I am grateful for the impact the KJV has had on my life, being used by God to draw me to Himself, and then help prepare me for local church ministry. But I remember the day a friend told me about a new translation called the NIV. I later received a copy and my understanding and love for God's clear words were born in me. I have enjoyed your series and have learned so much. Thank you for your intellectual integrity, obvious sincerity, hard work, and appropriate humor in presenting this important subject. And I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that I have seen Christ in your responses to those who would not receive your teaching. Thank you very much, Mark!
Praise God. Thank you for these exceptionally kind words. And I resonate with your opening lines: I am grateful for the KJV, and grateful for the contemporary translations I have subsequently turned to.
I read the" living bible" starting with the " living New Testament" then bought a leather bound whole Bible. It is a paraphrase. God spoke to my heart every time I read it! I use most all the main translations today. God still speaks to me through His word. Even the King James though having a 9 th grade education,I went to work full time at 15 years old.
Honestly, this series has been an incredible gift. I can’t imagine the amount of time you spend on these endeavors, but I truly, TRULY appreciate it. I look forward to sharing your new book with many of my loved ones!
I also really appreciate your work. I've always been KJV only, although not judgy about it, but I've started on the ESV and it's really nice to have the Bible written in clear, normal speech. I'm pretty used to decoding KJV language, but it's nice not to have to do that, and I can just focus on what it's trying to say.
*Pro tip:* go into settings and speed up the video to 1.25 or faster. I so appreciate your "False Friends" series. I'm only one fifth of the way through and I've already learned so much. Despite growing up with the KJV, I was completely bamboozled by words I *didn't know I didn't know.* Also, I love your thoughtful respectful treatment of this topic, plus your metaphors and humor.
Many thanks for reaching out! (And I like listening to audio at double speed myself!) I would absolutely LOVE to discover-and I am so serious here-that KJV-Onlyism has radically changed since I was in it in high school, and now all the KJV-Only pastors are way ahead of me, teaching their people to recognize dead words and false friends. I have no evidence that this is the case. So I think and hope that the work I’m doing here needs to be done.
@@markwardonwords you're welcome. I'm not in a true KJV-only environment (although years ago my church was that way.) Bible translation preference is shifting from legalism to a matter of conviction like Romans 14. Preachers will occasionally read other versions from the pulpit, or read the KJV and then re-read a key verse in another version. I've been reading an ESV for several years now. Since this is such a hot-button issue for some, it is easier to not bring up the topic. I'm enjoying learning the different false friends and by extension deeper, more accurate meanings of verses. Have you run into the tradition that argues "thee's" and "thou's" are more respectful to God in prayer? I've heard an alternate explanation is that "thee's" and "thou's" are singular "you" in old English. I'm in my twenties so I've never impersonated a Puritan in my prayer language.
Thomas Nelson kjv reference center column does have definitions for archaic words. They have a symbol in the text that tells people they need to look at the definitions.
So glad you're continuing past the initial 50. In this one you mentioned other translations made in other European languages at the time of the KJV 1611, which made different translation choices. To me this is the most interesting thing about the textual absolutist view regarding the KJV. Proponents (here in South Africa) apply the concept of KJV-only to an old Afrikaans translation made in 1933 and revised in 1953 (based in part on the older Dutch version). There seems to be a blind-equation of the KJV with this one, with people thinking they are the same. However, a careful reading of this 1953-revision shows that it has in fact made different translation choices differing with the KJV, yet proponents of this 1953-only view don't seem to realise this. Love these videos! Thanks from a sunny South Africa!🌍
This is my new favorite video in the series, Mark. Your heart and your motive is fully on display, and your closing statement was very moving. I know there can be a lot of anger and vitriol from people when they are challenged, and I imagine you have received more of that than you will ever reveal. I want you to know you have helped me immensely, and I'm forever grateful for your hard work and your contributions to this study. Sincerely, thank you.
I went through this series in two days. Such good info. I'm with you about KJV onlyism, but as I've had KJVO family members I'm grateful for these tools to help such people understand what they're reading, even if they won't accept other versions. The Lord bless thee. :)
This is wonderful, Mark! Please continue to do content. I would watch your videos on a large variety of Bible topics because you present yourself so well and so charitably! Would be interested in you exegeting some commonly misunderstood passages of the Bible, even in modern versions! Or a series on common verses taken out of context.
