December 5, 1999 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - Though the King James Bible is not as difficult to understand as some of its detractors imply, there can be no doubt that it is not as simple to understand as some of the easy-reading modern paraphrases or common language/dynamic equivalency versions. There are two reasons for this: First, the KJV was first translated almost four centuries ago and it does contain a certain amount of antiquation. Second, the KJV is a faithful, literal translation of the Hebrew and Greek text of the Scripture. Dr. Donald Waite’s comment on this is helpful. Dr. Waite is a Baptist scholar and man of God who defends the KJV through his Bible for Today ministry in Collingswood, New Jersey:

"Some people say they like a particular version because they say it's more readable. Now, readability is one thing, but does the readability conform to what’s in the original Greek and Hebrew language? You can have a lot of readability, but if it doesn’t match up with what God has said, it’s of no profit. In the King James Bible, the words match what God has said. You may say it’s difficult to read, but study it out. It’s hard in the Hebrew and Greek and, perhaps, even in the English in the King James Bible. But to change it around just to make it simple, or interpreting it, instead of translating it, is wrong. You’ve got lots of interpretation, but we don’t want that in a translation. We want exactly what God said in the Hebrew or Greek brought over into English" (Waite, Defending the King James Bible, p. 242).

Dr. Waite made another excellent comment on this in a recent edition of his newsletter:

"The Bible is not a first grade primer. It is God’s book. It is a book that must be diligently read. It is only by ‘searching the Scriptures’ that we find what pertains to life and death. It tells of creation, of the mighty universe, of the future or the past, of the Mighty God and His wonders, of the Holy Spirit’s ministry among Christians, of the Son of God’s great sacrifice for sin, of home in Heaven for the believer, and of a fiery hell for the unsaved. How dare we assume that His Word can be capsulated in a comic book [or a version that reads ‘like the morning newspaper’]."

What we want and need above all else in a Bible translation is accuracy and faithfulness, and that is what God, in His grace, has given the English-speaking people in the King James Bible.

HOW ANTIQUATED IS THE KING JAMES BIBLE?

The King James Bibles that are published today are not exactly like those that first came off the press. The KJV was completed in 1611 but was updated several times between then and 1769 to produce the existing edition. Though significant, the changes were largely simple things, such as correcting printing errors, updating spelling (such as replacing "blinde" with "blind"), replacing old English print style with modern English style, and updating marginal notes.

Of the thousands of changes that were made in the KJV between the original 1611 and that in common use today, only 136 were substantial changes that involved replacing a word with a different word. This was discovered by Dr. Donald Waite who painstakingly compared the present day Old Scofield King James Version by Oxford University Press with the original 1611 (see Dr. Waite’s Defending the King James Bible, pages 243,244; Bible for Today, 900 Park Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108).

WHY WE NEED TO RETAIN "THEE, THOU, THINE"

Part of the antiquated feel of the King James Bible is its usage of the second person singular pronominal forms, "thee," "thou," and "thine." The use of these allows the distinction in English between singular and plural pronouns. In other words, "you" is plural, while "thou" is singular. The singular forms have almost disappeared from contemporary English, so that there is no difference between "you" plural and "you" singular. The Hebrew and Greek languages, though, have both a singular and plural form of the pronoun. The King James translators did not adopt "thee," "thou," and "thine" because those forms were common to their day, but because they wanted to faithfully translate the original Scripture text into English. Consider the following testimony about this:

"It is often asserted or assumed that the usage of the AV represents the speech of 300 years ago, and that now, three centuries later, it should be changed to accord with contemporary usage. But this is not at all a correct statement of the problem. The important fact is this. THE USAGE OF THE AV IS NOT THE ORDINARY USAGE OF THE EARLY SEVENTEENTH CENTURY: IT IS THE BIBLICAL USAGE BASED ON THE STYLE OF THE HEBREW AND THE GREEK SCRIPTURES. The second part of this statement needs no proof and will be challenged by no one. It is undeniable that where the Hebrew and Greek use the singular of the pronoun the AV regularly uses the singular, and where they use the plural it uses the plural. Even in Deuteronomy where in his addresses, and apparently for rhetorical and pedagogical effect, Moses often changes suddenly, and seemingly arbitrarily, from singular to plural or from plural to singular, the AV reproduces the style of the text with fidelity. THAT IS TO SAY, THE USAGE OF THE AV IS STRICTLY BIBLICAL" (Oswald T. Allis, "Is a Pronominal Revision of the Authorized Version Desirable?" See the Bible Version section of the End Times Apostasy Database at the Way of Life Literature web site -- http://www.wayoflife.org/).

Linguistic scholar A.T. Robertson made the following important observation about the King James Bible: "No one today speaks the English of the Authorised Version, or ever did for that matter, for though, like Shakespeare, it is the pure Anglo-Saxon, yet unlike Shakespeare IT REPRODUCES TO A REMARKABLE EXTENT THE SPIRIT AND LANGUAGE OF THE BIBLE" (A Grammar of the Greek New Testament, p. 56).

