MasterTruth

Why are People So Adamant About the KJV?

I contemplated going to Bible college back in 1980. I picked one in West Virginia from where my pastor graduated years earlier. But I needed the answer to one deal-breaker question. What version of the Bible did they make everyone study from? I personally was keen on the New American Standard Bible (NASB), though I switched between versions now and then to add spark to my devotions. The only version I had an aversion to was the King James (KJV). It was too archaic. In my mind I determined that if they made everyone at that college study the KJV, I wasn’t going. I called and asked. They used the NASB. Yay! I headed off to Bible college.

While there, I became involved in the puppet ministry at the church I attended. I was the one in front of the curtain talking to the children and reading Bible verses while the pastor was behind the curtain operating the puppets.

One Sunday morning after the children were gone, the pastor stormed out from behind the curtain and informed me that from then on, I needed to read all the verses from the KJV. The other versions were full of errors, and he pronounced that in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, there were great spiritual revivals. But there were no revivals in the 20^th century. The reason, he stated, was because all these erroneous new versions had come on the scene.

I blinked at him. OK, I would read from the KJV. But I left thinking that he was crazy to tie the lack of revivals to newer Bible versions. This was my first “staunch KJV” experience.

My next significant encounter came in 1994 when I was going through a combined church/spiritual crisis. I thirsted to know God more, and it wasn’t happening at the dull, uninspired church I was attending. A couple of friends urged me to visit their church, which they described as amazing and life changing. That intrigued me. But no. It was well known as a KJV-only assembly.

But for the sake of my friends, I ended up compromising and visited the KJV church a few Sunday nights, but stuck with my dry NIV church on Sunday mornings. I had to admit, the teaching on Sunday nights was far deeper and was delivered and received with more enthusiasm and earnestness than I’d ever experienced anywhere else. It was a spiritual magnet.

While I was loving this church, I had an unshakable mental block. Why was everyone so adamant about the KJV? I asked my friends. They could not explain it. I was so frustrated. Why didn’t they know why they believed what they believed? I determined not to give up. Someone surely must have an answer.

I met a couple who had recently switched from my Sunday morning church to this church. They loved it so much. I told them I did too, but I needed to know the reason behind the inflexible stand on the KJV. They invited me over for dinner, and they would answer my questions.

Finally! They asked me to bring my NIV Bible with me (I had all the versions). After we ate, we sat in their living room, and the husband asked me to turn to Acts 8:37 and read it out loud. It was the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. I went to Acts 8:37, and it wasn’t there. The chapter jumped from verse 36 to 38 skipping verse 37, number and all! I was shocked. What in the world? How could a Bible skip a verse? They told me that was just one of many glaring errors. They showed me others.

I left their house convinced that there was a solid reason not to believe that all Bibles are equal. I determined to study it out further. I learn best when I write. So, I got books and pamphlets and started reading up on the differences between the manuscripts the versions were translated from. It was two years in the making, but I wrote a tract entitled “Does it Matter Which Bible Translation I Use?” I ran it by a few of the KJV church pastors to make sure I got it right. I’ve converted the tract into an easy-to-print white paper, which you can read and download if you click here.

And here’s the “rest of the story.” Some 25 years ago when I was doing my research, one of the friends who had invited me to the KJV church introduced me to a friend of hers, and at some point in one of our early conversations, I told him I was writing a tract on why the KJV. He told me he had written some great facts on that in the front of his Bible, and we went out to his car, and I looked at his copious notes on the topic. That was Richmond. We were married less than a year later! Glory to God for directing me so perfectly into the place I needed to be in order to get a firmer grasp of the Bible, experience a spiritual revival and find my husband!

Jody

What Do Bible Colleges Teach about Bible Versions?

I actually went to two Bible colleges. One in West Virginia and one in Kansas City, and neither of them was adamant about any particular Bible version.

Rather, they focused on the Bible as inspired (or God-breathed) in the original languages. They would never say the KJV (or NASB or NIV, etc.) is God-breathed or supernaturally inspired. Only the original manuscripts. OK, I get that. You probably do too.

I took a Bibliology class at my West Virginia Bible college. Bibliology is the study of the Bible and how it came about from the originals to the versions. We had to memorize the lineage of Bibles beginning with the originals and then the translations into other languages and where early manuscript copies were found and who was responsible for the various translations, etc. It was a class you didn’t want to take right after lunch. (Snooze)

When the semester was almost over, one student raised his hand and asked, “After all this, which Bible version would you say is the most accurate to the original?” Honestly, this Bible theologian acted like the student had just asked, “What color are Martians?” I thought he looked like he had dreaded this question all semester, and here it was finally asked. He absolutely didn’t want to take a stand. But after some apology, in his opinion, it was probably the New American Standard Bible.

