Does The Bible Say To Use The KJV?

Does The Bible Say To Use The KJV? —

Does the Bible say to use the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible?

What a silly question! Of course the Bible does not say, “If you want to read the Bible in English, use the KJV,” does it? No, this is not a quote from the Bible. If the answer is so obvious, then why even mention such an outlandish question? You could think about it this way. There are biblical principles for making such decisions. There are biblical reasons for coming to such a conclusion. Choosing a Bible version is not just a matter of preference. Maybe you have never heard that there are really good biblical reasons for using the KJV. Well, then you have come to the right place!

Job 36:2-3
2 Suffer me a little, and I will show thee that [I have] yet to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

Many books have been written about this, so a short article could never do the subject justice. Please consider this as just an introduction. Thanks!

The KJV is read more than all other English language versions combined. It became far more popular than all English translations that came before it, virtually replacing them, and none have been able to take its place since. Some other versions do not seem to be such losers when yearly sales volume is compared, but the KJV does not have a close second when it comes to readership. In other words, When His Voice Is Heard for an hour in English, it is heard more often from the KJV than all other English versions combined. Even if it was not the most popular, we would be using the KJV due to its significant superiority. There are very good reasons to use the KJV, more than the ones mentioned in this article. There are some people who are not gracious in this regard, and hold disdain towards those who use other versions. Even though we highly recommend the KJV, we would rather not fight about it.

For centuries they tested it with the hammer and anvil, and they wielded a mighty hammer.

For centuries they tested it in the crucible with fire so hot that it destroyed the crucible itself.

For centuries they tested it with acid so strong that it rivalled any acid that chemistry could offer.

The King James Version of the Holy Bible not only survived all of these tests, but is now even more valuable as a result. The tests only served to increase our confidence in its trustworthiness. The increased value is not because the the text was changed at all, because it has not changed. Anyone who tells you that it has changed is not relating the full story. When you know the truth, you will be satisfied that the content of the KJV has not been revised since it was first published in 1611. There are good reasons for that.

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

These men, over the centuries since the KJV was first published, were called of God and this calling drove them for years and years to dig and dig and test and test and study and study with consuming fervor, scholarly intellect, proven evidence, and logic of mathematical precision. Included in this pursuit were the erudite students of the highest caliber of knowledge and understanding regarding the ancient Greek language used to record the New Testament, as well as the Classic English language of the KJV. They thoroughly established the trustworthiness of both the Textus Receptus source manuscripts and the translation of those into the KJV New Testament. The same was accomplished with the Old Testament by experts of ancient Hebrew. These men were not only the highest order of language scholars, but they were also unsurpassed as Bible scholars.

Over the centuries, this process has been repeated many times. If they are thorough enough, they keep finding the complete integrity of the manuscripts and complete accuracy of the translation. That is why the KJV eclipsed all of the English translations that came before it. Since then, anyone who would ever rise to such a task, found that it had already been done better than they could do themselves.

Why did they go to such intense effort and invest so much precious time? Because they understood the same biblical principles and reasons that lead us to use the KJV. Because they were standing on these biblical doctrines, they knew their ventures would be rewarding.

• God places His Word above His Name.
• God’s Word is more sure than eye-witness experience.
• God’s Word is our highest Authority and our final Authority.
• God wants us to know The Truth.
• If you sincerely seek The Truth, you will find it.
• In this age, the only sure Truth is in God’s Word.
• As God used men inspired of God to write the Scriptures, He also used men called of God to preserve the Scriptures.
• Jesus Christ is God’s Word.

So, how do all of these biblical principles relate to the question of what English Bible version to use?

Psalm 130:5 In His Word do I hope.

There are two “camps” of manuscripts used as source material for the Holy Scriptures. One was a collection by those who believed in the preservation of God’s Word. The other one was a collection by those who believe God’s Word was either lost, or was never provided in the first place. The “preservation camp” manuscripts all agree with each other and represent, by far, the vast majority of all biblical source manuscripts. The “lost camp” manuscripts not only disagree with the majority texts in many ways, but also disagree with one another. For every truth there are an unlimited number of errors.

The Shakespearean play “The Tempest” was contemporary with the publishing of the KJV in 1611. If you think reading Shakespeare is not difficult, then you must be reading a translation. The reason it is so much easier to read the KJV than to read Shakespeare is because the KJV has had a profound effect of preserving a standard for the English language. The KJV has been the cornerstone of the English language for the last four centuries.

So, the reason there has been no need to replace the KJV is three-fold:
1. It is based on the manuscripts God preserved for us.
2. The translation is without error.
3. The English language has been strongly influenced by the very significant use of the KJV.

The only ones translating Bibles for the recent century have been those who use the manuscripts from the “lost camp.” They do not have a basis for authoritative results, so they keep coming up with new versions. This has been financially profitable for them.

By reading the KJV, you can have complete assurance that you are reading a faithful translation that God Himself has delivered to you. Even though the KJV is not a second work of inspiration,  it is a work of Providence.

Psalm 56:4 In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust;

Job 37:2-5
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound [that] goeth out of his mouth.
3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them When His Voice Is Heard.
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

Want to hear more?

Bonus: We have provided free online software that you can use to read and search the 1769 Pure Cambridge Edition of the 1611 King James Bible translation, without any cookies or ads.