Why do people say the KJV is the best version?

Question

Have they studied Greek and Hebrew, and concluded that it is the best translation? Or do they blindly follow their pastors and traditions? Do they realize that the KJV was produced in 1611 and includes verses which were not in the Bibles produced in the 4th century?

Answer 1

Because they think it's God Sent, it has hundreds of errors, and it was not the first Bible printed in English, it just happen to have King James backing.

People in the English-speaking world use and accept the King James or Authorized Version more than any other single Bible translation. In fact, so highly esteemed is this translation that many persons venerate it as the only true Bible. This raises some questions.

Do these countless persons who use the King James Version know why, despite objections from churchmen, modern translations keep rolling off the presses? Do they know why the King James Version itself was once opposed by the people? Do they know why, despite vigorous protest and opposition, the King James Version entered into the very blood and marrow of English thought and speech? Do they know what illuminating document is probably missing from their own copies? In short, do they really know the King James Version?

The purpose of Bible translation, then, is to take these thoughts of God, originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, and put them into the common languages of today. Bible translation makes God’s Book a living Book. So true Christians read the Bible, not to be entertained by clever turns of expression, unusual words, excellency of style, striking rhetorical devices or felicities of rhythm, but to learn the will of God. It was for this reason that the King James Version came into existence. That was in 1611.
From almost every quarter the King James Bible met opposition. Criticism was often severe. Broughton, a Hebrew scholar of the day, wrote to King James that he “should rather be torn asunder by wild horses than allow such a version to be imposed on the church.”

The translators, not unaware that people preferred to keep what had grown familiar, knew that their work had unleashed a storm. They tried to calm the people down. They wrote a “Preface of the Translators” to explain why the King James Version was made. This preface is called by the Encyclopedia Americana “a most illuminating preface describing the aims of the translators which unhappily is omitted from the usual printings of the Bible.” Thus most Authorized Versions today, though they contain a lengthy dedication to King James, omit the preface. Its presence would clear up many misunderstandings about the purpose of the revision. The reader would learn that strong opposition was expected.

The reader would learn that the King James Version was a revision of earlier works made with a modest hope of improvement and no thought of finality, In time the clamor died down, and the King James Version prevailed over the Geneva Bible. For more than two and a half centuries no other so-called authorized translation of the Bible into English was made. Little wonder that many people began to feel that the King James Bible was the only true Bible. Like many people who once objected to any change in the Geneva Bible, many persons today object to any change in the King James Bible. They oppose modern translations perhaps as vigorously as the King James Version itself was once opposed.

King James Bible has been changed; today no one reads the King James Version in its original form. Explaining why this is so the book The Bible in Its Ancient and English Versions says: “Almost every edition, from the very beginning, introduced corrections and unauthorized changes and additions, often adding new errors in the process. The edition of 1613 shows over three hundred differences from 1611, It was in the eighteenth century, however, that the main changes were made, The marginal references were checked and verified, over 30,000 new marginal references were added, the chapter summaries and running headnotes were thoroughly revised, the punctuation was altered and made uniform in accordance with modern practice, textual errors were removed, the use of capitals was considerably modified and reduced, and a thorough revision made in the form of certain kinds of words.”

So many changes have been made, many of them in the readings of passages, that the Committee on Versions (1851-56) of the American Bible Society found 24,000 variations in six different editions of the King James Version!

What, then, of the objections raised by persons who say they do not want the King James Bible changed? Since the King James Version has already been changed, they lie on a crumbled foundation. If these persons do not want it changed, then why do they use, instead of a copy of an edition of 1611, an edition that has been changed?

They appreciate, perhaps unknowingly, the improvements the later editions have made. They do not like the odd spelling and punctuation of the 1611 edition; they do not want to read “fet” for “fetched,” “sith” for “since” or “moe” for “more,” as the edition of 1611 had it. Thus improvement, when needed, is appreciated, even by those who say they object to any changing of the King James translation.

