What bible do we use?

One of the most often asked questions of our Church is, “What Bible do you use?”  We answer unapologetically, “the King James Version.”  More and more individual Christians and unfortunately Bible-believing churches are forsaking the King James Version in favor of the more modern translations.  In fact, there exists a huge controversy among Bible-believing, Independent, Baptist Fundamentalists as to whether or not the King James Version of the Bible is the Bible to be used in worship and personal study.  A desire exists to forsake the King James Version (KJV) for the more “modern” translations such as the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the New International Version (NIV), or even the New King James Version (NKJV).  The argument is put forward that the more modern translations are easier to read because the translations update the language and leave out all those “thee’s” and “thou’s.”  Another argument tries to say that the new translations are more accurate than the KJV.

We wholeheartedly disagree with these and any arguments that claim that these translations are more accurate than the KJV.  As a church, we reject these arguments and these translations, and can confidently say that we use the King James Version of the Bible exclusively in all services, ministries, or activities associated with our ministry, and believe that it is the inerrant, inspired, infallible word of God.

Why do we use the King James Version?

Here are some reasons we stick with the King James Version as articulated by James L. Melton at http://www.biblebaptistpublications.org/kingjamesbibledebate.html.

1. God promised to preserve His words (Psa. 12:6-7; Mat. 24:35).  There has to be a preserved copy of God’s pure words somewhere.  If it isn’t the KJV, then what is it?
2. It has no copyright.  The textof the KJV may be reproduced by anyone for there is no copyright forbidding its duplication.  This is not true with the modern perversions.
3. The KJV produces good fruit (Mat. 7:17-20). No modern translation can compare to the KJV when it comes to producing good fruit.  For nearly four hundred years, God has used the preaching and teaching of the KJV to bring hundreds of millions to Christ.  Laodicean Christians might favor the new versions, but the Holy Spirit doesn’t.
4. The KJV was translated during the Philadelphia church period (Rev. 3:7-13).  The modern perversions began to appear rather late on the scene as the lukewarm Laodicean period got underway (Rev. 3:14-22), but the KJV was produced way back in 1611, just in time for the many great revivals (1700-1880).  The Philadelphia church was the church that “kept” God’s word (Rev. 3:8).
5. The KJV translators were honest in their work.  When the translators had to add certain words, largely due to idiom changes, they placed the added words in italics so we’d know the difference, unlike many new perversions.
6. All new translations compare themselves to the KJV.  Isn’t it strange that the new perversions never compare themselves to one another?  For some strange reason (Mat. 12:26) they all line up against one Book–the A.V. 1611.
7. The KJV translators believed they were handling the very words of God (I Thes. 2:13).  Just read the King James Dedicatory and compare it to the prefaces in the modern versions.  Immediately, you will see a world of difference in the approach and attitude of the translators.
8. The KJV is supported by far more evidence.  Of over 5,300 pieces of manuscript evidence, ninety-five percent supports the King James Bible.  The changes in the new perversions are based on the remaining five percent of manuscripts, most of which are from Alexandria, Egypt.
9. No one has ever proven that the KJV is not God’s word.  The 1611 should be considered innocent until proven guilty with a significant amount of genuine evidence.
10. The KJV exalts the Lord Jesus Christ.  The true scriptures should testify of Jesus Christ (John 5:39).  There is no book on this planet which exalts Christ higher than the King James Bible.  In numerous places the new perversions attack the Deity of Christ, the Blood Atonement, the Resurrection, salvation by grace through faith, and the Second Coming.  The true scriptures will testify of Jesus Christ, not attack Him!