCOTT & HORT
W-H TEXT
(1881)
NESTLE-ALAND
GREEK NT
UNITED BIBLE
SOCIETIES
GREEK NT
ERV
(1881-85)
ASV
(1901)
Modern English
Versions
(NIV, RSV,
TEV, NASB,
ESV, etc)
THE MANY BIBLES OF ECUMENISM,
MODERNISM, NEO-EVANGELICALISM
& NEO-FUNDAMENTALISM
THE ONE BIBLE OF HISTORIC OR REFORMED
FUNDAMENTALISM
MAJORITY TEXT
(Acknowledged & copied faithfully)
TEXTUS RECEPTUS
Erasmus TR (1516-35)
Stephanus TR (1546-51)
Bezas TR (1565-98)
KJV TR
(1604-11)
Tyndale
(1525)
Coverdale
(1535)
Matthew
(1537)
Great
(1539)
Geneva
(1560)
Bishops
(1568)
KJV (1611)
1 major editing
(1617-29)
2 major editing
(1762-69)
st
nd
Defended by
DEAN BURGON
Scriveners TR
(1894)
GERMAN
Luthers Bible
(1522)
SPANISH
Reina-Valera
(1569-1602)
POLISH
Biblia Gdanska
(1632)
Elzevirs TR
(1624-33)
FRENCH
Martin Bible
(1701)
10 KJV Q&A
interpreting difficult verses, we do not believe that the King James
translators were in any way careless in translating their Bible. The same
however cannot be said of the modern versionsthey are definitely
shorter by many inches and far too unreliable.
(4) Are there grammatical or spelling mistakes in the KJV?
Many anti-KJVists are conceited enough to think that their command
of the English language is superior to that of the King James translators.
They want to correct the Kings English of the KJV. They are like
kindergarten pupils trying to correct the university professors. The KJV
was written in an age when the English language was at its zenith. David
MarshallSingapores first chief ministerwho had for his English
textbook the King James Bible would have dismissed the many puerile
criticisms of the English of the KJV.
Other so-called mistakes anti-KJVists point out like archaic
spellings and capitalisations etc, are not mistakes. The King James
translators capitalise the initial letters of certain nouns and adjectives
when these nouns and adjectives refer to God. In certain places they do
not because it could be due to their uncertainty on how the noun/adjective
is to be interpreted, or simply because it was an oversight on their part
(they were not infallible as translators and proofreaders). At times there is
a need to return to the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures for certainty and
clarity. Dr E F Hills has this wise advice, We must be very cautious
therefore about finding errors in the text of the King James Version, and
the same holds true also in the realm of translation. Whenever the
renderings of the King James Version are called in question, it is usually
the accuser that finds himself in the wrong.
(5) Are the archaisms in the KJV a good reason to replace it
with the modern versions?
No, it is not a good reason. The claim that the KJV has many
archaic words and therefore not understandable is overstated. There are
only about 200 archaic words in the KJV. These old words comprise only
0.1% of the KJV. The Oxford, Webster, Chambers dictionaries contain
entries for most of these archaic words. The Defined King James Bible
published by The Bible For Today Press has the meanings of all the
archaic words footnoted. Other sources of help are the Bible Word List
published by the Trinitarian Bible Society, and the Concise King James
11
Bible Dictionary by David Cloud. [See Appendix: Understanding KJV
English.]
(6) Where was the Word of God prior to the KJV?
The Word of God is found in the divinely inspired and
providentially preserved Traditional and Preserved Text of OT and NT
Scriptures used and recognised by the Church down through the ages, and
in all the faithful and reliable translations that were based on those Texts,
viz. Martin Luthers German Bible (1522), William Tyndales Bible
(1525), Myles Coverdales Bible (1535), The Matthews Bible (1537),
The Great Bible (1539-41), and The Geneva Bible (1557-60).
(7) Is the KJV better than the other English Reformation
Bibles?
The Protestant Reformation arose because of the Bible. Sola
Scriptura (Scripture Alone) was a vital Reformation slogan. All these
Reformation BiblesWycliffes Bible (1382), Tyndales Bible (1525),
Coverdales Bible (1535), Matthews Bible (1537), the Great Bible
(1539), the Geneva Bible (1560), and the Bishops Bible (1568)
facilitated the Reformation cause, and were faithful precursors to the
King James Bible.
It must be categorically stated that all the English Bibles of the
Reformation were indeed good and faithful Bibles, but the KJV was the
best among them. It is significant to note that prior to the KJV, the
English translations were largely individual efforts. The KJV, on the other
hand, was a corporate work. In the words of the translators, the KJV was
not produced to make a bad one a good one; but to make a good one
better, or out of many good ones one principal good one. For this
purpose and with such devotion the KJV translation committee was
formed, and they were careful to assemble together; not too many, lest
one should trouble another; and yet many, lest many things haply might
escape them.
It is important to know that God holds His people in every age
responsible for using the divinely inspired and preserved original texts
and only the faithful and accurate translations of His Word. The Pro-KJV
position does not limit the Word of God to only one 17
th
Century English
translation, but advocates that the KJV, being still the most accurate
English translation based on the purest texts, should be the only Bible
12 KJV Q&A
used by English-speaking Christians today. To use other Bibles when the
best is clearly available would be to neglect our responsibility.
(8) What did the KJV translators mean when they said that
the meanest translation is still the Word of God?
The 1611 Preface of the KJV is often used by anti-KJVists to
support the corrupt modern versions. They argue that in that Preface the
KJV translators themselves viewed even the worst English versions as the
Word of God.
Did the KJV translators really say that every translation of the Bible
even if filled with grammatical, translational, or doctrinal errors could be
rightly called the Word of God? They certainly did not. The context in
which they wrote those words clearly reveals this: Now to the latter we
answer, that we do not deny, nay, we affirm and avow, that the very
meanest translation of the Bible in English set forth by men of our
profession (for we have seen none of theirs of the whole Bible as yet)
containeth the word of God, nay, is the word of God: as the Kings speech
which he uttered in parliament, being translated into French, Dutch,
Italian, and Latin, is still the Kings speech, though it be not interpreted
by every translator with the like grace.
It is clear that by the word meanest they do not mean worst (i.e.
evil in the highest degree). Who would dare mistranslate the kings
speech? Clearly they were not talking about sense but style. By meanest
they meant poor in literary grace. When beginning Greek students
translate their Greek Bible into English, it may be rough and wooden; but
if literal and precise, it is the Word of God. The KJV translators, some of
whom were Puritans, certainly did not humour wicked or corrupt
versions. It is utterly ridiculous and absurd to suggest that they did.
Anti-KJVists have thus put words into the mouths of the King James
translators to make them mean what they did not mean by meanest in a
mean attempt to demean the Pro-KJV position.
(9) Who is Peter Ruckman and what is his view on the KJV?
Peter Ruckman earned his PhD from Bob Jones University. He holds
to the view that the KJV is separately inspired of God, contains advanced
revelation, and thus superior to the original Hebrew and Greek
Scriptures. Ruckmans position is erroneous, even heretical because
inspiration in the light of 2 Tim 3:16, and 2 Pet 1:21 is applicable only to
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the original writers (OT Prophets and NT Apostles), original writings (66
books of canonical Scripture), and original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic
and Greek).
(10) Did the KJV translators claim to be inspired of God in
their work?
The KJV translators did not claim to be inspired by God in their
translation work, and rightly so because truly they were not. Only the
Biblical writers (e.g. Moses, David, Matthew, Paul etc) were inspired of
God to write the Scriptures. Nevertheless, it must be observed that the
King James translators recognised with deep reverence that the sacred
texts from which they were translating were the inspired Word of God.
This is why they ardently desired to make their translation as accurate as
possible despite their own shortcomings and imperfections. In contrast to
this, not all who are involved in modern Bible translation work today
have such a high regard for the texts they translate, as evidenced from the
bold liberties they are willing to take with the text.
(11) How many revisions did the KJV undergo?
After the KJV was published in 1611, it went through a number of
revisions, all of which were completed by 1629. The revisions that
occurred between 1611 and 1638 were due to printing errors. The KJV
translators themselves, namely, Samuel Ward and John Bois, corrected
these errors. In the course of typesetting, the printers had inadvertently
left out words or phrases; all such manifest typographical errors had been
corrected. For example, Ps 69:32 of the 1611 edition read good instead
of God. This was clearly a printers error, and was corrected in 1617.
Apart from a slight revision in 1638, there followed several facetious
attempts to revise the KJV between 1638-1762 but none were successful.
The final revision of the KJV was done between 1762 and 1769. The
1762 revision had to do with spelling. For example, old forms that had an
e after verbs, and u instead of v, and f for s were all
standardised to conform to modern spelling. For example, feare is
fear, mooued is moved, and euill is evil, and alfo, is also.
All these Gothic and German spelling peculiarities have been Romanised.
1769 saw an updating of weights, measures, and coins. This 1769 edition
of the KJV is the one popularly in print today. It is important to note that
the 1769 edition is essentially the same as the 1611.
14 KJV Q&A
There was an 1805 edition which accidentally printed a
proofreaders note to remain in the text of Gal 4:29 that made the verse
to read him that was born after the Spirit to remain . The only
significant revision in the 1800s was in 1873 when Scrivener worked on
the KJVs marginal notes, orthography, and cross references.
There are not two or more KJVs but only one, and the one that is
used today is basically the 1769 edition.
(12) Why did the KJV translators translate the Apocrypha
and include these books in the original 1611 edition?
It must be stated that the KJV translators in no wise considered the
Apocrypha to be inspired Scripture. The Westminster Confession of Faith
(1643-8) which was written not long after the KJV was translated states
that the Apocrypha was clearly not recognised by Gods people to be part
of the Word of God. It is also important to note that it was not only the
KJV that contained the Apocrypha but also other Reformation Bibles like
the Wycliffe and Geneva Bibles. It was only in 1640 that the Geneva
Bible omitted the Apocrypha, and it was not until the 19
th
century that the
removal of the Apocrypha from all Protestant Bibles became the norm.