Your work has been an awesome resource. I imagine when the discussion of KJV onlyism comes up, it will not be possible to talk about it without mentioning your contribution!
I am praying that my work will change the conversation over the KJV, moving it away from textual criticism (where very few people can have truly intelligent discussions) and to English readability (something everybody knows at least a little something about!).
I am still patiently waiting for a KJV-only adherent to explain to me what is the problem with English Bibles *BEFORE* the KJV, such as the Geneva Bible. Why did God supposedly wait for no less than a half dozen different English translations to be made before deciding "ah yes, NOW is the time to preserve my Word."
Thank you Mark for your work and your presenting the facts to us. I'm 77 years old and I love the King James, but I realize that you are correct. Obviously our language has changed. I have really enjoyed your 50 false friends videos.
This is very meaningful to me. You don't have to stop reading your beloved KJV, of course! I haven't! You can just read it now with better understanding-and understand why ensuing generations may not share your experience with the KJV.
You know you are doing something helpful and good when people start making videos against you! I appreciate your videos very much. I prefer not to argue with my Christian brothers and sisters, but your info is helpful. I promise to be kind. Maybe I will just direct them to your videos! 😉
Aye. Same thing with ASL (America Sign Language). ASL is my first language. English is my second language. True, there is some ASL have some different sign on one word. 👍 Thank you for doing this to edification one another! 🤟
I’m a student at a KJV Baptist College. I’m always wondering which one you refer to when you you don’t give a name. I’m not KJV-only in the Ruckman sense and I’m not TR only either. I’d call my self mostly Majority Text except for a couple readings. I’m practically a TR and KJV guy in that sense. I plan on learning more Greek than I already know from a different school and further diving into the subject myself. I suspect my conclusion will be that a new translation would be acceptable and possibly necessary if a movement could properly get behind it. I will keep an open mind and continue to consume your content. I don’t think the other versions are spawn of Satan, and I’d rather go to a church which preaches the Critical Text Faithfully than a hobby horse preaching TR church.
I often leave out the names of KJVO Bible colleges because I don't want people to feel defensive, or because I'm hopeful that they're coming along toward a less Ruckmanite position and I don't want the institutional leaders to feel defensive. Also: I don't like attacking Christians, or even appearing to. I regret the existence of this whole argument. =( I want KJVO schools to survive, reform, and thrive. I appreciate this comment. Even if you never agree with my willingness to use critical text Bibles, I hope you can benefit from learning how to understand the KJV better.
I was raised Lutheran and did the Luth Sem in Gettysburg. It did not, however, go in that direction for ministry. Looking for greater freedom (bishops gave me claustrophobia inasmuch as I was more evangelical than the rest) so I went UCC ... before they began their headlong rush to the left. I eventually ended up in the CCCC (Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.) Prior to that however, I spent 5 years at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in a combo Acad Admin and Exec Director of the D.Min. program they hired me to start in '98. My greatest joy there was getting to know Jim Packer personally and even having a private breakfast with him one morning -- because I'd left him stranded at 1am in the Pittsburg airport the night before (there were supposed to be no more flights arriving that night ... woops.) Once my wife finished her MDiv there, we moved on to an independent church in New Hampshire. I'm now retired in OR where we moved to help our son who planted a Naz church here in Salem. Denominationally, I'm a mongrel.
Amen brother. I truly appreciate your charitable and wise handling of this significant and sometimes incendiary topic. Speaking as one not that long out of onlyism myself. God bless!
Thank you for the kind words! I’d love to hear your story. Would you consider sending me an email and telling it to me? byfaithweunderstand.com/contact
Thanks so much for your vids, particularly the 7 part Textual Confidence series. I’ve only recently become acquainted with your channel, and can say I would have watched sooner, but I was let hitherto. 😊
Thank you so very much for your content and your book. Articulate, clear, and kind. Rare voice in social media these days. You have enriched my Bible interactions.
