WHAT IS KING JAMES ONLYISM?

by Gary R. Hudson

King James Only, first of all, does not necessarily refer to those who have made the King James Version their preferred or exclusive choice of English Bible translation. KJVO neither necessarily refers to those who believe the KJV is the “best” English translation and/or remains unsurpassed.

Simply stated, King James Onlyism is the belief that ONLY the King James Version is “the Word of God in English.” The claim is stated in a variety of terms, e.g., “the preserved Word of God,” “God’s preserved Word for the English-speaking people,” “The AV 1611,” etc.  The belief is usually characteristic of the following tenets:

1. To undermine the relevance of the inspired original text (“we don’t have the originals--So, where is the Word of God?”).

2. To undermine the current use and integrity of the original Hebrew and Greek to correct the KJV.

3. An exaggerated emphasis on “preservation,” making Scripture passages (i.e., Psalm 12:6-7) refer to either the KJV or exclusively its underlying “Textus Receptus” Greek.

4. Multiple inaccuracies and distortions in the areas of church history, textual criticism, the history of Biblical manuscripts, Greek texts and ancient versions.

5. Verse comparison arguments involving the KJV and modern English translations which purport to demonstrate “omissions” and “perversions.”

The student of this controversy must understand the development of King James Onlyism in two main stages. First, it is based, largely from the influence of Edward F. Hills, upon the belief that the King James translators were “providentially led” to select the precise wording of the original text in every single instance without exception. This view makes the translators infallible textual critics. Secondly, having swallowed this idea, what is to stop these translators from being considered infallible in translation? Therefore, it naturally follows that the KJV men were “providentially guided” to translate words in certain ways, sometimes even inaccurately (cf. “Easter,” Acts 12:4;“faith,” Heb. 10:23, etc.). The extremist of this spectrum, Peter S. Ruckman, realizes this difficulty and is at least consistent enough to make even mistranslations “advanced revelations.” Many KJVO advocates now distance themselves from Ruckman and reject the terms, “advanced revelation.” But, they will often maintain the tenet of “infallible” or “preserved” translation, which can only be consistently defended as extra-Biblical or “advanced revelation.”

These two stages, namely, that of (1) making the KJV an infallible guide to textual criticism, and (2) making the KJV an infallible translation, are the two main developments in the full-blown heresy of KJVO. The unsuspecting user of the
pamphlets, books, cassettes, videos, and websites of the KJVO movement is usually indoctrinated into the belief system through these two stages. Such an unsuspecting reader is introduced to KJVO through arguments favoring the “Textus Receptus” texts, thus appealing to the reader’s belief in the original languages. Every cultic system functions in this very same format, i.e., by appealing to something foundational in the reader’s thinking in order to erect a far differing superstructure as the end result. This is precisely the method used in, for example, Ruckman’s book on “Manuscript Evidence” (cf., “Ruckman’s Unscriptural Claims for the KJV,” Evangelist Gary R. Hudson, Sword of the Lord, March 17, 1989).

The cure, and we must emphasize it is the only cure, for KJVO is accuracy of information. Such accuracy must be stressed regarding the historic Christian doctrine of the inspiration and inerrancy of the original Biblical writings (II Timothy 3:16). Accuracy must be demonstrated from the recognized, standard works on Bible translations, ancient versions, Biblical manuscripts, lexicons, and church history, enabling us to “prove all things” and “hold fast that which is good” (I Thes. 5:21). Finally, we must “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3), and we must do so, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, in a godly, respectful, and ethical manner (II Timothy 2:24-26).

For more information go to:

The King James Only Resource Center – Gary R. Hudson

 http://kjvonlyism.tripod.com

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