Today’s posting may be considered by some to be controversial. But we’re taking up this subject matter because one of the more persistent accusations made against those preferring the King James Bible (KJV) is that it’s inspired. By “inspired” they mean the English words were inspired by God in the same manner as the original manuscripts.
We don’t believe the KJV is inspired like the original manuscripts. A better (and more precise) way of viewing this is as a ”Transferred Authority.” Our thanks go to Dr. Ken Matto for his diligent efforts in compiling much of the information that follows.
When the holy men of old penned the original autographs under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, those words were indeed inspired by God. However, once the last book of the Bible (Revelation) was completed, divine inspiration ceased and illumination began.
If the KJV were to have been translated just 100 years earlier, we wouldn’t be able to understand it. By the early 17th Century, the English language had undergone a major revision. What we have in our possession today is the 4th edition of 1769. There were no manuscript changes; just updates of English words because the language continued its evolution toward more simplicity.
Here is one example using Mark 3:28:
- Wycliffe Bible of 1382
(Mark 3:28) Treuli Y seie to you, that alle synnes and blasfemyes, bi whiche thei han blasfemed, schulen be foryouun to the sones of men.
1611 KJV
(Mark 3:28) Uerely I say vnto you, All sinnes shalbe forgiuen vnto the sonnes of men, and blasphemies, wherewith soeuer they shall blaspheme:
1769 Revised Language 4th Edition
- (Mark 3:28 KJV) Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
- Preservation of the Text
- (Psa 12:6-7 KJV) The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. {7} Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
God has promised us that He is going to preserve His Words for all generations. Notice, He didn’t say there would be another set of inspired writings. On the contrary, He said He was going to preserve what already had been written down.
Today, we have this perpetual promise fulfilled in the KJV. The two most preserved manuscripts are the 1524-5 Bomberg edition of the Hebrew Masoretic Text of the Old Testament (also known as the Ben Chayyim text) and the Greek Received Text (Textus Receptus) of the New Testament. Both of these manuscripts have escaped the ungodly scissors of textual critics.
Preservation Vs. Inspiration
- Much confusion arises when these words are used interchangeably. They’re not synonyms for the same thing! Inspiration was God authoring the Bible through holy men of old whereas preservation is the keeping of those manuscripts through the ages for posterity.
Preservation applies to translations. The Textus Receptus has been translated into many different languages from the time of its birth in the inspired autographs. Two of them are the Old Latin Vulgate (90-150 AD) [not to be confused with Jerome's 4th century Vulgate] and Martin Luther’s 1534 translation into the German language. Both of these were translated from the pure line of manuscripts thanks to God’s promise to preserve in Psa 12:7.
Transferred Authority
- One of the principle reasons for saying the KJV is inspired is due to its authority, sometimes known as “Derivative Inspiration.” When God stated that he would preserve His Word through subsequent generations He also attached something else to preservation – the authority of the original writings. Since the KJV is based on the purest of manuscripts, this authority is imputed to the KJV. We could cite the following as evidence: since the translation was completed in 1611, the KJV has built nations, caused revival, changed lives, and brought people out of religious darkness for nearly 400 years.
If there were no transferred authority in the KJV, none of these could have taken place because it would just have been yet another in a long line of religious books without authority. But this wasn’t the case.
With the KJV being built upon the most accurate manuscripts, the Holy Spirit illumines the passages being studied for proper understanding. He opens the eyes of those appointed to salvation. The modern versions engender confusion. Don’t believe us? If you’re in a Bible study and there are several different translations present, see how long it takes before you hear, “What does yours say?”
Final Thoughts
- God’s Word is preserved for us in the KJV and, although not inspired as the original autographs, they nevertheless carry the authority of the original autographs. The KJV is a guided translation of the manuscripts which had their birth in the original autographs which God authored with His full authority.
Please let us know what you think. Do you think there’s a more accurate version than the KJV? Tell us why.
To God Be The Glory!
Posted by Jeff & Cindy 