When I was in Liberia a couple years ago I was talking to a friend who is the pastor of a church there. We were discussing many different topics. He would ask me questions about these topics and I would guide him to scripture to find the answers. He just couldn't understand. You see, years ago someone gave him a KJV and that's what he taught out of. Much of it he couldn't understand so he didn't teach on certain topics or he mislead people because he mistranslated what he was reading. I had two other versions with me and I handed him one of them. He read through many passages and was so excited. He said, "I finally understand. It is so clear to me now." These people in Liberia and other third world nations are mostly simple minded people without any kind of education. They need to hear the gospel in its simplicity. This includes most of the world. When I witness and teach others, I use the easiest to read translation I have so that they will understand. I am very thankful for the many translations out there. Thank you for your channel and insight. Much appreciated. God bless
This kind of thing is one of the big reasons I pursue my little "calling" to push back against KJV-Onlyism-not against the KJV, but against KJV-Onlyism. A lot of people really can do fine (maybe not great, but fine) using just the KJV. I think I did. I was a good reader, a spelling bee champion, one of 100 New York State Geography Bee finalists in 1993! =) I did okay with the KJV. But a lot of weaker, struggling people who were not given the same educational opportunities I received sort of pick up from the ether that the KJV is the only trustworthy Bible translation, and they really struggle. I cry out to the Lord about this all the time. Defend the weak!
@@markwardonwords Amen brother. God is not the author of confusion, people and translations are. Christianity is not rocket science, we need not treat it that way.
Nice job in the video. I did have to pause it this morning because of our "Zoom" service. I just now watched the rest to the end. I have at least 30 bible translations. Not that I recommend that many or use that many all of the time, (it's just part of what happens over a 60 year period!) but there are plenty of occasions (like just last night for me) that I will pull most of them out and take turns looking at a specific verse/section to get various perspectives from, in this case, Paul (plus it helps get the point into my head so I don't forget it so soon, or hopefully don't forget it at all). More than one translation is certainly better than only one. I use (and was born and raised on) the KJV too. You can learn a lot by finding out WHY the translation differences are there, and it isn't always (and even rarely) an error.
I’m not KJV-O, but I do treasure the KJV as my favorite translation. I stand with Spurgeon on this. I prefer “our Grandfather’s bible”. But I think it’s useful to know where the language has changed. So I have conflicting feelings on your series, Mark. In the main, I think the beauty and rich history of the KJV, and I would say it’s general accuracy, merits it’s continued use. Blessings.
Absolutely! Continued use. Not exclusive use. And not an elaborate set of doctrines constructed to defend that exclusive use and condemn those who use other versions. =) My work should *help* KJV users to continue to use the KJV, especially if they catch not just my conclusions but my methods.
@@christopheryetzer, I am willing to stand before God and be measured with the measure with which I have measured. I'm especially certain that I'm right about 1 Cor 15:19. =)
This is what I observe: At first, the modern versions were introduced in the seminaries to be used alongside the KJV. Men continued to preach from the KJV from the pulpit, for example, but began to use modern versions for study. In time, a switch occurred--the KJV was preached less from the pulpit, but men continued to use the KJV in their personal reading. I think we all need to consider this: Given what we have observed in history, would we say that American pulpits and congregations are stronger for it? In the same way, believers today are told, "Continue to use your King James, just not exclusively." We are then pointed to an array of modern Bible versions to use. If we notice doctrinal differences between the KJV and modern versions, we may be informed that we aren't capable of making distinctions among them unless we know Greek and Hebrew. Instead of being encouraged to hold fast to the truth, personal preference is touted as a primary factor when choosing a version. An artificial distinction is being put into our minds separating 'devotional' and 'study' use. We are told to be dissatisfied if we have to look up the meaning of some archaic, but true, words, but nothing is said of the doctrinal differences of verses in the modern versions when compared to the KJV. The devil knows that Reformation-era Bibles are not modern versions. Since the seminaries are largely given over to the modern versions, the last group to aim for would be the believer sitting in the pew. A patient, subtle approach would be needed to separate people from the time-tested English Bible. I hope that we can recognize it.