It must be noted that the King James translators did not care very
much for the Apocrypha, and translated it rather carelessly. Scrivener
wrote, It is well known to Biblical scholars that the Apocrypha received
very inadequate attention from the revisers of 1611 and their
predecessors, so that whole passages remain unaltered from the racy,
spirited, rhythmical, but hasty, loose and most inaccurate version made
by Coverdale for the Bible of 1536.
(13) Was King James a homosexual?
There are those who say that King James was a homosexual, and
there are those who think not (recently, a heavily documented 392-page
book by Stephen A Coston Sr, King James the VI of Scotland and the I of
England: Unjustly Accused? [St Petersburg: KoenigsWort Incorporated,
1996], takes the latter view). But for arguments sake, let us say King
James was homosexual. Being homosexual he would surely alter
scriptural texts that speak against the sin of homosexuality. We do not
find such alterations in the KJV. On the contrary, we find intact such
passages as Rom 1:26-27 speaking out against vile affections: for even
their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
15
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned
in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is
unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error
which was meet. If King James were truly homosexual, he would be
expected to alter or delete this passage. There was no such tampering. In
any case, even if King James was homosexual, he was not among the
translators, and had no part in the translating work.
(14) Were the King James translators infallible?
No sinful human being is infallible. Only God is infallible. Even the
inspired writers of the Scriptures were not perfect men. For example,
David committed adultery and yet God used him to write the Psalms.
Peter denied Christ three times and yet wrote 1-2 Peter. The King James
translators were likewise sinners saved by the grace of God. There is no
reason to doubt that the men who translated the KJV, like the biblical
writers, were regenerate men of piety, godliness and erudite scholarship,
their weaknesses and failings of the flesh notwithstanding. If they were
alive today, they would probably on hindsight praise the Lord for the
glorious work that He had done through them in producing such a faithful
and accurate translation that has stood the test of time, and blessed so
many millions of Gods people all over the world.
(15) Who owns the copyright to the KJV?
The British Crown owns the copyright to the KJV, and hence the
right to grant permission to publish it to whomever she wishes. However,
it does seem that the Crown does not care too much to enforce her
copyright. The KJV is published today by not a few University Presses,
Bible Societies, publishing houses, and software companies in Britain and
America and elsewhere.
(16) Are those who do not take the KJV stand, even if they are
not ignorant of the issue, heretics?
What is a heresy? Biblically speaking, a heresy is any doctrine that
is contrary to the fundamental truths of the Christian faith, which seeks to
tear believers away from their Lord and Saviour by undermining their
confidence in His person, work and words.
We ought not be trigger-happy in calling a person a heretic. When I
think of heretics, I think of Westcott and Hort. They called the KJV/TR
16 KJV Q&A
vile and villainous. They do not believe in the doctrine of verbal
plenary inspiration and preservation. They do not believe that the Bible is
totally inerrant and infallible. So, in the same way Bible-Presbyterians are
known as fundamentalists because they are disciples of Carl McIntire, I
would say the disciples of Westcott and Hort and those of their mould
deserve the same label their teachers have acquired.
(17) Should we label those who are non-KJV heretics?
No, I do not think so. Here we have the infallible example of our
Lord. How did Jesus deal with heresy and the heretics of His day? When
we study the life of Christ, we find our Lord sparing no effort and
mincing no words in denouncing the heretics of His time, namely, Israels
pastors and doctors of theologythe Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees.
Read Matt 23. The Lord cursed them with woes, and called them
hypocrites, blind guides, fools, whited sepulchres, serpents and vipers.
They were the pastors and teachers of Israel who instead of guiding Gods
people into the straight and narrow way of life, led them into the broad
way of death. Instead of shepherding Gods people to green pastures and
still waters, they led them to poisoned fields of thistles and thorns. Jesus
was very angry with these false pastors and teachers, and said they
deserve the greater damnation (see also Jas 3:1).
On the other hand, it is significant to note that Jesus was very kind,
gentle, and patient with the common folk, the ordinary member of the
pew, His lambs and sheep. He did not excuse them when they erred in
doctrine, word or deed, but chided them gently, and patiently instructed
them on the right way. Jesus made a distinction between the shepherd and
the sheep. He dealt with both differently. We should follow Jesus in this
regard. I have no sympathy for Westcott and Hort and their clerical
cohorts; but to the ordinary member of the pew, Gods lambs and sheep,
we must take care not only to feed them with the whole counsel of God,
but also protect them from the wolves, and wolves in sheeps clothing,
viz. the heretical teachers who seek to devour and tear people away from
our Saviour and His Truth.
In the pastoral ministry, I feel that it is very important that we be
very sensitive and careful not to undermine the believers confidence in
God and His Word. Jesus warning applies: But whoso shall offend one
of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a
17
millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the
depth of the sea (Matt 18:6).
(18) Is it true that certain fundamentalist universities and
seminaries are moving away from the KJV towards the modern
versions, and denying the doctrine of special providential
preservation of Scripture?
It is sad but true that certain fundamentalist universities and
seminaries are today undermining the good old KJV by saying that it has
many translational mistakes, and denying that God has indeed preserved
every jot and tittle of His Word in the original language Scriptures
underlying the KJV. Generally speaking, these neo-fundamentalist
institutions take the following views:
(1) Inspiration Yes, Preservation No: They believe in the inspiration
of Scripture in the autographs (i.e. the first writings), but not the
preservation of it in the apographs (i.e. subsequent copies). According to
them, one can only be sure that every vital doctrine in the Bible is
preserved, but not every inspired word (contra Matt 4:4, 5:18).
(2) KJV Yes, TR No: They may use or allow the use of the KJV as
their classroom text, but their teachers generally undermine the Preserved
Hebrew Masoretic Text and Greek Textus Receptus on which the KJV is
based. They allow for the Westcott and Hort view that such precious
passages as the last 12 verses of Mark, the woman taken in adultery (John
7:53-8:11), and Johns Trinitarian statement (1 John 5:7-8) are not part of
inspired Scripture.
(3) KJV Yes, Modern Versions Yes Too: They may adopt the KJV as
their classroom text, but they also approve of and recommend such
versions as the New International Version (NIV), New American
Standard Bible (NASB), and the English Standard Version (ESV) which
are all based on the corrupt Westcott and Hort Text. [See chart on page
24.]
(19) Which are the Reformed seminaries that uphold the
KJV?
Besides the Far Eastern Bible College (Bible-Presbyterian), there are
a number of Reformed seminaries that uphold the KJV and its underlying
texts:
18 KJV Q&A
Protestant Reformed Seminary (www.prca.org/seminary.html). The
Rev David J Engelsma, Professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament
Studies at the Theological School of the Protestant Reformed Churches
wrote Modern Bible Versions to defend the KJV and warn against the
modern versions of the Bible that are displacing the KJV. See it at http://
www.prca.org/pamphlets/pamphlet_10.html.
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (www.hnrc.org/gr/
Ministries/PRTS/prts.html). Dr Joel R Beeke, the President of PRTS,
wrote a tract entitled, Practical Reasons for Retaining the KJV. In it, he
gave 13 reasons why the KJV should be preferred over against the
modern versions of the English Bible. He argued, Based on the Textus
Receptus (Greek NT), and the Masoretic Text (Hebrew OT), the KJV
gives the most authentic and fullest available text of the Scriptures, with
none of the many omissions and textual rewrites of the modern
translations. He also said, In choosing this version we choose to stand
with all that is best in the great tradition of historic Christianity.
London Reformed Baptist Seminary (www.metropolitantabernacle.
org). Dr Peter Masters, the pastor of Spurgeons Tabernacle, uses the KJV
in his church and seminary, and promotes the books of D A Waite and
David Cloud in his bookstore. Dr Masters says that the KJV is preferred
because it encourages the reverent tense in prayer.
European Institute of Protestant Studies (www.ianpaisley.org). The
Rev Dr Ian R K Paisley, MP, MEP, Moderator of the Free Presbyterian
Church of Ulster, Minister of Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian
Church, and President of EIPS, has written a passionate defence of the
KJV entitled, A Plea for the Old Sword (Belfast: Ambassador, 1997).
Highly recommended, especially for the laity.
Bible College of East Africa, P O Box 41140, Nairobi, Kenya.
BCEA is a missions outreach of the Independent Board for Presbyterian
Foreign Missions (Bible Presbyterian), USA. The College principal is the
Rev Dr Mark Kyung Soo Kim, a graduate of Far Eastern Bible College
and of Pensacola Christian College.
Far Eastern Fundamental School of Theology, 6D Nanthani Street,
Sawbwakyigone, Insein, Yangon, Myanmar. FEFST is the denominational
school of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Myanmar (EPCM). The
Rev Robert Thawm Luai who heads the school has published the Falam-
Chin Bible which is based on the KJV. The Bible is beautifully printed
19
from its very own Heidelberg Printing Press. You may read more about it
at http://www.lifefebc.com/febc/BurnBush/V7N2.htm.
Although not Reformed or Presbyterian, Pensacola Christian
College and Theological Seminary (www.pts.pcci.edu) deserves special
mention. PCC/PTS has come up very strongly against fundamental
colleges and seminaries that either merely pay lip service to the KJV, or
undermine it altogether by rejecting the traditional text in favour of the
modern but corrupt critical text. Get a hold of these three excellent video
lectures on the KJV issue by Dr Dell Johnson, Dr Theodore Letis, and Dr
Michael Bates: (1) The Leaven in Fundamentalism, (2) The Bible
The Text is the Issue, and (3) The Bible Preserved from Satans
Attacks.
For a list of dispensational and Baptist colleges and seminaries that
defend the KJV, please go to http://www.wholesomewords.org/direc.html.
20 KJV Q&A
CHAPTER III
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INSPIRATION AND
PRESERVATION OF SCRIPTURE
(20) Are only the autographs (the very first scripts) absolutely
infallible and inerrant, or may the apographs (subsequent
copies) be considered infallible and inerrant as well?