But given all that we had studied, his guess was as good as anyone else’s. What mattered was that the originals were supernaturally inspired, and thus the more important question was, “What do the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts say? They are what was inspired.” By implication, that means Bible degradation started immediately after the original manuscripts disentegrated or were lost. Serious Bible college students took the Greek and Hebrew classes. Especially those who wanted to be pastors so that they could be the translators of God’s message to the rest of us peons.

I accepted that for over a decade.

Then I learned a term that was never uttered in Bible college and is not found on any non-KJV church doctrinal statement regarding its stand on the word of God. That term is supernaturally preserved.

As I write this at the end of 2022, God offers His word to us today in our language, and we do not have to resort to the original Greek and Hebrew in order to know what God really said. Whew! Because guess what. There isn’t a single original Greek/Hebrew manuscript available to look at. However… scribes went through great lengths to hand-copy the originals, and those were passed around and further meticulously copied and then translated into other languages. It's called the preservation process, and it began way back when and continued on up to the publishing of the first mass-produced Authorized Version (KJV).

When God moves, so does Satan. He led certain unscrupulous men much later to find ancient manuscripts that didn’t match the numerous copies of the widely circulated ones. The obscure copies likely weren’t widely available because they contained errors. Nevertheless, some dudes grasped on to those, and through their vetting process, changed numerous verses to say or not say what they wanted or didn’t want them to say, based on their beliefs. Learn more about all this in further detail by reading my more detailed white paper.

But let me give an example of this all-important preservation tug of war between God and Satan. Let’s compare Psalm 12:6-7 in the KJV with the NIV. Read each of them twice to grasp the full impact of what they say about the preservation of the word of God, and how they aren’t saying the same thing at all.

(Psa 12:6-7 KJV) The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

(Psa 12:6-7 NIV) And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked.

Those are significant differences, wouldn’t you say? Here's what you have to understand: If God stopped his supernatural process of getting us His word (not just His ideas, but His word) after He inspired the originals, we are toast. As I mentioned, we don’t have the originals. And in that case, we are confused about which of the verses above is right. If I was Satan, I’d want everyone to ask “what did God really say? You can’t know for sure.” Isn’t that what he did with Eve in the very beginning?

You have to know that God continued His supernatural process of getting us His word beyond inspiration. He also guided in preserving His word in English. We have what He intended for us to have.

But you won’t find a Bible college that talks about supernatural preservation except in a few KJV-only church affiliated Bible colleges. And no Bible scholar other than a KJV proponent will claim supernatural preservation of his/her choice version.

Coming from someone who went to Bible college, I will tell you that with the right heart attitude that believes every word in your Bible (the KJV), you do not need to go to Bible college to learn the Bible. In fact, DON’T go to Bible college. Find a good KJV church that is committed to teaching you how to study the Bible and God will give you just what you need.

Jody

The Rising Son

The sun/Son is the light of the world, yes? (Joh 8:12) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. God communicates His Son’s light-bearing quality by likening Him to the actual sun. There’s one thing the sun does that we want to focus on. It rises in the morning.

Inspiration

We are so blessed that every morning, Jesus rises with us ready to demonstrate fresh mercies. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lam 3:22-23)

After a troublesome day, we can awaken with fresh hope, greeting the morning with praise to God.  But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. (Ps. 59:16)

Because Jesus rises in the morning, we begin each day from a position of strength when we grasp on to His mercies. Start each day meditating on His loving kindness, and end the day with praise for His faithfulness in showing those loving kindnesses (Ps. 92:1-2). (For more on grasping His loving kindness, read my book Ditch Depression Devotional.)

Doctrinal

God pictures Jesus as the rising sun throughout the Bible. Jesus rose again in the morning, for starters. But there’s even more richness from the sun’s/Son’s “rising” angle when you trace it through scriptures.

• Prophetically, before Jesus was even born, the Bible says And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isa. 60:3)
• In the Psalms, God paints Jesus as the rising sun on the canvas of His creation. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Ps. 19:4-6)
• There’s the prophesy in Mal. 4:2—also before Christ’s birth—that stumps Bible scholars. Read this: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. It’s not a mistake. Here, the Son is the Sun.

Definition

Perhaps we should have started here. But we will end here. What exactly is that big bright ball in the sky we’ve been talking about? It’s a star! In star terms, Jesus is called the morning star and the day star.

Let’s leap to the end of the Bible. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star (Rev. 22:16b). When you read through the Bible, you see Jesus in many lights.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts (2 Pet 1:19)

Now look at this. Please pay attention.

How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! (Isa 14:12, New International Version)

It appears that Jesus fell from heaven in this version. But now read the King James Version of the same verse.  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (Isa 14:12)

The NIV is pretty blasphemous here, replacing the fallen “Lucifer” (the devil) with the “morning star” whom we have learned is Jesus. Satan did say in Isa. 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. He got his wish in a backward way in the NIV Bible—taking Jesus down with him. (By the way, other newer translations say what the NIV says).

