Thursday, December 15, 2011

Why You Should Use The King James Bible – Part #1

The battle over Bible versions rages on. However, I have settled that issue in my mind, based on the facts, many years ago. But, I know there are may people in the pews of our churches who still struggle with the Bible Version issue. I regularly get phone calls from people who have heard that I stand for the Hebrew Masoretic and Greek Received Text and the King James Bible. They ask me, “Why do you advocate the use of the King James Bible?” and/or “Isn’t this version or that version a good version?”

In a clear, concise and uncomplicated way, I want to explain to the Christian struggling with the version issue, why I came to the conclusion that the King James Bible is the best version available in the English language today.

Let me state it simply: There are basically only two foundations that Bible translations have been and are being built upon. It is either the foundation of faith or the foundation of doubt.

The Foundation Of Faith That Our King James Bible Is Built On

Let’s begin with the foundation of faith. The key issue is this: I believe that God inspired the original writings of the Bible, which are called the autographa. There are many verses that teach this. Here are two key verses that I want you to see…

2 Peter 1:20-21 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation (that is, they did not originate with man). 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

But, there is also the matter of verbal preservation of the apographa (copies of the originals). I believe that God has preserved His Words in the copies of those original writings in the Hebrew Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Traditional Text (Textus Receptus) of the New Testament.

I have FAITH that the God who inspired the original autographs can and did preserve the apographs so that we can say, “Thus saith the Lord; This IS the Word of God” when we hold up our King James Bibles.

Nineteenth century believing Bible scholar par excellent, John Burgon wrote: "If you and I believe that the original writings of the Scriptures were verbally inspired by God, then of necessity they must have been providentially preserved through the ages."
The Westminster Confession of Faith published in the 1600’s says, "The Old Testament in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek, being immediately inspired by God and by His singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical, so as in all controversies of religion the Church is finally to appeal unto them."

My point in quoting this document is simply this; Bible believing Christians in the past, for the most part, believed in the inspiration and providential preservation of the of the Word of God. It is only in the last quarter of the 19th century and 20th century that born again Christians have believed anything else!

In fact, the Bible teaches providential preservation! The Lord Jesus Christ taught providential preservation. In Matthew 4:4 we read, "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Did you know that no original manuscripts existed in Christ’s day? Yet, Christ confidently quoted a portion of Deuteronomy 8:3 as the authoritative Word of God, and it was copy of the original without a doubt.

There are many Scriptures that indicate God has providentially preserved His Word. Here are just a few.

Psalms 12:6-7 "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."

Psalms 33:11 "The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations."

Psalms 100:5 "For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

Luke 16:17 "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail."

1 Peter 1:23, 25 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

I believe God. What God promised, He is able to perform (Romans 4:21). He has promised to preserved His Word(s), and I believe Him. I have the faith that He has done it. Therefore, I have chosen to use the King James Bible, because it is built on the Traditional Text, which is laid on the foundation of faith.

Next: Part #2 - The Foundation of Doubt that the new Bible versions are built on.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

I speculate that very few of those who use the King James Bible have ever read the preface. I would urge you to take the time to take 20 minutes and read through it. I think you will find it very interesting.
http://arcticbeacon.com/books/Translators_Preface_to_1611_KJV.pdf

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Thee's, Thou's, Thine, Ye, You & Your - Why We Need Them!

The King James Bible Thee's, Thou's, ye's and you's ARE A BIG HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE! Thee and thou, you and ye are more than style in the KJV; they identify singular and plural. Thee, thou and thine are always singular. Ye, you and your are always plural. In modern English, you and your are interchangeably singular or plural. An example of the need for this accuracy is found in John 3:7: "Marvel not that I said unto thee (Nicodemus), ye (everybody) must be born again".

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Our Doctrine & Purpose


The Doctrinal Statement of The King James Bible Research Council

A Sound & Sensible Voice for the KJB and other traditional texts
    
As a council of Fundamental, Bible Believing Christians

We believe the HOLY  SCRIPTURES, the 66 canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, are given by inspiration of God, and are able to make men wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

We believe that God has providentially preserved His Word, including the very words of Scripture, in the traditional texts of the Bible.

We believe the King James Version preserves, by accurate translation, the inerrancy of the Greek Received Text and the Hebrew/Aramaic Masoretic text for English speaking people.

We believe in one God revealed as existing in three equal Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person. He is a Person distinct from the Father and from the Son.

We believe that through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, so that death passed unto all men, for that “all have sinned.”

We believe in the death, burial and literal, bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, mans’ only true Substitute; and that His vicarious death is the sufficient expiation for the guilt of all who trust Him.

We believe that men are justified by faith alone, and are accounted righteous before God only because of the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We believe in the everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost.

We believe it to be the responsibility of the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to make His Gospel known to all men.

Our Purpose

Our purpose of is to promote the King James Bible and other Traditional Text translations around the world.

Our Goals

We have four primary goals:

1) To do research on the King James Bible and other traditional texts
2) To provide publications and media to promote the King James Bible
3) To provide a Speakers Bureau for churches, colleges, schools.
4) To provide the person in the pew understandable, positive, clear information, about the superiority of the King James Bible.

The King James Bible Research Council is not designed to replace or compete with any other organization but to add  a new voice to a very important discussion.

Anyone who wants to be on the email list for this organization should send an email to

Dr. David L. Brown – President
Dr. Phil Stringer – Vice President
Dr. David Sorenson – Secretary
Dr. H. D. Williams – Treasurer