Why The King James?

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Though I have several translations of the Bible I choose to stay with the time tested King James Version along with the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. I have my reasons for doing so. In my Bible Studies I may refer to another work, usually The Companion Bible by Dr. E.W. Bullinger, which by the way, is a King James Version. I have included a list of English translations listed by date of their arrival in history. Commentary Bibles are not included in the list. At the end of the list are some of my reasons for remaining a loyal reader of the King James Version.

Jesus in the temple at 12 years of age:
KJV - Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

The first recorded words of Jesus while in the flesh, at the age of twelve. The next verse contains His last words while in the flesh.

KJV - John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Well said for a starting and an ending. He is the Alpha and Omega. The business He started at twelve years old was finished. I chose the two above verses to prove just one point. I have inserted below, the same verses from two modern day translations. Most of the Father's business conducted by Jesus wasn't done in the churches. As a matter of fact the churchs of that day are the ones who wanted Him killed. He even went into the temple and beat'em up and threw'em out. They didn't like Jesus very much.

NIV - Luke 2:49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"
NRSV - Luke 2:49 He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

At this point in time the so-called houses of God could hardly be called a house of God. Jesus had to build His own church. He states so in this next verse. I can see many a sermon based on the two above verses as stated in the King James Version, but, the other two translations seem lacking to me. A little flat, you might say. God's business is not just in the churches. Jesus was even scolded for visiting places and people His disciples thought He shouldn't.

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Satan's mode of operation:
Gen 2:17 (God talking). But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Gen 3:4 And the serpent, (another name for Satan), said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Satan added only one, (1), word. Just one word. Seems so insignificant doesn't it. But what a change in the meaning! He, (Satan), then goes on to flatter Eve.

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Ye shall be as gods? What a silver tongued devil. Telling her she'll be like a god. Please note god is spelled with a little g, not big G.

Satan tempting Jesus, God in the flesh:
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Here, Satan quoted, or maybe I should say misquoted Psalms 91:11 and 12.

Psa 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psa 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Psa 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

The Devil left off "to keep thee in all thy ways" in verse 11, added "at any time" to verse 12, and left off verse 13, the one about trampling the dragon, (Satan). Wonder why he left that off? He doesn't think you're smart enough to pick up on it.

See how Satan works. Change just a little here and a little there. It's no big deal. It's easier to read. You know that Ole King James Version, with it's archaic language, it's so hard to understand. Oh by the way, let's make it gender neutral, we have to be politically correct. Don't want to offend anybody. You know, that Ole King James Version, well, some of it's verses seem to promote war and destruction. Yes, and we must attract the younger generation, after all they're our future. We must keep updating the language to the Bible or people aren't going to understand it at all. All kind of excuses given not to be using the King James Version. Just who is it that's coming up with these excuses? The writers and publishers of these translations. Guess what the latest, (latest being winter of 2008), scheme is concerning the NIV by Zondervan Publishing House? A handwritten version to commemorate it's 30th anniversary. Whoop-D- DO. The King James has been around for 397 years. Four people will criss-cross the United States, driving a 42-foot luxury motor-home for approximately five months having more that 31,000 persons hand writing the verses. Think maybe there's lots of money in that???    $$$$$$   $$$$$$   $$$$$$. Oh, by the way, this new handwritten version will be available for you to purchase in time for Christmas of 2009. With over 75 percent of the United States population, (some claim 86 percent), claiming to be Christian, that makes for a huge, huge, market. A conservative estimate of twenty five million bibles are sold in the United States each year. Do the math.

Think maybe copyright protection may have anything to do with all these translations? Well, can you copyright God's word? Not the King James Version. Not in the United States. It's public domain. That means anybody can print it, use it, change it, do about anything they desire with it. But these new translations, once they're in print and have passed the copyright test, no one can change it, copy it, or use it at all, except about ten percent of it. But, all of them can use all of, part of, or any part of, the King James Version. And boy do they. They massacre it.

Copyright???.......  $$$$$$ ..... Beginning to get the picture? $$$$$$ ..... I think the Bible has something to say about $$$$$$.

1 Tim 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

The above list contains 213 English translations of the Bible. Each copyrighted translation has to be a certain percentage different from the other copyrighted translation.