WE DON’T NEED A NEW TRANSLATION; WE NEED TO STUDY THE ONE WE HAVE

We do not believe the English-speaking people need a new translation of the Bible today. Even if it were desirable, it is not the right time. The King James Bible was produced in an hour of spiritual revival and blessing. Our day, however, is an hour of horrendous apostasy. It is important that churches retain one Bible and not be divided by a multiplicity of versions.

What about the difficulties of the KJV, then? The linguistic difficulties of the King James Bible can be overcome quite simply without reference to a new version, which would introduce its own problems and difficulties.

THREE SOLUTIONS TO THE ANTIQUATION PROBLEM

Three solutions to the antiquation problem are the DEFINED KING JAMES BIBLE by Bible for Today and the CONCISE KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY and the WAY OF LIFE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE & CHRISTIANITY by Way of Life Literature.

THE DEFINED KING JAMES BIBLE

The Defined King James Bible, published by Bible for Today, contains definitions of the words that have changed meaning since 1611. The footnotes are the product of hundreds of hours of research by Mr. D.A. Waite, Jr., who has taught English, Bible, and other subjects in Christian schools since 1971. There are two editions of the Defined King James Bible. There is a LARGE PRINT edition, which has extra large type (12 point) and wide side margins for making notes. There is also a MEDIUM PRINT edition, which has 10 point type and measures a convenient 6 X 8 inches. Both are bound in genuine leather and are shrink-wrapped in a nice gift box. The Defined King James Bible contains an introduction defending the Masoretic Hebrew text and the Textus Receptus Greek text underlying the King James Bible. It also incorporates a plan for reading the Bible through in one year. The LARGE PRINT EDITION is $40.00 + $5 S/H. The MEDIUM PRINT EDITION is $35 + $5 S/H. Contact Bible for Today at 900 Park Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08108. 856-854-4452 (voice), 856-854-2464 (fax). Call about special prices on cases of Bibles.

THE CONCISE KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY

Way of Life Literature has recently published the Concise King James Bible Dictionary. Designed to fit in a Bible case, its convenient size makes it easy to use because it can be kept right with one's Bible. It includes an extensive list of King James Bible words that have changed meaning since 1611, plus all of the doctrinal terms and much more. Not only does it define individual Bible words but also many of the phrases and descriptive statements that are no longer a part of contemporary English usage, such as "superfluity of naughtiness," "at your hand," "taken with the manner," and "in the gate." It is an excellent Bible dictionary for both new and older Christians. 90 pages, 5X8, perfect bound. $4.95 + 10% S/H. Way of Life Literature, 1701 Harns Rd., Oak Harbor, Washington 98277. 360-675-8311 (voice), 360-240-8347 (fax), fbns@wayoflife.org (e-mail), http://www.wayoflife.org/ (web site).

THE WAY OF LIFE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE & CHRISTIANITY

A more serious tool for studying the King James Bible is the Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity. (The above-mentioned Concise King James Bible was based on the Way of Life Encyclopedia.) This lovely hard cover Bible Encyclopedia contains 560 pages (8.5X11) of information, over 5,500 entries, and over 6,000 cross references. Almost twenty-five years of research has gone into this one-of-a-kind reference tool. It is the only Bible dictionary/ encyclopedia written by a Fundamental Baptist and based strictly upon the King James Bible. It is a complete dictionary of biblical terminology, plus it features many other areas of research not often covered in Bible reference volumes. Subjects include Bible versions, Denominations, Cults, Christian Movements, Typology, the Church, Social Issues and Practical Christian Living, Bible Prophecy, and Old English Terminology. The Christian will be helped and fortified in his faith through this Bible Encyclopedia. This work does not correct the Authorized Version of the Bible, nor does it undermine the fundamental Baptist’s doctrines and practices as many study tools do. The 2nd Edition (January 1998) contains roughly 1,250 new entries and additions to existing entries. Many preachers have told us that apart from Strong’s Concordance, the Way of Life Bible Encyclopedia is their favorite study tool. A missionary told us recently that if he could save only one study book out of his library, it would be our Encyclopedia. An evangelist in South Dakota wrote: "If I were going to the mission field and could carry only three books, they would be the Strong’s concordance, a hymnal, and the Way of Life Bible Encyclopedia." Missionary author Jack Moorman says: "The encyclopedia is excellent and will meet a real need. The entries show a ‘distilled spirituality.’" Burgundy hard cover book. Special direct order single copy price is $29.95 + 10% S/H. Way of Life Literature, 1701 Harns Rd., Oak Harbor, Washington 98277. 360-675-8311 (voice), 360-240-8347 (fax), fbns@wayoflife.org (e-mail), http://www.wayoflife.org/ (web site).