Most modern evangelical and fundamentalist scholars have
mistakenly followed B B Warfield to say that only the original autographs
were absolutely infallible and inerrant. Today, many scholars are
questioning this idea. Prof Richard Muller of Calvin Theological
Seminary, for instance, rightly observed, The Protestant scholastics do
not press the point made by their nineteenth-century followers that the
infallibility of Scripture and the freedom of Scripture from error reside
absolutely in the autographa and only in a derivative sense in the
apographa; rather, the scholastics argue positively that the apographa
preserve intact the true words of the prophets and the apostles and that the
God-breathed (theopneustos) character of Scripture is manifest in the
apographa as well as the autographa. In other words, the issue primarily
addressed by the seventeenth-century orthodox in their discussion of the
autographa is the continuity of the extant copies in Hebrew and in Greek
with the originals both quoad res, with respect to the thing or subject of
the text, and quoad verba, with respect to the words of the text
(Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms, s.v. autographa).
This is because the Scriptures expressly teach that the inspired autographs
are providentially preserved in the apographs. [See chart Inspiration
and Preservation of Scripture: Four Views on the next page.]
(21) Are there biblical evidences to prove that the apographs
may be considered the infallible and inerrant Word of God?
The answer is yes. Consider the following biblical examples: (a) By
the time the prophets of the OT stated things like the word of our God
2
1
S W E I V R U O F : E R U T P I R C S F O N O I T A V R E S E R P D N A N O I T A R I P S N I
M S I N R E D O M
- O E N
M S I L A C I L E G N A V E
- O E N
M S I L A T N E M A D N U F
M S I L A T N E M A D N U F
N O I T A R I P S N I L A C I L B I B n o i t a r i p s n i o N n o i t a r i p s n i l a i t r a P n o i t a r i p s n i l a t o T n o i t a r i p s n i l a t o T
L A C I L B I B
N O I T A V R E S E R P
n o i t a v r e s e r p o N n o i t a v r e s e r p l a i t r a P n o i t a v r e s e r p l a i t r a P n o i t a v r e s e r p l a t o T
Y T I L I B I L L A F N I L A C I L B I B
Y C N A R R E N I D N A
y t i l i b i l l a f n i h t o b s e i n e D
n i y c n a r r e n i d n a
d n a s h p a r g o t u a
s h p a r g o p a
t u b y t i l i b i l l a f n i s m r i f f A
e h t n i y c n a r r e n i s e i n e d
d n a s h p a r g o t u a
s h p a r g o p a
y t i l i b i l l a f n i l a t o t s m r i f f A
n i t u b y c n a r r e n i d n a
y l n o s h p a r g o t u a e h t
y t i l i b i l l a f n i l a t o t s m r i f f A
h t o b n i y c n a r r e n i d n a
d n a s h p a r g o t u a e h t
s h p a r g o p a
D N A Y T I R O H T U A
Y G O L O M E T S I P E
. e n o l a e c n e i c S
s i , h t i a F t o n , t c e l l e t n I
o t e e S . e m e r p u s
. e v e i l e b
. e l b i B s u l p e c n e i c S
e r o m d e t c e j b u s h t i a F
e h t o t n a h t t c e l l e t n I o t
. e v e i l e b o t e e S . e l b i B
. e l b i B s u l p e c n e i c S
e r o m d e t c e j b u s h t i a F
e h t o t n a h t t c e l l e t n I o t
. e v e i l e b o t e e S . e l b i B
( e n o l a e l b i B a l o S
. ) a r u t p i r c S d n a h t i a F
y l l a t o t t c e l l e t n I
. e l b i B e h t o t d e t c e j b u s
. e e s o t e v e i l e B
M S I C I T I R C L A U T X E T
d n a t t o c t s e W o t s e Y
t r o H
t r o H
t r o H
d n a t t o c t s e W o t o N
t r o H
T X E T K E E R G L A N I G I R O
l a c i t i r C d n a y t i r o n i M
y l n o t x e T
y l n o t x e T
y l n i a m t x e T
d n a t x e T y t i r o j a M
y l n o s u t p e c e R s u t x e T
E L B I B H S I L G N E
S N O I S R E V
s n o i s r e v n r e d o m y l n O
e l b a t p e c c a
s n o i s r e v n r e d o m y l n O
e l b a t p e c c a
e l b a t p e c c a s n o i s r e v l l A e l b a t p e c c a V J K y l n O
Q
U
E
S
T
I
O
N
S

A
B
O
U
T

I
N
S
P
I
R
A
T
I
O
N

A
N
D

P
R
E
S
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
22 KJV Q&A
shall stand for ever (Isa 40:8), the original autographs were no longer
existing and the Word of God was found only in the manuscript copies
many generations removed from the autographs. The same can be said of
the time when Jesus said, the scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35).
(b) By the time Paul wrote to Timothy, All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16), the
scripture that is mentioned here, especially the OT and perhaps some
earlier books of the NT, were no longer the autographs. These words
imply that infallibility and inerrancy are applicable not only to the
originally given autographs, but even to faithfully copied apographs.
Although there were occasional copying mistakes in the transmission
process, God providentially ensured that the majority of the copies reflect
the original readings. These copying mistakes were also gradually
corrected as they were spotted, and eventually removed at the time of the
great Protestant Reformation from the Traditional Hebrew Masoretic Text
and the Greek Textus Receptus underlying the KJV. That is why we say,
We believe in the divine, verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in
the original languages, their consequent inerrancy and infallibility, and as
the Word of God, the Supreme and final authority in faith and life.
(22) Did God lose any of His inspired New Testament words
when the autographs were destroyed?
No, God did not lose any of the words of the originals when the
autographs were destroyed. Although we do not have the autographs
today, we have the apographs which reflect the autographs. All the
divinely inspired words of the autographs have been providentially
preserved in faithfully copied apographs. We affirm with the Westminster
divines that the original language Scriptures being immediately inspired
by God, and, by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages,
are therefore authentical (Westminster Confession of Faith, 1:8).
Providentially speaking, the NT Autographs were neither lost nor
destroyed. The purity of Gods Word has been faithfully maintained
throughout the whole transmission of the Traditional/Byzantine/Majority
Text, and fully represented in the Textus Receptus underlying the KJV.
17
th
century Calvinist theologianFrancis Turretinhimself affirmed:
By the original texts, we do not mean the autographs written by the hand
of Moses, of the prophets and of the apostles, which certainly do not now
23
exist. We mean their apographs which are so called because they set forth
to us the word of God in the very words of those who wrote under the
immediate inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Turretin was no ordinary
theologian. His Systematic Theology textbook was used in Princeton
Seminary until Warfield came into the scene with his new and radical
autographal view of the original text which opened the door to liberal
textual criticism that has spawned a whole new generation of critical texts
and modern perversions of the Scriptures that seek to displace the time-
tested and time-honoured TR and KJV. [See chart The Entrance of the
Leaven of Textual Criticism into Fundamentalism on the next page.]
(23) What does the Westminster Confession of Faith mean by
the words, kept pure in all ages?
Here is an answer from Prof William F Orr of Pittsburgh
Theological Seminary: this affirms that the Hebrew text of the Old
Testament and the Greek of the New which was known to the
Westminster divines was immediately inspired by God because it was
identical with the first text that God had kept pure in all the ages. The
idea that there are mistakes in the Hebrew Masoretic texts or in the Textus
Receptus of the New Testament was unknown to the authors of the
Confession of Faith.
G I Williamson likewise did write to this effect in his commentary
on the Westminster Confession, This brings us to the matter of Gods
singular care and providence by which He has kept pure in all ages
this original text, so that we now actually possess it in authentical form.
And let us begin by giving an illustration from modern life to show that
an original document may be destroyed, without the text of that document
being lost. Suppose you were to write a will. Then suppose you were to
have a photographic copy of that will made. If the original were then
destroyed, the photographic copy would still preserve the text of that will
exactly the same as the original itself. The text of the copy would differ in
no way whatever from the original, and so it would possess exactly the
same truth and meaning as the original. Now of course photography was
not invented until long after the original copy had been worn out or
lost. How then could the original text of the Word of God be preserved?
The answer is that God preserved it by His own remarkable care and
providence.
QUESTIONS ABOUT INSPIRATION AND PRESERVATION
2
4
K
J
V

Q
&
A
THE ENTRANCE OF THE LEAVEN OF TEXTUAL CRITICISM INTO FUNDAMENTALISM
Source: Dell G Johnson, overhead chart entitled The Leaven in Fundamentalism, in The Leaven in Fundamentalism: A History of the
Bible Text Issue in Fundamentalism, videocassette tape 3, 145 mins, Pensacola Christian College, 1998. Used by permission.
CONSERVATIVE
PRESBYTERIANS
&
BIBLE CHURCHES
SOUTHERN
BAPTIST
CONVENTION &
MANY BAPTISTS
EVANGELICAL
&
BIBLE CHURCHES/
SEMINARIES
CENTRAL
BAPTIST
THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY
Minneapolis, MN
Gordon Lovik
(BJU Grad)
DETROIT
BAPTIST
THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY
Allen Park, MI
David Doran
(BJU Grad)
CALVARY
BAPTIST
THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY
Lansdale, PA
Gordon Lovik
(BJU Grad)
J GRESHAM
MACHEN
Princeton
Theological
Seminary
Prof (1906-29)
Westminster
Theological
Seminary
Founder & Prof
(1929-37)
A T ROBERTSON
Southern Baptist
Theological
Seminary
Prof (1888-1934)
LEWIS SPERRY
CHAFER
Dallas Theological
Seminary
Founder & Prof
(1924-52)
CHARLES BROKENSHIRE
Bob Jones University (BJU)
Dean & Prof (1943-54)
BENJAMIN B WARFIELD
Princeton Theological Seminary
Prof (1887-1921)
MARSHALL NEAL
BJU Prof (1945-94)
STEWART CUSTER
BJU Prof (1960- )
INDEPENDENT BAPTIST SEMINARIES
25
(24) How were the Scriptures preserved?
