(Article for publication March 10, 2010 AD)
"...meddle not with them that are given to change" (Proverbs 24:21).
We believe the King James Bible to be the best translation for the English-speaking people primarily because of the underlying Greek manuscripts from which it is translated, the Textus Receptus. This is not to belittle the earlier translations from those manuscripts like Tyndale's translation and the Geneva Bible, for they are also reliable translations. But we do believe the KJV to be an improvement over those works. We also recommend the KJV because of its clarity on the Deity of Christ, because of its good fruit, and its ease of memorization.
Another good reason to keep our King James Bible is for its conserving influence. Liberalism is destroying the modern church and compromising the soul saving gospel of the Bible. The proliferation of new Bible translations has encouraged liberalism and modernism, in our humble opinion. It has been my observation that churches and individuals that start using the modern translations tend to become more liberal in their beliefs and practices.
The modern day "churches" are filled with entertainment and games, but sadly deficient in preaching the gospel. Today's churches now have the super bowl in the church, dance classes, karate classes, ballgames, and everything but the gospel. No wonder the churches are filled with unconverted people. Christ established His Church to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances and maintain Godly discipline, not for entertainment and games. If our forefathers could return from their graves and witness the downgrade in the churches they would be horrified. But most importantly, we do not believe Christ is pleased with turning His Father's House into a social club and entertainment center.
There are many factors involved here and the main one is that the "churches" and "preachers" are mostly unconverted, at least by their fruits (the Lord knoweth). However, my own experience tells me that churches that hold to the Old Translation are generally more conservative, and not as likely to be tossed by every wind of doctrine and take up with every fad that gets started. Christians are to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, not start and follow religious fads. Fads are bad enough, but particularly detestable in the church. It appears to me that the continual changing of Bible versions is more for fad that for the sake of the Truth. I remember when the liberals were advocating the Revised Standard Version. Then they all went wild over the NIV. Then they all started following the NASV fad. Then it was the New King James Version. Now they have another faddish version and all the while the gospel and the church and vital Godliness is in decline. May the Lord have mercy upon us.
The inspired wise man, Solomon tells us not to meddle with those that are given to change. Let us heed his warning as regards Bible translations and the doctrine, practice and methods in the church.
"...meddle not with them that are given to change" (Proverbs 24:21).
We believe the King James Bible to be the best translation for the English-speaking people primarily because of the underlying Greek manuscripts from which it is translated, the Textus Receptus. This is not to belittle the earlier translations from those manuscripts like Tyndale's translation and the Geneva Bible, for they are also reliable translations. But we do believe the KJV to be an improvement over those works. We also recommend the KJV because of its clarity on the Deity of Christ, because of its good fruit, and its ease of memorization.
Another good reason to keep our King James Bible is for its conserving influence. Liberalism is destroying the modern church and compromising the soul saving gospel of the Bible. The proliferation of new Bible translations has encouraged liberalism and modernism, in our humble opinion. It has been my observation that churches and individuals that start using the modern translations tend to become more liberal in their beliefs and practices.
The modern day "churches" are filled with entertainment and games, but sadly deficient in preaching the gospel. Today's churches now have the super bowl in the church, dance classes, karate classes, ballgames, and everything but the gospel. No wonder the churches are filled with unconverted people. Christ established His Church to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances and maintain Godly discipline, not for entertainment and games. If our forefathers could return from their graves and witness the downgrade in the churches they would be horrified. But most importantly, we do not believe Christ is pleased with turning His Father's House into a social club and entertainment center.
There are many factors involved here and the main one is that the "churches" and "preachers" are mostly unconverted, at least by their fruits (the Lord knoweth). However, my own experience tells me that churches that hold to the Old Translation are generally more conservative, and not as likely to be tossed by every wind of doctrine and take up with every fad that gets started. Christians are to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, not start and follow religious fads. Fads are bad enough, but particularly detestable in the church. It appears to me that the continual changing of Bible versions is more for fad that for the sake of the Truth. I remember when the liberals were advocating the Revised Standard Version. Then they all went wild over the NIV. Then they all started following the NASV fad. Then it was the New King James Version. Now they have another faddish version and all the while the gospel and the church and vital Godliness is in decline. May the Lord have mercy upon us.
The inspired wise man, Solomon tells us not to meddle with those that are given to change. Let us heed his warning as regards Bible translations and the doctrine, practice and methods in the church.
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