Chapter Two

King James Only?

This book is not a “King James Only” defense.

Although the writer does believe the Kings James is an inspired version, no translation can be considered sacred—only the scriptures themselves are sacred, therefore, where ever the scriptures are found, whether inscribed on a rock or placed in an add in a magazine, the Words of God themselves are sacred and life-giving.

This book is, however, a defense of the source material—the texts from which the King James Bible was translated. The New Testament portion of the King James Bible was translated from the Majority Text (also known as the Textus Receptus or the Received Text). It is this Greek text that is the butt of much controversy, persecution and libel.

It is the unreliability of the Egyptian Minority Texts, the source material from which the New Testaments of most modern English Versions are derived, that is being challenged.

This book will show that neutrality concerning the issue of Bible versions is not a viable option. It will examine both textual sources, and challenge the reader to acknowledge the need of making a choice between the two.

The following is an excerpt from a letter written to a local pastor after he stated to his congregation, in our presence, that he had thoroughly researched the Bible version issue, and he could assure them that no matter what version they had, it was the true Word of God.

He went on to tell them that all versions said the same thing. This man was seriously misinformed. Below is our response:

Dear Pastor,

We have also have researched the Bible issue, and the history of Bible versions—extensively—and have reached a very different conclusion than you have.

We personally own over 50 different Bible versions, so we know what we are talking about when we tell you they do not all say the same thing.

Why would we be so passionate on this subject?

Because we should be dead… but we’re not. We are only alive for the following reasons: to win souls, make disciples, contend for the faith, and lead God’s people to the freedom we have found in Jesus Christ.

And what makes free? The Truth.

The source material (Greek and Hebrew texts) that both the Old and New Testaments of the King James Bible are translated from has been proven, throughout the centuries (by many evidences), to be both reliable and fruit bearing.

Not only do we see the fruit of it historically (and in our own lives as well), but we believe God’s promise that his word will be available uncorrupted to every generation.

If we choose to believe current scholarship, we will be forced to conclude that we have not had the Word of God, in a reliable form, until a little over a hundred years ago—when people got smarter and honed textual criticism to a fine art. The Word of God itself tells us this is simply not true.

Sincerely….

 Can we know, without a shadow of a doubt, that we still have the uncorrupted Word of God available to us today?

Yes we can. The scriptures assure us this is so, and this work will present, in an uncomplicated manner, a subject that has been unnecessarily complicated for far too long. We do not have to be Bible scholars or have Phd's in order to confidently choose the Bible version that is most reliable.

Don’t stop reading now. Even if you do not agree with what is written in the next few chapters, at the very least, you will know you have weighed the evidence and made an informed decision.