Dr E F Hills answers: First, the Old Testament text was preserved
by the Old Testament priesthood and the scribes and scholars that
grouped themselves around that priesthood (Deut. 31:24-26). Second, the
New Testament text has been preserved by the universal priesthood of
believers, by faithful Christians in every walk of life (1 Peter 2:9). Third,
the Traditional Text, found in the vast majority of the Greek New
Testament manuscripts, is the True Text because it represents the God-
guided usage of this universal priesthood of believers. Fourth, the first
printed text of the Greek New Testament was not a blunder or a set-back
but a forward step in the providential preservation of the New Testament.
Hence the few significant departures of that text from the Traditional Text
are only Gods providential corrections of the Traditional Text in those
few places in which such corrections were needed. Fifth, through the
usage of Bible-believing Protestants God placed the stamp of His
approval on this printed text, and it became the Textus Receptus
(Received Text).
(25) What special rules did the Jewish scribes apply when
copying the Scriptures?
The Jewish scribes had a very careful and reverent approach towards
the copying of the Hebrew Scriptures. Before they wrote Gods
covenantal name, YHWH (KJV: LORD), they would first wash their
whole body. If there was a need to correct the manuscript, the correction
must be made within 30 days, otherwise the manuscript would be
condemned. One mistake on a page, condemned the whole page, and if
there were three mistakes in any page, the entire manuscript would have
to be destroyed. The proofreading was equally laborious. It involved
counting every letter of the manuscript to ensure that it matched the
original perfectly. An omission or addition of just one letter would see the
whole manuscript consigned to immediate destruction.
(26) In what language did Jesus Christ teach that the Old
Testament would be preserved forever according to Matt 5:18?
Jesus taught that the OT would be preserved forever in the Hebrew
language. This preservation must logically apply to the NT as well which
was written in Greek. The OT and NT are inseparable for they together
make up the complete Scripture. The jot and tittle of the divinely inspired
26 KJV Q&A
words of the original language Scripture Jesus promised would be
preserved until the very end of time in Matt 5:18 (quoted as a proof text
for the doctrine of biblical preservationkept pure in all agesby the
Westminster theologians). Matthew Henry likewise believed in the jot-
and-tittle preservation of the Scriptures: Heaven and earth shall come
together, and all the fulness thereof be wrapt up in ruin and confusion,
rather than any word of God shall fall to the ground, or be in vain. The
word of the Lord endures for ever, both that of the law [i.e. OT], and that
of the gospel [i.e. NT]. ... for whatever belongs to God, and bears his
stamp, be it ever so little, shall be preserved.
(27) What does the Dead Sea Scrolls tell us about the
preservation of the Hebrew Scriptures?
The Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) were discovered accidentally in 1947
by a bedouin boy. There is still much debate over the origins of these
scrolls. The generally accepted theory is that the Essenes (ultra-
fundamentalist Jews who desired the isolated life of the desert) were
responsible for them. Although the DSS display considerable similarity to
the traditional Masoretic Text (MT) especially in the book of Isaiah, it
departs radically from the MT in many other parts like the Psalms. The
DSS contain nine entirely new and unheard of psalms that are not found
in the traditional Hebrew Scripture. Many of the psalms show a corrupted
hand. For instance, in verse 16 of Psalm 22, which is a Messianic psalm,
the DSS read, like a lion are my hands and feet, which makes no sense.
The traditional Hebrew text, on the other hand, reads, they pierced my
hands and my feet, obviously pointing to the crucifixion of Christ (cf.
Matt 27:35).
All said and done, our confidence in the Hebrew Scriptures must rest
on the very Scriptures Jehovah has kept pure in all ages, viz. the
traditional Hebrew Masoretic Text. It goes without saying that the DSS
must be examined in the light of the Masoretic Text and not vice versa.
(28) Is Psalm 12:7 talking about Gods preservation of His
people or of His words?
Ps 12:6-7 reads, The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver
tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O
LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. The
words keep them and preserve them in verse 7 refer to the words of
27
the LORD in verse 6. Although the pronoun them in verse 7 is in the
masculine, and the words in verse 6 feminine, there is no irregularity in
Hebrew grammar for masculine suffixes (especially in the plural) are not
infrequently used to refer to feminine substantives (Gesenius, Hebrew
Grammar, 440). Waltke and OConnor say the same, The masculine
pronoun [i.e. them, v7] is often used for a feminine antecedent [i.e.
words, v6] (Biblical Hebrew Syntax, 302).
Anti-KJVists, however, deny that verse 7 refers to the words of
verse 6. They say that the words them in verse 7 refer to the poor and
needy of verse 5. While this is possible, it is preferable and only natural
to read verse 7 in connection with its nearest antecedent, which is verse 6,
referring to the words of the LORD.
Against those who say that Ps 12:7 refers to the preservation of
Gods people and not Gods words, Peter W Van Kleeck in his book
Fundamentalisms Folly?under the section, The Churchly Traditions
Rendering of Psalm 12:7, wrote, The evidence shows that the churchly
tradition allows them the breadth to include both people and Gods
words in its interpretation. the modern versions elect to overlook the
Reformations Hebrew basis for translation in Psalm 12:6-7; and the
churchly tradition is censored in the new versions by not including a
translation and interpretation that is broad enough to include both
oppressed people and Gods words.
Psalm 12 does indeed teach Gods preservation of His people (vv1-
5), but it also teaches Gods preservation of His words (vv6-7). God is
assuring His people that His preservation of them is as sure and secure as
His preservation of His very own words.
(29) Did the Lord Jesus and the Apostles quote from the
Septuagint (Greek version of the OT)?
We cannot be absolutely certain that Jesus made use of and quoted
from the Septuagint. There is some doubt that the Septuagint even existed
during the time of Christ. Furthermore, there is not one instance in the
Scriptures where we find Jesus or the Apostles saying that they have
quoted from the Septuagint. As a matter of fact, there are many NT
quotations of the OT that do not agree with the Septuagint. It is better to
assume that Jesus and the Apostles did their own direct translation of the
Hebrew text into Greek.
28 KJV Q&A
(30) Is it true that no two manuscripts of the Greek New
Testament are exactly alike?
It is fallacious to assume dogmatically that no two Greek NT
manuscripts are exactly the same. There are over 5000 extant Greek NT
manuscripts, and not all of them have been thoroughly examined and
compared yet. Most scholars have not even seen all of these manuscripts
firsthand, much less studied them. None can claim omniscience.
What we do know for a fact is that the majority of the manuscripts
reflect remarkably uniform readings, and this must necessarily mean that
they are the providentially preserved copies (see J W Burgons The
Traditional Text published by the Dean Burgon Society; see also E F
Hills, The King James Version Defended, 139-68). Burgon proved that the
Traditional Text on which the KJV is based is the trustworthy and
providentially preserved text over against Westcott and Horts corrupt
Alexandrian or Minority Text which is from a very small number of the
extant NT manuscripts.
In the light of Gods keeping of His Scripture by special providence,
we have every reason to believe that all of His inspired words are found
in the traditional and preserved Hebrew and Greek texts on which the
KJV is based.
(31) What is the difference between the Majority Text and the
Textus Receptus?
The Majority Text (also known as the Byzantine Text) refers to
the 99% of extant Greek NT manuscripts. The majority of faithfully
transmitted manuscripts bear remarkable uniformity. There are some
differences, but Gods providential preservation of His Word ensured that
the text found in the vast majority of the Greek New Testament
manuscripts is a trustworthy reproduction of the divinely inspired
Original Text (E F Hills, The King James Version Defended, 106). It is
perhaps more accurate to identify this text as the Traditional Text (so
Burgon).
The providential preservation of the NT saw the eventual printing of
the Textus Receptus in the time of the Reformation. The Textus Receptus
was an edition based on the Majority Text that was providentially
accepted and used extensively by the Reformers and Protestants for their
translation of Scripture into various languages.
29
There were certain readings like the Johannine Comma (1 John 5:7)
that were found in just a few existing Greek manuscripts. Such readings
were received and accepted by the Church as true readings throughout the
centuries especially in the Latin-speaking Church of Western Europe. At
the time of the Reformation, God providentially guided the editors and
printers of the Textus Receptus to follow the Latin Bible in those few
places in which the Western rather than Eastern Church had preserved the
genuine reading. The Majority Text and the Textus Receptus are
essentially the same. In a few places, the Textus Receptus is preferred
over the Majority Text because the Protestant Reformation was used by
God to recognise and establish it, thereby restoring to Gods people all of
His inspired words. Calvin, for instance, considers the Trinitarian clause
in 1 John 5:7 as an inspired text: But because the passage reads better
with the clause added and as I see that it is found in the best and most
approved copies, I also readily embrace it.
(32) Are there any early Greek manuscripts that prove the
authenticity of the Textus Receptus over against the Westcott-
Hort Text?
Yes, there are indeed. Here are two recent examples.
The first is Magdalen GR 17 or the Jesus Papyrus. This papyrus,
kept in Magdalen College, Oxford, is one of the oldest known fragments
of the NT. Carsten Peter Thiede and Matthew D Ancona in their book
The Jesus Papyruspublished by Weidenfeld-Nicolson (England) and
Doubleday (New York) wrote that the Magdalen GR 17 is to be dated to
a point within the lifetimes of eyewitnesses to Christ. ... This makes the
Magdalen papyrus one of the oldest known fragments of the New
Testament, and one of the most important documents in the world. In
other words, the papyrus can be dated to about AD 60 or earlier.
The Magdalen GR 17 consists of three small fragments, and is a
portion of Matthews Gospel (Matt 26:7-8, 26:10, 14-15, 22-23, 31-33).