Example:
No. 2 copyrighted translation has to meet the copyright rules of being a certain percentage different than No. 1 copyrighted translation.       No. 3 different from 2 and 1.       No. 4 different from 3, 2, & 1.        No. 5 different from 4, 3, 2, & 1.       No. 6 different from 5, 4, 3, 2, & 1.      No. 213 has to be different from 212, 211, 210, 209, 208, 207, 206, 205, 204, 203, 202, 201, 200, and so on, all the way to the No. 1 copyrighted translation. Can you see how diluted God's Word has become through this process?

What does all this mean financially? Let's do a what if here. What if a pastor, Sunday school teacher, or just an individual who does lots of Bible studying and after many years of doing that to show him or herself approved unto God, (just as the Bible tells us to do in 2nd. Timothy 2:15), and he or she is doing this to spread the Word of God, doing the Great Commission, and what if all of a sudden one day he or she realizes that he or she has what he or she feels is a good Bible work, he or she may have made some important comments to certain verses, made references to other verses in such a way that really helps clarify some things of the Bible. Maybe be a huge help to others. Could he or she publish this work? Could he or she market it? Could YOU SELL IT? Could YOU even distribute it around without charging money for it? Could YOU make an audio or video of it, like lots of churches are doing today? Yes, or maybe I should say maybe. What if you used The King James Version? No problem at all. Remember it's not copyrighted and can never be in the United States. You wouldn't be breaking any copyright rules. By the way I think that's just the way God intended. What if he, she, or you, had been using one of the copyrighted translations? .... ??? .... ??? .... $$$$$$, $$$$$$, $$$$$$. He, she, or you, may be allowed. I say again, may be, allowed to do so, providing, he, she, or you, pay a reasonable and sometimes not so reasonable ongoing royalty fee to the holder of the copyright of the translation which he, she, or you, had been using all those years. Are you beginning to get the idea? Perpetual income from God's Word. He, she, or you, have done a good job, using their work, promoting their translation, and this is the thanks he, she, or you get? Ladies and gentlemen you're nothing but a number to those people. You can bet one thing. It's going to be a number that's written on our money. $1.00, $5.00, $10.00, $20.00, $50.00, or $100.00. If you have any doubts about this just get on the internet and go to Zondervan's home page. Look at their product rights and permissions along with their NIV-TNIV-NIrV- Bible permission guidelines. Do the same thing with Thomas Nelson Publishers, (the NKJV boys). They're the two biggies now. I just can't help but think of the following verse.

1 Pet 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

If you don't already know, please look up in the Strong's what filthy lucre is.

I put a lot of he, she, and you, in the above paragraph and made them bold and underlined to remind you that these modern day bible translators want you to lose your identity. Gender neutral.

In today's world, December of 2008, anyone who's computer literate, can be a book publisher. A professional writer, a scribe. These people know that and want to limit your personal work on these matters. They want to make sure you use their work, promote their translation, get your $$$$$$, $$$$$$, $$$$$$. If you use The King James, they can't do that.

At the very end of the Bible, what does God have to say about all this?

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Think maybe God knew this would be happening? Maybe that's why He put these two verses where He did. Just two verses short of the very end of the Bible.

You ever feel like you're starving to hear God's word? Have you been from church to church searching for someone that knows a little something about it? Good Luck! The next two verses will probably make more sense to you now.

Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Amos 8:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

Lam 4:12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

He's entered right into our churches. Would you have ever thought it? Look what Jesus says in the next verse.

Mat 23:2 Saying, The scribes[1] and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

Just who are these scribes? They're Kenites. Who are Kenites? The offspring of Cain. Some claim Cain is the offspring of Satan himself.

1 "SCRIBES": 1122. grammateus, gram-mat-yooce'; from G1121; a writer, i.e. (professionally) scribe or secretary:--scribe, town-clerk.

1 Chr 2:55 And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites[1] that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

1 "KENITES": 7017. Qeyniy, kay-nee'; or Qiyniy (H1 Chron. 2 : 55), kee-nee'; patron. from H7014; a Kenite or member of the tribe of Kajin:--Kenite.

7014. Qayin, kah'-yin; the same as H7013 (with a play upon the affinity to H7069); Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Pal., and of an Oriental tribe:--Cain, Kenite (-s).

