Why I Use the King James Bible

Part 1

As a child, I always preferred the King James Version, but was ignorant of the significance of it compared with other versions. My family mostly used the KJV, but we also had some NKJV’s, and Dad would occasionally pull out a different one such as the Amplified Version to use when preaching. Like many pastors, he also really liked his “Greek”, and would sometimes use it to correct the Bible.

During one period, I read through the entire New King James Version (NKJV). I learned some things from it, but it felt different- like something was missing. I wasn’t sure what it was, and attributed it more to the language difference. Because, for me, contrary to contemporary complaints of the KJV, it was actually the so-called “archaic language” that I loved about it. In my eyes, it gave the KJV an old-fashioned beauty, majesty, and superior feel to other versions.

A bit later on, shortly after leaving home, some friends introduced me to the idea that the KJV was God’s true Word, and that all other “new” versions were flawed. I was a little skeptical, but it sparked my curiosity on the matter, and I began to dig in to learn more. The first two books I read on the issue were “The Language of the King James Bible”, and “In Awe of Thy Word”, by Gail Riplinger.

In these two books, Riplinger draws attention to the linguistic purity and miraculous quality of the King James Bible. How unique it is with its use of alliteration, rhyme, rhythm, and poetic simplicity. She also touches on the history leading up to the KJV, and the other translations it was based off, pure translations. And finally, she drew verse by verse comparisons of the KJV and many other versions, pointing out some serious doctrinal and historical flaws which new versions contain.

While I wouldn’t say that Riplinger’s books had me entirely convinced, they certainly intrigued me, and made me determined to continue my research.  I was excited about it, because it was something I could see for myself and prove. It wasn’t based on some iffy premise, or scholarly evidence unavailable to me. Rather, I could simply pick up any of the new “Bibles” and simply start putting them beside the KJV and comparing what they said, word for word. And, quite frankly, when I did so, I was astonished at what I began to discover.

For the sake of length, I will save a more detailed examination of errors and problems in new versions for future posts. Suffice it to say that after much study and prayer, I eventually gained the complete conviction, without a shadow of doubt, that the King James Bible is God’s only pure and perfect Word today. 

In my next post, I will go into several of the related conclusions I came to, and my reasoning behind them. For now, I will leave you with a few key verses which are changed in most or all versions, even eliminated completely in some. If you have a version other than the KJV, I would encourage you to see what your Bible says by comparison, and  consider the differences.

                                                                                                                                                                   

1 Corinthians 1:18 - “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (KJV)

• The majority of versions, including the NKJV change “are saved” to “are being saved”. According to the KJV, you are either saved, or you’re not. There is no in between. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” – 1 John 5:12. The other versions make it a process, which implies the need for works.

Acts 8:36-37 - “…What doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (KJV)

• Verse 37, which reveals the confession of salvation and condition of baptism, is entirely omitted in many popular versions, including the NIV, ESV, and NLT. The NASB places doubt on the verse by adding a footnote saying that “some original manuscripts don’t include it”. 

1 John 5:7 - “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (KJV)

• One of the greatest single verses for proof of the Trinity, this verse has been changed or eliminated in nearly all versions. If they include part of it, they change “these three are one” to something like “these three are in agreement”. The latter would mean three separate Gods. Not one.

Luke 2:33 - “And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.” (KJV)

• Here, the KJV preserves the fact that Joseph was not Jesus’ father, but that God was his Father. Most other versions change the first part of this verse to “The child's father and mother”, which, if true, would destroy the entire plan of salvation, because it would mean the Lord Jesus Christ was merely human, and never God. At best, the altered verse leaves room to doubt the fact.

Matthew 5:22 - “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (KJV)

• Here, most other versions remove the clause “without a cause”. I.e. “If you are angry with your brother, you are in danger of judgement” (my paraphrase). Not only is this unbiblical, but it would mean that Jesus Himself was a sinner, and imperfect in Mark 3:5 and 11:15-17, John 2:13-17, and Ephesians 4:26 where the Lord is shown to be angry at his brethren, the Israelites. 

2 Corinthians 2:17 - “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” (KJV)

• Key to the “which version” question, this verse shows that even while the Bible was still being written, men were already trying to corrupt it. This makes it very telling when the majority of other versions, including the NKJV, change “corrupt the word of God” to “peddle the word of God for profit”. There is a vast difference between corrupting something and trying to make a profit out of it.