Some choose to read the NIV and the like because they think these are more readable. I’m thinking accuracy is the more important benchmark. Read here for more on why we choose the KJV.

Jesus is the light of the world, the morning star and the day star. He rose, and He is coming again. Learn more about Him from studying His word, taking a faith-based approach. If you’re reading the wrong Bible, you can’t believe everything you read.

Tell me what you think.

Jody

Help! The World is on Fire!

I used to look at what’s going on in our country and think that surely Jesus is about to return. How could He stand what’s going on one more minute?

And then came 2020. That’s when the whole planet went rogue. Usually, I’m oblivious to what’s going on in other countries, but the news I read these days reveals the roiling of the whole globe in a cauldron of wickedness.

Some say that it’s the believer’s duty to fight all this off with everything in us. In certain cases, yes. What’s going on in the public schools, for example, is something parents just can’t turn a blind eye to. Protect your kids. But there are other things going on we can’t do much about… the rise of wicked leaders in so many countries; wars; the push to reduce the global population; open borders allowing in criminals, terrorists, drugs and child trafficking; defunding of police departments… and on and on.

How are we to view this and not just become militant? Don’t forget God. He has a plan and a purpose.

Let me start with this: The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Prov 16:4)

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Pet. 2:9)

There was a dress rehearsal for how this is all going to end up in Ex. 9:13-16 when God gave Moses a message to deliver to that wicked slave master Pharoah. God said that He was going to bring plagues on Pharoah and his people. God already knew Pharoah wouldn’t repent, and things would continue to get worse. Why? For this cause have I raised thee (Pharoah) up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. (Ex 9:16).

That right there was and is God’s design. Never forget that God created each and every one of us, including all these evil beasts.

In the context of His sovereign plan for the ages, He calls us all vessels. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (Rom 9:21-22)

Isn’t this what God did with Pharoah? He endured with longsuffering all of Pharoah’s rejection and the worsening of circumstances for his subjects.

Let’s carry this “vessel” theme a little further. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. (2 Tim 2:20) Pharoah was a vessel to dishonor. So was Judas. So are the faceless puppet masters who are really running this global horror show, human and spiritual.

Today God is enduring with longsuffering these people and their wicked schemes. He knows their end. Just like Pharoah. He made them and they are being vessels that will accomplish God’s grand plan, which involves His glory. Wickedness looks exceedingly wicked to us right now. That is to show the coming brightness of God’s pure glory in contrast, and the justness of God’s wrath when He metes it on their head. They are going to fall into the pit that they have dug for others.

Let’s go to our earlier verses and draw some comfort:

The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Prov 16:4)

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Pet. 2:9)

We don’t have to fight these people. It’s not our job. Let God do it in His perfect time and way. Meanwhile, here is our hope…That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. (Eph. 1:10)

Jody

Absalom’s Rejection Makes Perfect Sense

In exactly one day, upon hearing one sentence, David went from reigning king to fugitive. That one sentence was a punch in the gut. And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. (2 Sam 15:13)

David knew what that meant. How? Remember after his sin with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan delivered God’s message of punishment to David, which David did not forget these years later: Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house. (2 Sam 12:10-11a)

Here it came. His son Absalom was on the march with his sword to overthrow him. Absalom had deceived the people and stolen their hearts. David immediately ran away with 600 of his men.

The Bible is a hologram. Pictures of Christ weave in and out. If you have eyes to see and ears to hear, you will get that. The Bible is about God and where He’s been and where He’s going. It’s about His kingdom. He made the Bible a picture book. A pattern. What happened in Bible history repeats itself. It points to either Christ’s first coming, second coming, Jews in the tribulation or all three. 

Back to our story. David, a type of Christ, is rejected by his own in 2 Sam 15. Absalom wants to replace him—by killing him if necessary. It was foretold by Nathan the prophet.

With this hint of Christ in the front of your mind now, you can’t read this next verse taken from David’s flight from Absalom without having a lightbulb moment.

And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, (same as Mount of Olives) and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. (2 Sam 15:30)

Compare this with Jesus.

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him…And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:39, 44)

Hopefully you see it. And having seen the similarity… the hologram… the picture… let’s go back to the prophet Nathan’s prophesy to David that we looked at earlier:

Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; … Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house. (2 Sam 12:10a-11a)

The sword never departed from David’s house. Jesus was the ultimate seed that came from David’s household, and in the Luke passage, Judas was on the march to meet Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, located at the foot of the Mount of Olives to betray Him.

This seems a grievous experience. But look. God was in control! Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house. This rejection in David’s life was from the hand of God for a purpose that mirrored the rejection in Christ’s life from the hand of God for a purpose. What was that, you ask? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

By the way, the sword still never departs from David’s house. There’s still the tribulation to come where the sword comes against the Jews. This prophesy from the mouth of Nathan doesn’t end until Christ returns. The whole plan of God is still playing out!

Jody