The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust Modern Translations?

308 Pages·2009·48.707 MB·English

by  James R. White

"
'This is Iho bcsl booi< in print on a topic loo
often riddled with emotion and ignorance.
NORMAKGEISLER
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AMES R.WHin
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"In an era of rampant misinformation regarding the origin, text,
transmission,and translationofthe Bible,James White has written
amosttimely and importantbook. We recommend ithighly toany-
one confused overthe issue ofthe KingJames Versionand modem
translations."
Dr. John Ankerbergand
Dr. John Weldon
"This is by far the best and most balanced treatment of all the
important issues involved in the controversy over KJV Onlyism.
Kudos toJamesWhite and Bethany House!
Dr. Kenneth Barker
Executive Director
NIVTranslationCenter
"One ofthe saddest signs oflegalistic Christianity is the tenacious
defense ofthe KJV as the only legitimate English-language trans-
lation.Almostassadisthatcountlesshoursofscholars'andpastors'
time must be diverted from the larger priorities ofGod's kingdom
to point out th—e numerous historical, logical, and factual errors of
KJV Onlyism even though these errors have been repeatedly ex-
posed in the past. Nevertheless, the job must be done, and James
Whitedoes itmasterfully in this book."
Dr. Craig Blomberg
Associate ProfessorofNewTestament
DenverSeminary
"James White has thoroughly researched the background and
sourcesoftheBibleaswehaveittoday,andhepointsouttheserious
weaknessesof^\\f, K!^<^nlyposition,aviewseeminglybasedmore
on faulty, unprovable assurnp^'""^ ^^^" ^" so^'*^ evidence. I have
"deepappreciation for White's scholarship and wholehearted con-
currence with his handling ofthe data. His treatment is to be com-
mended and grantedclose attentionby evangelicals."
Dr. Gleason Archer
ProfessorofOldTestamentandSemitics
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
"Iheartilyapplaudthe workofJamesWhite. Itisrefreshingtoread
a work that simultaneously reflects unswerving commitment to de-
vout orthodoxy andasaneexpositionofthefacts. Thisbook should
be read by all who areembroiled inthe controversy."
Dr. D. A. Carson
ProfessorofNewTestament
Trinity EvangelicalDivinity School
"In The King James Only Controversy James White displays the
sameattentiontodetail,patientexplanation,andlogicalandeviden-
tial rigorthathave madehisotherapologeticworks sovaluable. He
graciously but persistently rebuts those who brand as conspirators
the honest, capable, orthodox Bible scholars who have provided us
withfineHebrewandGreektextsandEnglishtranslationsQiemakes
textual and translational scholarship clear and accessible even to
nonspecialists)'
E. CalvinBeisner
CovenantCollege
CONTROVERSY
CanYouThistttie
Modem
ll^anslations?
JAMES
R.WHITE
IS
BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55438
The Kin^James Only Controversy
Copyright © 1995
James R. White
The Greek font used in the body ofthis work was developed by
Dr. William D. Mounce. and is used with his permission. A special thanks to
Dr. Mounce for providing Bible students everywhere with such a fine biblical
Greek font.
Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version ofthe
Bible.
Scripture quotations identified NIV are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by
International Bible Society. Used by permission ofZondervan Publishing
House. All rights reserved. The "NIV" and "New International Version"
trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by
International Bible Society. Use ofeithertrademark requires the permission of
International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations identified NKJV are from the New King James Version
ofthe Bible. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified NRSV are from the New Revised Standard
Version ofthe Bible, copyrighted 1989 by the Division ofChristian Education
ofthe National Council ofChurches ofChrist in the USA. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified NASB are taken from the NEW
AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © The Lockman Foundation
1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.
(www.Lockman.org)
All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication may be reprod—uced, stored in a
retrieval system, ortransmitted in any form orby a—ny means electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, orotherwise withoutthe priorwritten
permission ofthe publisherand copyright owners.
Published by Bethany House Publishers
1400 Hampshire Avenue South
1
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse com
Bethany House Publishers is a Division of
Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
White, James R. (James Robert)
The King James only controversy : can you trust the modem translations?/
James R. White,
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Bible. English—Versions—Authorized. 2. Bible. English—Versions.
3. Bible. N.T. Tcxtus receptus. 4. Bible—Criticism, Textual. I. Title.
BS186.W45 1995
220.5'2—dc20 95-7770
ISBN 1-55661-575 2 Cjp
Every minister knows how blessedhe is
when Godplaces in his ministry a truefriend,
—
brother, andcompatriot someone who is always
there, always willing, always supportive. God
has blessedmy ministry with such aperson, and
it is to him that I dedicate this book.
For RichardPierce,
a brother at all times.
I
Acknowledgments
Many people have contributed to making this book possible. I
wish to give special thanks to Steve Laube, my editor, who shared with
me the vision of what this book could be. I thank D.L. and Chris
Culiver, Myles and Carol Grunewald, and all the folks who supported
Alpha andOmega Ministries, so that I could concentrate upon the task
at hand. Kathi Willeford deserves special recognition not only for
handling a lot of extra work during the period this book was being
written, but for having been used ofthe Lord to direct my attention
toward this area in the first place. Words cannot express my heartfelt
gratitude forJulius Amman and the people ofReformation Fellowship
for their support in this project as well. I also thank those who have
put up with my constant jabbering about this aspect or that of the
entire ¥JW Only controversy, including the patient and supportive
members ofmy home church, the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church,
and the poor souls in my beginning Greek and Hebrew classes.
Thanks guys. And to Dr. Mike Baird, the patient professor who spent
seven solid years instructing me in the Greek language, I am and
always will bethankful. I am also gratefiil to those who have taken the
time to read the manuscript and offer helpfial suggestions and
criticisms. Finally, to my loving and ever patient wife, Kelli, and my
wonderfiil children, Joshua and Summer, a true word of thanks for
putting up with the long nights and the preoccupation with the work at
hand.
JAMES WHITE is Scholar in Residence in the College ofChristian Studies,
Grand Canyon University. He is also Director ofMinistries for Alpha and
Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization, and author ofLetters
toaMormonElder He hasearned a B.A. from Grand Canyon University and
an M.A. from I^^uiler Ihcological Seminary. He and his wife have two
children and make theirhome in Phoenix,Arizona.
.
Contents
Foreword
i
Introduction iii
Part One
King James Only
1 1
2. IfIt Ain't Broke 9
3. Starting at the Beginning 19
4. Putting It Together 53
5. The King James Only Camp 91
6. Translational Differences 127
7. Textual Differences 149
8. The Son ofGod, the Lord ofGlory 193
9. Problems in the KJV 223
10. Questions and Answers 243
Let the Reader Understand 249
Part Two
The Textual Data 251
Bibliography 273
Indices 277
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