Among other things, what is significant is the Magdalens bearing on the
identification of the traditional text. The British Reformed Fellowship in
its journal article, Papyrus Magdalen GR 17 and the Textus Receptus,
reported this: In the analysis of GR 17 undertaken under the laser-
scanning microscope, certain definite results concerning particular Greek
letters that had originally been written on the GR 17 were obtained which
enabled the researchers to conclude that the papyrus followed a certain
30 KJV Q&A
form of textual reading. A comparison of this reading with the Post-
Westcott-Hort text of the 27
th
edition of the Nestle-Aland Novum
Testamentum Graece indicated a salient difference. Thiede and DAncona
... point out that GR17 has, on the last four words of Matthew 26:22 a
reading which is disparate from modern standard critical editions of the
Greek New Testament which are of course, all Westcott-Hort based
eclectic text, the basis of all modern translations.
A comparison of the last four words of Matt 26:22 in the Textus
Receptus and Westcott-Hort Text with the Jesus Papyrus bears this out
quite clearly.
2 2 : 6 2 t t a M f o s d r o W r u o F t s a L
t r o H - t t o c t s e W , c c - . , . . . u c . . . , . `
7 1 R G s u r y p a P . . u c , c c - . . u c . . . , . `
s u t p e c e R s u t x e T . . u c , c c - . . u c . . . , . `
This is significant. We have in the Magdalen papyrus a very early 1
st
century manuscript which agrees with the Textus Receptus over against
the Westcott-Hort Text! This confirms Dean Burgons observation all
alongthe Westcott-Hort Text is a corrupted text, the early age of its
primary manuscripts notwithstanding.
The second is papyrus P
75
. P
75
is another early manuscript (3
rd
century) that supports the traditional reading of the Textus Receptus. The
New American Standard Bible (NASB) by virtue of P
75
will soon update
its NT by putting the clause on Christs ascension, and carried up into
heaven, back into Luke 24:51 which is currently omitted. This is no
small embarrassment to the NASB translation committee. Shame on them
for playing ping-pong with Gods Word! NASB users would soon have to
cough out cash for their new and improved NASB.
All this tells us that the Textus Receptus on which the KJV is based,
being the divinely preserved text, is a steady text. The Westcott-Hort text
of the modern versions, on the other hand, is a shifty text that is
repeatedly being tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
textual criticism. God has confounded His critics indeed!
31
(33) Was Erasmus who produced the first edition of the Textus
Receptus a loyal son of the Catholic Church?
Erasmus was no loyal son of the Roman Catholic Church. It is well
known that he publicly exposed the heresies and superstitions of the
Catholic Church. This angered the pope so much that he branded Erasmus
an impious heretic, and banned his books from being read by Catholics.
The pope evidently was able to see that Erasmus was a Reformer at heart.
However, as a Reformer, Erasmuss main fault was in his failure to
separate from the false Catholic Church (cf 2 Cor 6:14-7:1). Luther
succeeded in his reformation because he did it from without, but Erasmus
failed because he chose to do it from within. Nevertheless, there is a
saying that Erasmus was the one who laid the egg of the Reformation, and
Luther the one to hatch it.
(34) Were the compilers of the Textus Receptus (Erasmus,
Stephanus, Beza, King James translators) inspired by God in
their work?
The phenomenon of the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures is
limited only to the biblical writers. The phenomenon that applies to men
like Erasmus, Stephanus and Beza in their choice of readings and editorial
work, is divine preservation, which is a special work of Gods
providence. Providence is distinct from Gods working by miracles, in
that, in providence, God works through ordinary circumstances to
accomplish His purposes (Rom 8:28). Can all the rest of the modern
English translations also be attributed to the working of Gods
providence? One must not forget the responsibility of man. God has given
us the responsibility to discern truth from error, and the best from that
which is second best. God also allows false teachers and false teachings
to exist and these cannot claim to have come about through Gods special
providence. They are rather, the results of Gods permissive will.
(35) Which edition of the Textus Receptus fully represents the
originals?
Dr E F Hills wrote, The answer to this question is easy. We are
guided by the common faith. Hence we favor that form of the Textus
Receptus upon which more than any other God, working providentially,
has placed the stamp of His approval, namely, the King James Version, or,
more precisely, the Greek text underlying the King James Version (The
32 KJV Q&A
Satan hates Gods Word. From the
beginning He tried to undermine it.
This he did by demoralising our first
parents, Yea, hath God said? And
they succumbed.
The theologians before us have done
well in declaring the Bible to be the
inspired Word of God, infallible and
inerrant. This has confirmed our faith
in the Scriptures. It is supreme, the
one and only rule of our faith and
practice.
In order to spoil us again, Satan tries
to erode the foundation of our faith
by subtle new tactics. This he does
by questioning the text of Holy
Scripture through Westcott and Hort.
He further casts doubts on the Divine preservation of the Bible text. He cunningly
contrives rules for interpreting, yea, rather misinterpreting, Scripture, which he
hides under a big word, hermeneutics. Last but not least, he twists the meaning
of Scripture, right and left, by a new method of translation called dynamic
equivalence.
All this newfangled stuff, except Westcott and Hort already entrenched, were
unheard of as recent as fifty years ago when Buswell flourished. To unmask
Satans masquerading, it behoves us to write a book-length treatise, a first book
of A Theology For Every Christian. This first book is necessarily a polemical
one, in response to the Apostles exhortation, that ye should earnestly contend
for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3).
It is our prayer that having read this treatise, and having uncovered the subtle
snares of Satan thereby, you will join us in a crusade to further expose the
unfruitful works of darkness. If this first book of A Theology For Every Christian,
Knowing God and His Word, will begin to ring the death knell on Satans domain,
its early publication will not have been made in vain. (Timothy Tow and Jeffrey
Khoo, Si ngapore, 1998). Get your copy from FEBC Bookroom
([email protected]), 9A Gilstead Road, Singapore 309063.
33
King James Version Defended, 223). Dr D A Waite believes that the
words of the Received Greek and Masoretic Hebrew text that underlie the
King James Bible are the very words which God has preserved down
through the centuries, being the exact words of the originals themselves.
The answer is arrived at by simply applying the logic of faith, and by
applying it consistently.
(36) Is the Greek Text underlying the KJV a phantom or an
intangible text?
The Greek text underlying the KJV is not a phantom text. If it was
indeed a phantom or intangible text, then what did the King James
translators use to translate their Bible? Neither is it a phantom text
today. How can it be a phantom or intangible text when it is in print,
sold in bookstores, and used in Greek classes? The Textus Receptus (TR)
underlying the KJV is essentially Bezas 1598 TR and the last two
editions (1550, 1551) of Stephens TR, and corresponds with Scriveners
TR that is today published by the Trinitarian Bible Society and the Dean
Burgon Society.
(37) Are there textual discrepancies in the original language
Scriptures underlying the KJV?
There are no textual discrepancies in the Hebrew and Greek
Scriptures underlying the KJV. Whenever we see differences,
contradictions, or discrepancies in the Bible, we should not call them
errors (scribal or otherwise). Such differences, contradictions, or
discrepancies are merely apparent and not true errors at all. Principles of
harmonisation should be employed to reconcile the differences and offer
possible solutions. The Apostle Paul offers a safe hermeneutical approach
to discrepancies in the Bible: let God be true, but every man a liar
(Rom 3:4). We should never in any way say the Bible contains errors or
mistakes. The Bible God has given us is infallible (i.e. incapable of error)
and inerrant (i.e. without mistakes).
Francis Turretin explained how we ought to look at copyist or
printing errors in the light of providential preservation: Although we
give to the Scriptures absolute integrity, we do not therefore think that the
copyists and printers were inspired (theopneustous), but only that the
providence of God watched over the copying of the sacred books, so that
although many errors might have crept in, it has not so happened (or they
34 KJV Q&A
have not so crept into the manuscripts) but that they can be easily
corrected by a collation of others (or with the Scriptures themselves).
Therefore the foundation of the purity and integrity of the sources is not
to be placed in the freedom from fault (anamartesia) of men, but in the
providence of God which (however men employed in transcribing the
sacred books might possibly mingle various errors) always diligently took
care to correct them, or that they might be corrected easily either from a
comparison with Scripture itself or from more approved manuscripts. As
regards contradictions in Bible passages, Turretin said, ... it will be wiser
to acknowledge our own ignorance than to suppose any contradiction.
(38) Did not Dean Burgon say that there was no perfect
Textus Receptus?
Although Burgon did not think that there was a perfect Textus
Receptus, he nevertheless considered it to be the best embodiment of the
Traditional Text over against the Westcott and Hort Text. It must be said
that Dean Burgon was a high Anglican and thus true to his Anglican
tradition of apostolic succession. He regarded the ancient bishops of the
early church to be the official representatives of the Anglican Church. As
such, Burgon placed a great deal of emphasis on the sayings of the
Church Fathers. He championed the antiquity and authenticity of the
Traditional Text over the Textus Receptus because the Church Fathers
quoted and endorsed the majority readings of the Traditional Text.
Despite his high Anglicanism, Burgon could not escape the fact that
the Traditional Text was an intangible text and not in any printed form
except in the Textus Receptus which the Anglican Church was then using,
viz. Stephens 3
rd
edition. Burgon felt that the Textus Receptus then
needed improvement. His Anglican colleague, F H A Scrivener,
undertook this task and produced a Textus Receptus that would reflect the
textual decisions made by the King James translators. Scriveners TR was
posthumously published in 1894, and is the popular TR today.
(39) Did Dean Burgon believe he had an existing infallible and
inerrant Scripture?
Although Dean Burgon did say that there was no perfect (or single
purified) Textus Receptus, he nevertheless unequivocally affirmed the
existence of an infallible and inerrant Scripture. Dean Burgon wrote: The
Bible is none other than the voice of Him that sitteth upon the throne.
35
JOHN WILLIAM BURGON (18131888)
Professor of Divinity, Oxford University
Dean of Chichester
John William Burgon was a man of deep faith and strong conviction,
with an intense love of the Word, and a fierce loyalty to Gods Truth.
