The King James Version

I get so fed up with people who say that the King James Version is the only true version of the Bible.  They claim it is the only version worthy to read and study from because it is the most true to what scripture actually says.  They claim that the other, newer versions all contain errors and the wording used does not accurately portray what scripture is actually trying to say.

If you want to use the only version that is guaranteed to be 100% accurate and error free, then you have to read the actual manuscripts written by the authors themselves in their original language.  You will have no ambiguity of the translations then.  No question of what the word should or should not be.  What is that?  Oh, you do not know how to read Greek and Hebrew?  I'm so sorry, guess you are out of luck.  But wait!  God, yes our God, has given men the ability to translate scripture between languages!  God uses men who have studies the old languages and scriptures to translate them into other languages so the everyday person can understand.

I know you will agree with that, even if you do believe King James is the only true Bible.  What about people who do not know English?  Do they not have a true and accurate Bible to read?  Why can't other translations be acceptable, even other English translations?  Are you saying God cannot preserve his Word through out the generations?  Isn't God capable of that?  Doesn't scripture say nothing is impossible for our God, no matter what version you read?

Matthew 19:26

26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (HCSB)

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (KJV)

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (NIV)

26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (ESV)

I feel that the way you can choose a good translation is to first see how it was written.  If someone used accepted Greek and Hebrew manuscripts for translations and accurately translates them into another language, then I think they are fine for us to use to study his word.  Yes, some ambiguity will slip in as translations are made, but the overall ideas, truths and promises are still accurately conveyed.  There are always words in one language that do not exist or some idioms in one language we just do not understand, but they do not hinder our understanding of scripture as a whole.  Knowing what was used to translate the Bible and how the translator went about doing it can help you find the right Bible for you.  If you believe the King James is the best version for you, by all means, use that version.  If you feel the NIV or the ESV or the HCSB is the best translation, use those.  Just beware of how they are translated.  If a passage in the NIV or ESV or HCSB or KJV or any other version have a meaning that seems different across the versions, that is when you pull out Greek and Hebrew dictionaries and try to determine which is most accurate. (Or research it using the internet or books)  Perhaps the reason for the differences is that there is a word in the native languages that scholars do not know exactly what they mean.  They are using the context of the passages (HA, see context is still important!) to determine the best meaning for the unknown term.  Each translator will think of something slightly different based on his understanding of the passage.  Does that mean the passage is in error?  Well, not exactly.  Perhaps the word means all those things.  We just may not know.  Does that mean the translator was not inspired because God did not give him the meaning of every single word?  NO!  There are some things that remain mysteries in the Bible because God wants them to remain mysteries.  He reveals HIS mysteries in HIS time.

Colossians 1:25 I have become its servant, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known,26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

What really gets me, is that one person I have met through the internet claims King James to be the only true word of God in the English language, but then goes on to site several places where translations were incorrect.  If some of it is incorrect, then it isn't perfect, now is it!

I know I mentioned in the previous post that I believe the Word of God is 100% true and contains no errors.  By errors, I do not mean punctuation or spelling or changing between words that have the same meaning.  What I mean is that nothing that was supposed to be there was left out and nothing that wasn't supposed to be there was put in.  There is no error in the meaning of what a passage is trying to convey, no matter which rightly translated Bible you pick up.

I do believe that there are some Versions that should not be called Bibles because they are not.  Take "The Message" version.  It is not a Bible.  It was not written to be a Bible.  It was written as a study guide as one reads through the Bible and should not be taken as the Word of God.  Can God use what is in "The Message" to help reach the lost for Him?  Yes.  But it should not be promoted as a Bible when the author, himself, wrote it as something different.

All in all, be careful on the translation you use, but do not be so stingy as to look down on someone else for not using "THE" version of scripture.  There are many good translations, not just one.  My husband says that the ideas of scripture is more important than the exact words used.  One translation may say it slightly different, but the meaning is completely the same.  Saying God can do all things is exactly the same as saying nothing is impossible for God.  There words used may be different, but the idea/meaning is the same.