Bible Question: I have been caught in the different versions debate. It seems the internet articles are more in favor of the KJV. I am compelled to use the NASB. How do I answer the KJV only arguements? |
Bible Answer: Hello Pastor Gerry! Have you ever read the Original Preface to the 1611 King James Bible? I posted it here at the Forum a long time ago (my 1,611th post) and you can find it by doing a "Search" for it at the right-hand side. In it you will find that the 1611 translators endeavored only to make a good translation in the tongue of the "common man", and they have done an excellent job and exceeded all expectations! However, the KJV was ridiculed by the church, because the church believed that the Latin Vulgate was the inspired Word of God! This is the very same argument that is being used today in the defense of the KJV. It only took the KJV 40 years to displace all other versions of the Bible in becoming the most used Bible Version. Today, the New International Version has displaced even the beloved King James as the most popular and best selling Bible version within 20 years of its existence! The NASB has never been considered the most popular, but the Lockman Foundation's goal was not popularity, but precision, and they gain satisfaction by knowing that they have the most accurate (word for word precision) of any popular Bible version on the market today. And the NASB is a triumph over the KJV since it incorporates those "advances" made in the KJV with the most recent advances in Biblical scholarship to date to give us a more complete and understandable rendering of Scripture in our modern tongue. Don't get me wrong, I have much respect and admiration for the King James Version of the Bible, but we have had 400 years to see the English language change and to discover new evidence (or manuscripts) that would further clarify the meaning that the original authors were trying to convey. In no regards did the authors of the KJV think that their work would be the "end" of all Bible translation! I have chosen a modern version, the New American Standard Bible, as my primary Bible for usage and study. However, I frequently use the NIV (my 2nd favorite) as a good dynamic equivalence translation to counter-balance some of the idiosyncrasies in the NASB. You will not "lose" any part of the Bible's message at all by switching from a KJV to a NASB or NIV. In fact, I believe that you can only ADVANCE your study of the Bible by making one of these more modern versions your Bible version of choice. And this study of translation and work of rendering the Scriptures into today's tongue will continue as long as the English language continues to change. Blessings to you, and I hope that I have put your mind at rest when you consider using an NIV or NASB in place of the KJV. Praise the Lord that we have this "CHOICE" of which version of the Bible to use! :) Two excellent books that I would recommend to you are: 1) "The King James Only Controversy" by James R. White 2) "The King James Version Debate" by D.A. Carson I own both of these books and you can also purchase them through www.christianbook.com. Blessings to you, Nolan |
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Pastor Gerry |