Reasons To Use the King James Bible over Other Translations
Scholars have been trying to perfect the English translation of the Bible for centuries, but is it possible that the art of its translation peaked once King James I of England revealed his project of epic proportions—the King James Bible? Many others have attempted to put the Bible into their own words by paraphrasing or making additions or subtractions, but the original King James Version offers the most exemplary literal English translation using the highest-quality Greek, Latin, and Hebrew scriptures. No one has yet matched King James’s efforts to create the most faithful, accurate Bible meaning. There are plenty of reasons to use the King James Bible over other translations, especially in today’s world filled with unfaithful, paraphrasing translations.
Dedication to the Original Texts
The most popular English translation of the Bible during King James I’s time, the Geneva Bible, was filled with political bias from religious reformers exiled by Queen Mary I. For this reason, he intended to create a translation that would offer the entire Bible without scalding commentary or innuendos about the throne. King James’s translation was meant to be a Bible that any English-speaking individual could read at home or in church—and it succeeded magnificently. Over half of Bible-toting Americans read from the King James Bible.
Many Bible translations go thought for thought or modernize the English language for the convenience of the readers. However, the King James Bible’s flowery language uses the most accurate word choice for the time period in which it was written, allowing for a more accurate telling. King James hired several teams of scholars to consult multiple languages and manuscripts, so the word choice reflects the exact meaning of the original texts. Even one word out of place can completely change the meaning of a passage, such as the Revised Standard Version’s translation of Isaiah 7:14, which uses “young woman” in place of the King James Version’s “virgin.” Any words the translators added for sentence structure or clarity are printed in italics for transparency.
The King James Bible Has Stayed the Same Since 1611
The King James Version’s audience includes people who want a version of the Bible that has not strayed far from its original rendition. Changes to the King James Bible during the past 400 years have included merely fixing printing errors and editing the spelling of certain words. There have not been any significant changes to the context of the King James Bible in its original form. Other Bible translations may offer updated editions with significant changes, but the King James Bible will remain the same—and remain your go-to choice for an English Bible translation.
Accurate Sources and Research
King James I of England requested the assistance of more than 40 Bible scholars and translators when he began his Authorized Bible project. He split the theologians into six separate committees that focused on significant portions of the Bible. The King James Bible is famous for using the Textus Receptus, which is the Greek New Testament published in Latin by the Dutch scholar Erasmus, as a base. Many modern translations use The New Testament in the Original Greek, which was created in 1881 by Westcott and Hort—two scholars who treated the Bible as any other book and prioritized older, heavily edited manuscripts over accurate manuscripts.
New commentary from rising scholars or old theologians provides lovers of the King James Bible with new content to study alternate perspectives. Every time you read the Authorized Text, you may find something different on which to take notes.
No Paraphrasing
The most egregious error a Bible translator can make is paraphrase. Paraphrasing while taking notes or giving sermons (after reading the text aloud) is common; however, paraphrasing and passing it off as the Word of God is essentially the same as twisting His words to be your own. Some modern Bible iterations, such as The Living Bible, are infamous for their paraphrasing. This paraphrasing resulted in an even longer, wordier Bible than the King James Bible. A paraphrased Bible may be easier to understand, but you won’t get the same effects as you would with a King James Bible.
Other Translations Come Out Just for Your Money
If a Bible translation is imperfect, then why must it be published? When the King James Bible was originally created, there was no standard Bible that anyone could access. Today, there are too many Bible translations to count. Some new Bible translations are published with new materials that were once thought to be long lost, but many trendy Bible translations are published due to greed. Even Bible translations that offer newly found material may have used unscholarly manuscripts that were never meant for the public eye or that theologians have not yet extensively researched to determine their original purpose. Publishers and authors often want to take advantage of the confusing market to offer honest Christians lackluster translations of the Bible. However, the King James Bible remains the same, allowing loyal devotees to use it for their studies and church services without severe variations.
Literal Translation Means Universal Understanding
There’s no such thing as a King James Bible in other languages besides English, but due to its literal translation that stays true to the original Greek, Latin, and Hebrew texts, other languages’ literal translations have no problems following along. Many bilingual Bibles use the King James Version of the Bible as their English counterparts. The other language in a bilingual Bible will be a King James Bible equivalent, such as the recent Reina-Valera-Gomez (RVG) Spanish Bible from 2010. Preceded by the Reina-Valera (RVR) Spanish Bible from 1960, the RVG 2010 is currently the closest equivalent to a Spanish KJV Bible.
The King James Bible is your preferred resource for studying, praying, and preparing sermons for many reasons. Why you have chosen the King James Bible over other English Bibles will differ from anyone else’s reasons to use the King James Bible over other translations. Maybe it has just been the home Bible for generations, or maybe you love the poetic flow of its old English phrasing—you don’t have to justify your reasons in order for them to be valid. For further research into why the King James Bible is the best translation of the Bible, we recommend our selection of reference books into the exact topic: Why KJV?