One of the major reasons the Authorized Version is so widely accepted is its kingly authority. There seems little doubt that, had not a king authorized this version, it would not today be venerated as though it had come direct from God

Answer 2

The KJV includes verses and parts of verses from scripture fragments that were much earlier than the 4th century Bibles of which you speak, by a couple of hundred years. It is a false claim that these two 4th century Bibles are the oldest. Do some research and you will see this for yourself. I believe the KJV is the best English version available today. It was carefully and meticulously translated from the abudance of texts that were available in 1611. The sole purpose of these translators was to be faithful to the Word of God, and they were. It was an honor for them to work on this project. I believe this is the most accurate translation that there is from the original manuscripts. I believe that God has His stamp of approval on the KJV, and I cannot say that for any other translation that there is today.

Answer 3

what makes the kjv the standard for bibles today is that when translated by a group of translators (12 If memory serves correctly) who translated from all translations (( hebrew, greek, and latin)) all 12 had to agree on what each verse said EXACTLY. You are correct the end of verse 3 and all of verse 4 in john 5 were added and not in the original scrolls, or writtings, and was added in an attempt to clarify how the water was stirred up or troubled in the kjv.

the kjv is the standard because of the care that went into it's literal translating of the original texts.

Answer 4

I'd agree with you that the KJV is not the best version. Looking at the Aramaic text would be best (for the Gospels), though we do not have most of those manuscripts.

Thus second best is Greek (first best for Old Testament is Hebrew). Translated directly from these is the Latin Vulgate, and translated from this is the Douay Rheims. From the Douay Rheims, the RSV and NAB both are derived, while also being revised from the more recent discoveries of the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.

So the closer to the original languages you can get, the better.

How do I trust the Biblical translation I use (NAB)? The Church, because Christ said evil would not prevail against it. What do I have to doubt His word, and in turn, the word of His Holy Church?

God Bless!

Answer 5

It's very sad. Just one more thing for believers to argue over. If they really cared they'd do some research and see that there is no reason to trust the KJV over the NIV, NASB or most other versions and translations, apart from personal preference. Most serious readers of the Bible use more than one version anyway, as well as Greek and Hebrew interlinears.

Answer 6

BIBLE TO WORLD

O.T. 1110 years, 39 books, many to write, done 443 before Christ.
N.T. 50 to 100 years after Christ, 27 books.
KJV Bible 1611 published, at 303 years is 1914 after Christ at WW1, and an excepted
translation by law of man and God.

Now it is to late for man to complain about it, if man wants different all he has got do do is produce it.

As for me, I began the study of this book at age 27. It is difficult, but not impossible.
The books are not in order, the chapters in the books are not in order.

COULD I HAVE DONE BETTER WITH THE BIBLE

If I could do better, then I can do it now and for myself. Philip.2:5,9-12; When we come before the Lord we can only answer for ourself 2Cor.5:10;
By this KJV Bible 1611 published and made available to the world, we know God wrote us a letter, what we do with it is up to us.
I am one person in this world that is extremely grateful for it, any way they can get it to me and I will figure it out in my own language. Every writer has a style, I sure do like
the style. After 44 years in study, it is a miracle that we have it even this way.

Answer 7

Most modern churches, with truly educated clergy, know that the KJV is very flawed. There are far better modern versions, including information not even known in 1611.

Many ministers in many "low" churches have little or no education, or are educated at a church sponsored college which does little more than to teach them the slant of that denomination. If you have a choice, compare a well educated clergyman with one educated through the Jerry Falwell ilk and you'll see the difference.

Answer 8

Many times the reverance for the KJV is almost approaches idolatry. Many believe it to be the first English translation, while others think it to be original and not a translation at all. None of this comes about from having a scholarly background.

Answer 9

Blind following. The dead see scrolls have different version of same books of the bible. There is no such thing as a accurate bible. To many versions to make out what is the true version. When it come to translation it is a matter if you want to make it literal or easy to read.

Answer 10

Actually, the King James version of the Bible is the closest version to the original script that we currently have which is why many still use this translation.