2 Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2 Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2 Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Remember Jesus said, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat? Well, here ole pretty boy himself, (Satan the antichrist), will be sitting is GOD'S seat. But not for long.

Scribes = A professional writer, secretary, kinda like a town clerk. Think maybe today they could even work in publishing houses? Things like that? I see similarities between what's going on with these newer translations and what Satan did with Eve in the Garden and while trying his hand at tempting Jesus in the wilderness. I can't help but think of this next verse.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Let's look at a few more verses:
2 Cor 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed, (transformed in Strong's means disguised), into an angel of light.

2 Cor 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed, (or disguised), as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Ezek 13:2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

Ezek 13:3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

Ezek 13:7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

Ezek 13:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.

I feel the King James Version along with the Strong's Concordance with his Greek and Hebrew dictionaries are the best combination for studying God's word. Since all other English Bible translations mimic, (or try to resemble closely), the King James Version and all other Greek and Hebrew dictionaries use Strong's to create their work, why not just use the King James and Strong's? The Strong's allows the English reader the utmost opportunity to determine what the original Hebrew and Greek actually stated. The Strong's is to the Bible, what Webster's dictionary has become to the English language. Oh, by the way, Noah Webster made his own English Bible translation.

Lots of words in the Hebrew and Greek can have different meanings. Sometimes several. What I like about Strong's is that he list them all and not just what he thought the definition should be. Using the Strong's, allows the English reader to decide for him or herself which definition best fits the subject being discussed in the Bible. The Strong's Concordance with Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries are copyrighted, which limits those desiring to make their own, from copying his work. Thus leaving them with little alternatives except maybe invent new definitions along with using a very small percentage of his work. Somehow they have to work around Strong's copyrighted dictionaries. You know, the translators of the King James Version had something to say about this. Oh, surely not, they're so ancient and outdated, they couldn't have considered anything like this coming up. What on earth would they have done about this? Well, just read the following paragraph. It's near the end of their long letter to those who would be reading their King James Translation. Be ready for some Old English.

Excerpts from the Translators to the readers of the King James:
An other thing we thinke good to admonish thee of (gentle Reader) that wee haue not tyed our selues to an vniformitie of phrasing, or to an identitie of words, as some peraduenture would wish that we had done, because they obserue, that some learned men where, haue beene as exact as they could that way. Truly, that we might not varie from the sense of that which we had translated before, if the word signified the same thing in both places (for there bee some wordes that bee not of the same sense euery where) we were especially carefull, and made a conscience, according to our duetie. But, that we should expresse the same notion in the same particular word; as for example, if we translate the Hebrew or Greeke word once by Purpose, neuer to call it Intent; if one where Iourneying, neuer Traueiling; if one where Thinke, neuer Suppose; if one where Paine, neuer Ache; if one where Ioy, neuer Gladnesse, &c. Thus to minse the matter, wee thought to sauour more of curiositie then wisedome. We cannot follow a better patterne for elocution then God himselfe; therefore hee vsing diuers words, in his holy writ, and indifferently for one thing in nature: we, if wee will not be superstitious, may vse the same libertie in our English versions out of Hebrew & Greeke, for that copie or store that he hath giuen vs. .......... We desire that the Scripture may speake like it selfe, as in the language of Canaan, that it may bee vnderstood euen of the very vulgar.

End of Excerpts from the Translators to the readers of the King James:

Like today, there've been many writers throughout history. Lots of commentaries written about the Bible. And like today’s commentaries, people read them almost as if they're the Gospel itself. Also like today, there've always been some throughout history that think they can make The King James a better Bible by changing it’s wording. To me, all they seem to do is just what the Translators of The King James wanted so much not to do. That is, to not remove the curiosity from God’s Word. Think about it, Aren’t we all curious when we think about God? Aren’t we curious about His word? I feel we should leave it curious and try not to be so critical of It. After all to be critical of God’s word, the way He patterned it, is to be critical, (or find fault), with God Himself. ....... I tend to think that curiosity is God’s style, or way, to inspire men and women to get into his Word.

The Translators even acknowledge they made mistakes, but, that it shouldn't be a reason not to use it. All English readers of the Bible should read the entire letter, the Translators wrote, just to them.

Why the King James?

Why not The King James?

Thanks, for allowing me, to share this with you. Remember, to always, study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

In His Word,
Art Porter

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