Why do some churches discourage the use of any Bible except the King James Version?

Question

Not everybody can understand the KJV.There are many interpretaions which simplify the things that are being said. I believe you should have several versions so you can really explore whats being said.I think you can get to know God better and I think anybody that tells you to only go by King James may be trying to keep you from checking out what THEY preach.Could it be some of them don't want you to realize the truth?Maybe they're trying to brainwash.

Answer 1

It's a more word for word translation. Take a look at this chart in the middle of this web page.

The NASB and interlinear are the only two closer to word for word translation.

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/b50.html

I personally like the New King James Version (NKJV) as it gets rid of all the thees and thous, so makes it easier to read, but still a close translation.

Answer 2

I use the King James for personal study. I absolutyly believe that the KJV was done with the greatest care to use the best english words to match as close as possable the texts from which it was translated... I do not believe that the KJV, or any other "modern" bible is inerrent. Only the original text, which were dictated by God to the original scribe, were without error. An none of the original texts survive today. Having been lost well over 1500yrs ago.

Textual critisizim is a subject that can blow your mind. But it would take a deep study of all of that to give a proper answer. Personaly it is more than I care to go very deeop into. I aint going to be here that long.

Any one who can read english can read the KJV. If there are words that are not known get a good dictionary and learn. It is a sad commentary on the schools that english has been reduced to the lowest common denominator.

I will recomend, with some hesitation, the New American Standard Bible(updated) to seekers and new believers. But that is the only "modern" bible I will recomend

For more of my pov on The Bible you may read from my Bible page on my website at:

http://pages.zdnet.com/mikevanauken/mikesinternetoutreach/id4.html

All honest seekers welcome

Answer 3

The KJV is a fairly accurate, honestly translated, and commonly available translation. It is written on around a seventh-grade reading level, and is easier to read than the works of Shakespeare, which we typically make our teenage children read.

Most newer translations are "dynamic equivalents," which means that the translators didn't translate the actual words which were written, but instead wrote down what they thought the writers meant, and what they would have said if they lived today. That is not translation; that's commentary.

I'm not against owning other translations; I own a New International Perversion, myself, but I preach only from the King James Version.

Answer 4

Because there are variations between the KJV and other translations; the KJV is viewed as the most accurate translation we have. This is the reason it's referred to as "the king of Bibles." I myself use the NKJV, KJV and NIV. When I want to be sure I understand what was written, I look at the Hebrew (OT) or Greek (NT) texts.

But I completely agree with your statement about the KJV; many folks just can't understand the darned thing. I recommend the NIV for new believers, because it's very easy to understand.

Answer 5

The KJV is the closest to the original. Many pastors preach from it, but I have never known any church that said you have to only read the KJV. Try the NKJV it is easy to understand and close to the KJV. The NIV is good too.
If your preacher wants you to only read the KJV then ask him why he feels that way. All the Bibles say the same thing, some are just in an easier language to understand.
I would not say they are brainwashing- like I said, all of them say the same things.

Answer 6

Well the KJV is supposedly the first version of the Bible to be published in English by the Roman Catholic church so it is considered the most accurately translated Bible from the early church. However, the Bibles of today, there are so many versions and all of them are fairly close to correct. Just as there are some words in English that can't be translated in other languages, there are words in the original Bible that can't be translated into English and the version we have are as accurate as any other.

Answer 7

According to Wikipedia the KJV was first published in 1611.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Version_of_the_Bible

I am all for separation of Church & State - that's one of the things that makes the USA great. Why would anyone want to read a bible that was filtered through a promiscous English king?

There are many versions of the bible prior & post KJV. I encourage you to read as many as you can. Also take a course in Comparative Religions or History of Religion. Some pretty interesting stuff.

Yes I consider myself a Christian (open minded version thank you).

Answer 8

I wonder that to. The King James is only 200 years old written by a man who wasn't even a christian.
Many of the newer versions of the bible are much better.
Easier to understand.
Most churches encourage the use of the king james verson because they like to tell there church members what they believe instead of letting them read the bible for themselves.
It allows them to keep people in innogrance.
So they have to come to them for information.

Answer 9

The King James Version is the closest translation to the real Hebrew and Greek writings. As for understanding you have to First of all be saved, the lost man can not understant the things of God, Then you must ask the Holy Spirit for understanding and if the ask you will receive. Read it with your heart and not with your mine

Answer 10

Could be, I dunno... What churches discourage the use of any other than the KJV?? I have never heard of that.
I do know that the KJV was translated from the latin Bible which was translated from Hebrew and Greek. Newer translations have either simply been put into more modern language or have gone back to original sources. We today have manuscripts that were written earlier than that which the latin version was translated from and thus they are more accurate. So then it would make since that if they are only wanting you to use KJV that they do not want you to use a more accurate translation. :)