Raised of God at a time of great falling away from the faith,
Burgon devoted himself with singleness of mind to defend the
inspired Word of God by study of ancient manuscripts, the source
texts of Bible translations.
Travelling extensively, he visited libraries throughout Europe,
including the Vatican, to examine and study all available NT MSS.
By his vast knowledge of Greek, he was able to identify those
preserved NT MSS originating from the Apostolic church, and
handed down intact up to the time of the Reformation.
To this group of preserved MSS, Dean Burgon gave the name of
Traditional Text, which formed the basis of the KJV, and
continued to be used in the Protestant Church for the next three
hundred and fifty years. He also identified the Codex Vaticanus and
Codex Sinaiticus to be among MSS the most corrupt.
36 KJV Q&A
Every book of it, every chapter of it, every verse of it, every syllable of it,
every letter of it, is direct utterance of the Most High. The Bible is none
other than the Word of God, not some part of it more, some part of it less,
but all alike the utterance of Him that sitteth upon the throne, faultless,
unerring, supreme. The simple present tense verb-to-be is emphasises
the requirement to subscribe to an existing infallible and inerrant
Scripture in the original languages.
(40) What does the Dean Burgon Society mean when it says
the Texts which are closest to the original autographs of the
Bible are the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text for the Old
Testament, and the Traditional Greek Text underlying the King
James Version? What does closest mean?
The word closest in the Dean Burgon Society statement does not
at all mean that we have an errant text or that the text is not the same as
the original writings. The Dean Burgon Society statement must be
understood in the context (i.e. the battle against Westcott and Hort) in
which the statement was phrased. Westcott and Hort had puffed up their
cut-up Greek text as being closest to the original since they based it on
the 4
th
century Alexandrian manuscripts, which manuscripts Dean Burgon
had dismissed as most corrupt. The term closest seeks to correct and
counteract Westcott and Horts view on the identity of the true text. The
term closest also distinguishes between the autographa (past and lost)
and the apographa (present and existing). There is no denial that the
autographa and apographa though distinct are the same. The paper may be
different, but the contents are the same.
(41) Can we say we have a Perfect Bible today?
Of course we can! By perfect we mean the Bible is infallible
(incapable of error) and inerrant (without mistakes). God Himself used
the word perfect to describe His Word: The law of the LORD is
perfect, converting the soul (Ps 19:7).
The International Council of Christian Churches (ICCC) 16
th
World
Congress in Jerusalem, 2000, Statement #2 affirms a perfect Bible: On
the Word of God Forever Inerrant and Infallible: The first historic
doctrine of the Christian Church presented in the doctrinal statement of
this Council of churches is its belief in the inerrancy and infallibility of
the entire Bible Gods Word has been given to us directly from heaven
37
by the Holy Spirit and Jesus, while He was here, said that the Father had
sent Him and had given Him the words which He had delivered to man.
Jesus was explicit when He said, Heaven and earth shall pass away; but
my words shall not pass away. The penalty pronounced on adding to or
taking from the Scriptures was severe judgement from God Himself. It
is this Bible that has brought into existence the ICCC. It is through this
Bible that the Holy Spirit has given the faith to the leaders who have
established this Council and has helped them maintain a sure and clear
witness to the Bibles full truthfulness. It is this Bible and its record of
past prophecies that have been seen to be fulfilled in the smallest level,
and every Word of God is true. Nothing that the archaeologists have
discovered and will discover will contradict this Book. This Holy
Book is the work of our righteous God in making possible the only
salvation that exists and in bringing men and women through the
preaching of the Word in all its foolishness into Gods everlasting
kingdom. The ICCC reaffirms all the statements carefully and prayerfully
worked out , all of which are based squarely on this holy and
PERFECT record which came from heaven, of which God is the Author
and that indeed is why it is called the Word of God.
Note that the ICCC statement affirms the preservation of every
word to the smallest detail, and that the Bible is perfect and thus
fully truthful. If God is powerful enough to inspire His Word to the jot
and tittle without error, surely He is powerful enough to preserve all of
His inspired words so that today His people can say they have the very
same inspired words the Apostles and Prophets had! Surely, we have a
100% Scripture today!
(42) Did God give us one Bible only?
Yes, God inspired and preserved only one Bible. The International
Council of Christian Churches (ICCC) 16
th
World Congress, Jerusalem
2000, Statement #11 affirms this: Believing God safeguarded the Bible
in times past and will continue to do so in the future and all eternity. He
preserved ONE Holy Scripture, the Bible. Heaven and earth shall pass
away but my words shall not pass away; Matthew 24:35. Believing the
O.T. has been preserved in the Masoretic text and the N.T in the Textus
Receptus, combined they gave us the complete Word of God.
38 KJV Q&A
VERSIONSTHE BURNING
ISSUE. Gods Word is under
attack, today as never before.
Yea, hath God sai d? was
Satans decl arati on of war
agai nst the Word from the
beginning. Sowing doubt and
fostering unbelief is his subtle
tactic.
But Satan i s a Master
Strategist: he varies his tactics
according to the circumstances.
In the Dark Ages he used
suppression. Gods Word was
kept from the people hidden by
the Church. Sti rri ngs of
Reformation sparked a revival
of the Word. For daring to read
or preach, men and women
were burned at the stake. For
l ove of the Bi bl e, Wi l l i am
Tyndal e and the Engl i sh
martyrs by the hundreds endured the fires of Rome. That is history.
In time, burning of martyrs fell out of fashion: suppression was replaced by
subversion. Feeding Christians with ecumenical versions is more effective
than feeding them to the flames. Today, modern versions have all but
replaced the Good Bookthe King James Bible.
Beyond Versions is a Biblical perspective of the multiplicity of versions
confronting the Church today. Vital issues are at stake. To see the deeper
conflict, the smokescreen of language and readability must be removed by
the penetrating searchlight of Gods Word.
Only Gods Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, can illumine your mind to understand
Versions, todays burning issue. Beyond Versions is written for Gods remnant
people. God bless every faithful reader with spiritual discernment.
Get your copy from Tabernacle Books ([email protected]), 901 Pandan
Gardens, Singapore 609337.
39
CHAPTER IV
QUESTIONS ABOUT FOREIGN LANGUAGE BIBLES
AND THE MODERN VERSIONS
(43) Are Bible versions or translations inspired?
Dr D A Waite answers, Does God breathe out the words in the
Spanish translation? Does He breathe out the words in the French, or
Russian, or English, or Japanese, or Italian, or Chinese? No, He does not.
Strictly speaking, the words of the translations are not breathed out or
inspired, but translated words. God spoke in Hebrew/Aramaic and
Greek words. God breathed out these Words in Hebrew/Aramaic and
Greek. So, strictly speaking, the only Words that were breathed out or
inspired words were the Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek Words God gave
to the writers.
One way of looking at the relationship between the original text and
the translated text of the Scriptures is that the former is a product of direct
inspiration, while the latter, if it is an accurate and faithful translation of
the original, shares its inspiration only in the derivative sense.
(44) Did God give His very Word only in the English language,
or in other languages as well?
Yes, God has given His Word not only in English but in other
languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Chinese, etc.) as
well. Christians of each language group are responsible to use the best
available translation of the Bible in their language. If the only available
translation of the Bible in their language is found wanting (e.g. because it
is not based on the preserved text, or it was poorly translated), they would
then have to use it until an accurate and faithful translation is produced.
They are at the same time responsible to seek and pray for an accurate
translation to be made in their language that is based on the purest text.
40 KJV Q&A
The KJV still remains the best of all English Bibles for all English-
speaking Christians to use. To go back to using the NIV or NASB, or
RSV etc, when the KJV is available to all, is to deny the doctrine of
preservation of the Scriptures, and also to deny our God-given duty to
seek the most faithful, accurate, and trustworthy Bible in our own
language.
(45) Is the Chinese Bible the Word of God?
Although the Chinese Bible (Chinese Union Version, or CUV) is
based on the Revised Version of Westcott and Hort, it does not slavishly
follow it. It is vital to note that entire verses omitted in the NIV like Matt
17:21, 18:11, 23:14, Mark 7:16, 11:26, 15:28, Luke 17:36, 23:17, John
5:4, Acts 8:37, 15:34, 24:7, 28:29 are all found in the CUV. The CUV like
the KJV is a faithful translation that upholds the deity of Christ. For
instance the CUV follows the KJV in 1 Tim 3:16 calling Jesus, God,
God (Shen) was manifest in the flesh. The CUV is thus superior to the
corrupt NIV. I would thus have no problems holding up the CUV and say,
This is the Word of God. The CUV is the best, most faithful, most
reliable, and most accurate Bible for the Chinese-speaking people.
(46) Who were Westcott and Hort?
B F Westcott and F J A Hort were Anglican liberals who harboured
inner hatred for the Biblical faith and a secret love for Rome and Mary
Worship, posed as evangelicals, and using the corrupt Codex Vaticanus
and Codex Sinaiticus, gave the world their Westcott and Hort Greek NT,
which ever since has received global acceptance as the most accurate,
authentic and trustworthy. Both Westcott and Hort, whether jointly or
individually, had denied every fundamental doctrine of the evangelical
faith, proving that they were both strangers to the saving grace of God,
and enemies of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet these
unregenerate men applied their unholy hands to Gods Holy Word.
Against such our Lord has a warning, ... a corrupt tree bringeth forth
evil fruit (Matt 7:1518). Out of their evil fruit, the Westcott-Hort Greek
NT, came a multitude of evil fruitsa hundred new English versions
and perversions (ERV, ASV, NASB, RSV, NRSV, TEV, CEV, NCV, LB,
NLT, NIV, NIrV, ESV etc) a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit.
[See chart The Corrupt of Tree of Modern Perversions on the opposite
page. See also Dr S H Tows Beyond Versions: A Biblical Perspective of
41
MODERN
ENGLISH BIBLES
100 PER-VERSIONS
TEV
NASV
NIV TLB
RSV NEB
E
V
I
L
FR
U
I
T
Dynamic Equivalence
Thought for Word
Corrupt Translators
Modernists & Neo-Evangelicals
Corrupt Source Text
Minority MSS
Codex Sinaiticus Codex Vaticanus
Evolutionism Higher Criticism
Rationalism Liberalism
Ecumenism
VITAL DOCTRINES
ATTACKED
VITAL DOCTRINES
ATTACKED
NLT
NRSV
CORRUPT TREE
. . . a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
CEV
ESV
42 KJV Q&A
Modern English Bibles (Singapore: King James Productions, 1998),
available at Tabernacle Books, 201 Pandan Gardens, Singapore 609337.
Email: [email protected].]
(47) Can the NIV (or the modern versions) lead someone to
salvation?
Here is an answer from the Trinitarian Bible Society: The NIV
contains enough truth to be used of the Holy Spirit to draw a man to the
Saviour. But although it contains truth, is it the very Word of God? If not,
Christians must be urged to return to the truth.
We do not deny that sinners may be saved through corrupt or
mutilated versions if such versions contain enough of the gospel. This
however does not mean that God sanctions such versions or that the
Church should continue using them. Continual using of such modern
versions with all their deletions and mistranslations of Gods Word might
just hamper ones spiritual growth. God holds every believer responsible
to use the most faithful translation, based on the purest text.
(48) Is the NKJV an improvement on the KJV?
Has any Bible to date proved to be that hoped for improvement of
the KJV? Some say that the NKJV is the answer. We doubt that it is, since
it has done away with the yes, thees, thous, thys, and
thines. These not only serve to distinguish between the 2
nd
person
singular and plural, but they also heighten the reverence of the language
of Gods Holy Word. There are also many other unnecessary changes to
the old KJV. The NKJV is not recommended for the following reasons:
(1) It shows sympathy to the corrupt Westcott and Hort Text. (2) It
departs from the Traditional Hebrew Masoretic Text and the Greek Textus
Receptus at certain places. (3) It incorrectly translates certain verses (e.g.
Heb 2:16the KJV reads, For verily he took not on him the nature of
angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham, but the NKJV has, For
indeed He does not give aid to angels, but he does give aid to the seed of
Abraham. What a difference! The NKJV impinges upon the doctrine of
Christs incarnation). (4) It unnecessarily changes perfectly
understandable and accurate words from the old KJV. (5) It unnecessarily
adds words without italicising them, thereby giving the false impression
that they are from the original. (6) It changes nouns to pronouns and
pronouns to nouns (see G W Anderson and D E Anderson, The New King
43
James Version, Trinitarian Bible Society, 1995; and D A Waite, The New
King James Version Compared to the King James Version and the
Underlying Hebrew and Greek Texts, Bible For Today, 1990).
Today, an improved edition of the KJV can be found is The Defined
King James Bible which supplies the modern meanings of the archaic
words in its footnotes. Get yours from The Bible For Today
(www.BibleForToday.org), 900 Park Avenue, Collingswood NJ 08108,
USA. Local readers may get theirs from FEBC Bookroom, 9A Gilstead
Road, Singapore 309063 (email: [email protected]), or
Tabernacle Books, 201 Pandan Gardens, Singapore 609337 (email:
[email protected]).
44 KJV Q&A
CHAPTER V
QUESTIONS ABOUT DIFFICULT VERSES
(49) Is there a scribal error in Judges 18:30 where it reads
Manasseh (KJV) instead of Moses (NIV)?
In Judges 18:30 the KJV has Manasseh, but the modern versions
like the NIV read Moses. Anti-KJV advocates argue that the word in
the autograph was Moses (Hebrew: MSH), but later scribes deliberately
added the letter Nun (N) to make it Manasseh (Hebrew: M
N
SH). The
elevated or suspended N they say is a scribal addition, and hence a scribal
errora mistake in the KJV and its underlying Hebrew Text!
Based on the biblical evidence, the reading Manasseh (so KJV) is
correct. Manasseh is the original reading of the inspired Scripture for
there are no Hebrew manuscripts that read Moses; every single existing
Hebrew manuscript reads Manasseh. Our present Hebrew Bible
(Masoretic Text) also reads Manasseh and not Moses. The only
peculiar feature is that the word Manasseh has a suspended letter, viz.
the letter N (M
N
SH).
Why then was the N in Manasseh elevated? The N is raised for
emphasis. If the Jews wanted to draw attention to a particular word in a
sentence, they would elevate one of the letters. It is significant to note that
Judges 18:30 is not the only instance where this occurs. It also occurs in
Ps 80:14 (13), Job 38:13 and 15. In those places, when the elevated letter
is removed, the word would make no sense. The elevated letter is part of
the original word, and not an interpolation as some would like to think. In
writing English, we usually emphasise a word by underlining or
italicising it. Do we consider our underlined or italicised words as scribal
errors? If not, why do we think thus of our Hebrew Scriptures?
45
(50) Is there not a scribal error in 2 Chron 22:2 (cf 2 Kgs 8:26)
as regards the age of King Ahaziah when he began to reign?
Those who believe in a fully inspired and fully preserved Scripture
in the original languages do not run away from the fact that there are such
differences, contradictions, discrepancies in the Bible. But they interpret
such differences, contradictions, discrepancies as merely apparent and not
true errors at all. Principles of harmonisation should be employed to
reconcile the differences and offer possible solutions. A biblical
hermeneutical approach to discrepancies in the Bible is the one offered by
the Apostle Paul: Let God be true, but every man a liar (Rom 3:4).
It is important to note that 2 Kgs 8:26 and 2 Chron 22:2 read 22
years and 42 years respectively in the original Hebrew language
Scripture. The Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia lists no textual variants. In
other words, every existing Hebrew manuscript reads 22 and 42
respectively in those two verses. This reveals that no copying mistakes
were made, for if they were indeed scribal errors, the Masoretes would
have corrected them; why did they allow these mistakes to remain
unless they were not mistakes at all but were the very inspired words of
the original writers?
Now the NIV and NASB went against the Hebrew Bible and the
KJV by changing 2 Chron 22:2 to read 22 instead of 42, making it agree
with 2 Kgs 8:26. Is this acceptable? Are we now going to say that
versions and translations can be more inspired than the Hebrew Scripture?
Are not the NIV and NASB then better than the KJV since they corrected
the mistakes in the Bible not only in the original but also in the KJV?
Will this not show that the KJV is not that reliable and trustworthy after
all? Is this not a sort of NIV/NASB Ruckmanism?
For further study into the area of apparent discrepancies in the
Traditional Text, read David W Cloud, Things Hard to be Understood: A
Handbook of Biblical Difficulties, 3
rd
edition (Port Huron, Michigan: Way
of Life Literature, 2001).
(51) Which reading is the correct onehis sin (Cambridge
KJV) or his sins (Oxford KJV) at 2 Chron 33:19?
The Hebrew word used in 2 Chron 33:19 is chattatho, a feminine
singular noun with a 3
rd
masculine singular pronominal suffix (see BDB,
308). The Cambridge KJV, his sin, is correct.
46 KJV Q&A
(52) Did God increase the joy of the nation or did He not in
Isa 9:3?
Isa 9:3 reads, Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the
joy . The verse appears contradictory with the not in it. Is it a scribal
error or a translation mistake? Again it is neither. According to Jamieson,
Fausset and Brown, The very difficulty of the reading, not, makes it less
likely to be an interpolation. In other words, it was originally in the
autograph, and not a later addition to the inspired text, and hence not a
scribal error.
Neither is it a translation mistake. The King James translators
rendered it as it is written in the Hebrew text. They too must have found
the sense puzzling, but their integrity as careful translators prevented
them from correcting or mistranslating the original text. They probably
were contented to leave it to the exegetes and expositors to figure out the
meaning of the text. One way of solving the difficulty is to read it as a
rhetorical question: Thou hast multiplied the nation, and hast thou not
increased the joy?
(53) Which reading is the correct oneye had set
(Cambridge KJV) or he had set (Oxford KJV) at Jer 34:16?
The reading ye had set in the Cambridge KJV is correct. In Jer
34:16, the Hebrew shillachthem is the piel perfect form of the root
shalach with a 2
nd
masculine plural suffix. The correct reading is thus ye
had set.
(54) Does the singular oaths occurring in every KJV at
Matt 14:9 and Mark 6:26 correct every Textus Receptus
Greek which has the plural oaths?
No, the KJV does not correct the TR. Although horkous is in the
Greek plural, there are times when it is legitimate to render the plural in
the singular especially when it is a plural of majesty. At times the plural
speaks not of multiplicity but of majesty. It seeks to highlight the
grandiose nature of the meaning contained in the noun. This is probably
the case with Matt 14:9 and Mark 6:26 especially when we notice that the
oath was given by a king. In other words, it was no ordinary oath, but a
royal oath, and must thus be doubly honoured by the king who made it.
That was why Herod, though extremely reluctant to kill John, could not
47
retract the promise he had already made. The KJV translation, for the
oaths sake, is thus perfectly legitimate.
(55) Is the KJV translation strain at a gnat in Matt 23:24 a
mistake?
Matt 23:24 reads, Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and
swallow a camel. Many anti-KJVists call strain at a gnat a
grammatical mistake, saying that it should be strain out a gnat and not
strain at a gnat. Some, however, see it as a typographical error. I believe
it is neither a grammatical nor a typographical error. Even the New
Oxford English dictionary does not see strain at to be a mistake, but an
archaic usage. Thus, to strain out a gnat is correct; to strain at a gnat
is also correct, and perhaps even better.
If strain at is indeed a legitimate translation, how then ought we to
understand it? Well, it depends on where the emphasis lies. Is the
emphasis on the verb (strain) or on the noun (gnat)? The King James
translators were astute to translate the Greek word diulizo (to strain, to
filter, to percolate) as to strain at. This is because the context has to
do with sight. Jesus ridiculed and rebuked the Pharisees calling them
blind guides. How blind were they? They were so sharp to spot a tiny
little gnat and quick to filter it out of their drink, but could not see a huge
camel on their plate and were prepared even to swallow it whole. Thus
to strain at could be taken to mean to strain at [the sight of] a gnat.
Now, the Chambers Dictionary confirms this: strain at in Matt. xxiii.
24, to remove by straining, strain in the event of finding. Many today
would have to strain at a gnat to fault the KJV, but when it comes to the
modern perversions, they would swallow a camel.
(56) Is the Holy Spirit an it according to John 1:32, Rom
8:16, and 1 Pet 1:11 in the KJV?
The word it here, with reference to the Holy Spirit, is the direct
result of the literal translation of the neuter gender of the pronouns and
participles in the Greek text that stand in agreement with the neuter
gender for the Greek word for spirit (pneuma). This cannot be taken to
mean that the KJV teaches that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force.
The cited verses themselves show that this is not the case, as a force
cannot bear witness with our spirit that we are the children of God (Rom
8:16), make intercession for us (Rom 8:26) or testify beforehand of the
48 KJV Q&A
sufferings of Christ (1 Pet 1:11). Only a person can do such things, and
the Holy Spirit is a personthe 3
rd
person of the Holy Trinity. Now, do
we call a baby, he, she or it? A baby is a person, is it not?
(57) Were the King James translators wrong to render pascha
in Acts 12:4 as Easter and not Passover?
It is significant to note that the word Passover was first coined by
William Tyndale. No such word existed before his translation of the word
pascha in his English Bible (1526-31). It is thus no wonder that The
Oxford English Dictionary defines Easter thus: One of the great
festivals of the Christian church, commemorating the resurrection of
Christ, and corresponding to the Jewish Passover, the name of which it
bears in most of the European languages. Writing with Herods pagan
background in mind, the King James translators correctly translated
pascha as Easter for that was what Herod had in mind when he spoke
of releasing Peter at that time.
(58) Why does the KJV differ from the Textus Receptus in
certain places like Acts 19:20 where the Greek has Lord and
the KJV has God?
Insofar as Acts 19:20 is concerned, the KJV is not a mistranslation,
and does not differ from the TR. The Greek word kurios can be translated
in a number of ways depending on the context. It can be rendered Lord,
master, sir, God, or owner (see The Complete Word Study
Dictionary: New Testament, 900-1). Acts 19:29 certainly allows for
God instead of Lord since the context is speaking of the Word of God
as a whole. If it is rendered as word of the Lord it might be construed as
some specific word from Jesus instead of Gods Word or the Holy
Scriptures in general. In any case, whether it is the word of God, or the
word of the Lord, both are perfectly acceptable translations of the
original.
(59) Did Erasmus retranslate the last six verses of Revelation
from the Latin Vulgate into Greek because he did not find any
Greek manuscript that contained those verses?
Erasmus did not engage in any sort of reverse engineering by
inventing a Greek manuscript so as to give himself a reason to include a
certain verse or passage in the Textus Receptus. According to Hoskier,
49
Erasmus included the last six verses of Revelation (Rev 22:16-21) on the
basis of a Greek manuscript (Codex 141). On the basis of Codex 141,
Erasmus chose the reading book of life instead of tree of life in Rev
22:19.
(60) The 1769 edition of the KJV differs from the 1611 edition
in about 75,000 minor details. Why is this so?
We must be very careful not to criticise the KJV. The 75,000 minor
details were for the most part differences in spelling of English words that
had changed over time. It would be therefore quite unfair to say that our
present KJV edition is flawed, not being identical with the 1611 edition in
75,000 details. If a modern English reader were to read the 1611 edition,
he may find it very difficult to read, because of all the different spelling
of certain words. We must thank Blayneys 1769 edition for making all
the needed changes. [See also answer to Q11.]
We also do not say that the KJV translation cannot be more clearly
explained, or that the original language texts may not be used to shed
further light on Gods truth found in the English Bible. In promoting the
KJV, we are simply applying the principle that God holds His people in
the English-speaking world (just as He holds those in other languages)
responsible to use the best translation of the Bible that has been done by
the best translators (spiritually and academically qualified) from the best
Hebrew and Greek texts (not the Westcott and Hort text but the traditional
Masoretic and Received Texts).
It must also be clarified that the Pro-KJV position does not mean
that among English Bibles only the KJV is Gods Word. Other versions
(whether English or other languages) may be considered Gods Word as
well only if they are faithful, accurate, reliable and trustworthy
translations as the KJV is. However, we do consider unreliable all Bible
versions that are a result of the dynamic equivalence method of
translation, and those which cast doubt and/or omit verses based on
corrupted readings of the Alexandrian or Westcott-Hort Text.
For further study, read my bookKept Pure in All Ages:
Recapturing the Authorised Version and the Doctrine of Providential
PreservationFEBC Press, 2001 (see page 7).
50 KJV Q&A
APPENDIX
UNDERSTANDING KJV ENGLISH
Understanding eth and th Verb Endings
I. Change each eth verb ending to an s or es:
A. Change most eth verb endings to an s
abound-eth = abounds
abhor-reth = abhors (double consonant)
B. After certain letters ss., sh., th., x., ch., o. and i., change the
eth to es:
bless-eth = blesses
cherish-eth = cherishes
wax-eth = waxes
approach-eth = approaches
do-eth = does
carri-eth = carries
II. Change each th verb ending to an s:
abide-th = abides
Understanding est, or st Verb Endings
Drop all est, or st verb endings:
A. Drop every est verb endings
accept-est = accept
beget-test = beget (double consonant)
B. Drop every st verb ending to form the modern equivalent
Past Tense st endings
anointed-st = anointed
Non-Past Tense st ending
approve-st = approve
51
s n u o n o r P l a n o s r e P
n o s r e P
t c e j b u S
m r o F
t c e j b O
m r o F
e v i s s e s s o P
r e n i m r e t e d
e v i s s e s s o P
n u o n o r p
e v i x e l f e R
n u o n o r p
r a l u g n i S
1
t s
I e m
y m
e n i m ) d l o (
e n i m f l e s y m
2
d n
u o y
u o h t ) d l o (
u o y
e e h t
r u o y
y h t
e n i h t ) d l o (
s r u o y
e n i h t
f l e s r u o y
f l e s y h t
3
d r
e n i l u c s a m e h m i h s i h s i h f l e s m i h
3
d r
e n i n i m e f e h s r e h r e h s r e h f l e s r e h
3
d r
r e t u e n t i t i s t i - - - f l e s t i
l a r u l P
1
t s
e w s u r u o s r u o s e v l e s r u o
2
d n
u o y
e y ) d l o (
u o y r u o y s r u o y s e v l e s r u o y
3
d r
y e h t m e h t r i e h t s r i e h t s e v l e s m e h t
e B b r e V e h T
t o n h t i W t n h t i W
t n e s e r P
e s n e T
1
t s
r a l u g n i s n o s r e p m , m a t o n m , t o n m a
t n e r a
2
d n
r a l u g n i s n o s r e p
e r , e r a
t r a ) d l o (
t o n e r , t o n e r a
3
d r
r a l u g n i s n o s r e p s , s i t o n s , t o n s i t n s i
t s a P
e s n e T
1
t s
r a l u g n i s n o s r e p s a w t o n s a w t n s a w
2
d n
e r e w
t r e w ) d l o (
t o n e r e w t n e r e w
3
d r
r a l u g n i s n o s r e p s a w t o n s a w t n s a w
UNDERSTANDING KJV ENGLISH
52 KJV Q&A
s b r e V y r a i l l i x u A
t o n h t i W t n h t i W
n a c
s n o s r e p l l a n a c
t o n n a c , t o n n a c t n a c
2
d n
) d l O ( r a l u g n i s n o s r e p t s n a c
d l u o c
s n o s r e p l l a d l u o c
t o n d l u o c t n d l u o c
2
d n
) d l O ( r a l u g n i s n o s r e p t s d l u o c
e r a d
e r a d
t o n e r a d t n e r a d
) d l O ( e s n e t t s a p t s r u d
o d
& r a l u g n i s s n o s r e p l l a e s n e t t n e s e r p
3 t p e c x e l a r u l p
d r
o d t o n o d t n o d
3
d r
r a l u g n i s n o s r e p s e o d
t o n s e o d t n s e o d
2
d n
) d l O ( r a l u g n i s n o s r e p t s o d
s n o s r e p l l a e s n e t t s a p d i d t o n d i d t n d i d
2
d n
) d l O ( r a l u g n i s n o s r e p t s d i d
m r o f g n i - g n i o d
e l p i c i t r a p t s a p e n o d e n o d t o n
e v a h
& r a l u g n i s s n o s r e p l l a e s n e t t n e s e r p
3 t p e c x e l a r u l p
d r
e v , e v a h t o n e v , t o n e v a h t n e v a h
3
d r
r a l u g n i s n o s r e p s , s a h
2
d n
) d l O ( r a l u g n i s n o s r e p t s a h
s n o s r e p l l a e s n e t t s a p d , d a h t o n d , t o n d a h t n d a h
m r o f g n i - g n i v a h g n i v a h t o n
t c e f r e p t s a p d a h
y a m
s n o s r e p l l a y a m
t o n y a m t n y a m
2
d n
) d l O ( r a l u g n i s n o s r e p t s y a m
l l a h s
s n o s r e p l l a l l a h s
t o n l l a h s t n a h s
2
d n
) d l O ( r a l u g n i s n o s r e p t l a h s
d l u o h s
s n o s r e p l l a d l u o h s
t o n d l u o h s t n d l u o h s
2
d n
) d l O ( r a l u g n i s n o s r e p t s d l u o h s
l l i w
s n o s r e p l l a l l , l l i w
t o n l l , t o n l l i w t n o w
2
d n
) d l O ( r a l u g n i s n o s r e p t l i w
d l u o w
s n o s r e p l l a d l u o w
t o n d , t o n d l u o w t n d l u o w
2
d n
) d l O ( r a l u g n i s n o s r e p t s d l u o w

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