Shirley, all I can do is urge you in the strongest terms not to go down this conspiracy theory path. I'm not trying to insult you when I point out that you don't know Hebrew or Greek. But I will double down: you cannot make a reliable judgment of the quality of a serious, evangelical translation if you cannot read the languages from which it is translated. This shouldn't be controversial. Countless men and women who can read these languages have vouched for the quality of the ESV, for example. I do. Why is it, my friend, that I have never heard once from a KJV-Only brother or sister, "I acknowledge that I cannot read Hebrew and Greek, and that I am relying on other authorities who say they can"? Why is it that they all, to a man or woman, insist to me that they don't need to know Hebrew or Greek to make the right decision about Bible translations? I've been skimming through KJV-Only leader Doug Stauffer's book "One Book One Authority," and though he's a clear writer, at point after point I'm just shaking my head. He gives no evidence that he understands Hebrew or Greek; he judges translation differences solely based on (his read of) the English. And yet, if you don't know Hebrew or Greek either, I think it would be hard to spot his numerous clear errors. I am jealous for the unity of the church, and these errors have brought division and harm.
@@markwardonwords I am so grateful to have "found" the KJV after so many years in the modern versions; you can imagine my grief and surprise that I (and others) would be encouraged to go to them.
I also did not know that the word "meat" at the Jerusalem council referred to food in general. I fact checked your statement and indeed, it is so. That fairly dramatically spins that passage differently for me. Thank you for the hours of time spent on this.
And the funny thing is that impressions I formed early in life stick with me; I’ve read Acts 15 outside the KJV more often than I’ve read the passage in the KJV-and I still kept the picture formed by the KJV.
The KJV clearly does not teach that "meat" only refers to animal flesh. Gen 1:29--And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. It is clearly up to the individual reader to do due diligence in exegeting the text for the proper hermeneutical context.
Howdy, I listened to your audio book on Amazon and thoroughly enjoyed it (your book was the first that I haven’t physically read on pages). I really liked the way you incorporated the English accent in various parts-good job! I’ll be ordering the hard copy soon.
How do KJV-onlyists accept the modernised spellings in the majority of currently printed KJVs? If the words of the 1611 were perfect, surely their spellings were inspired too? And if the old spellings can be replaced with current spelling, why not replace the outdated words with modern equivalent ones?
Appreciate your work. Wish I had paid more attention to this kind of material 20 years ago. Grew up with and still use the KJV primarily. We had pretty good teachers that pointed out most of the false friends as we went through the Bible, but confusion still happens. Comes down to trust. Understanding how the Bible came to us has made me realize every translation has different strengths. Once you realize that almost all translations are "inspired" and can be used without fear for the glory of God.
I’m VERY grateful for your work to move modern translation acceptance forward. If I become ble$$ed, I hope you will accept my gift to finance the survey.
As of this very moment, I am considering raising funds for a bigger survey than I can do with volunteers. Your support would be much appreciated. But I'm not asking for it yet! I'm praying and weighing my options.
As a reader of God's Word, I will say that any translation that expresses theology accurately if fine for me. I have 10 different Bibles an d when I pick up one to read I hopefully understand it. If confused, I just check several other Bibles to get clarification on the meaning of the passage. I think it is a straight forward approach to understanding biblical truth.
@@markwardonwordsI must list these translations..... KJV, RV, ASV, RSV, 1978 NIV, NKJV, NASB, HCSB, ESV, ME...... Goto is RSV. ESV for church. Really like ASV.
Do you think the word "saint" has become a false friend? I grew up with the correct understanding that all Christians are saints in the biblical sense. However, most people today tend to separate "saints" from mere Christians. This would be an interesting false friend, as it shows up even in some new translations, though I think the NIV actually opts to translate the Greek "hagiois" as "God's holy people" instead of saints.
@@markwardonwords That was my initial thought too, but the more I thought about it, I began to think that maybe the influence of the Catholic Church has over time perhaps stripped the English word "saint" of its old meaning in the minds of the "plough boys", especially after listening to the kid in this video read from the KJV. (My wandering mind...)
I think you have a point. Like you I was brought up in church being taught what saint meant in a biblical context, but in the UK most people aren't part of a church let alone go to Protestant church meetings so who would teach them the meaning and why would they think they needed to look it up? We only hear about saints on TV when the Catholic church has beatified or canonised some dead person. Biblical knowledge and understanding is rapidly falling out of our culture.
Just found your channel. Thank you for the great content that I have seen so far. By the way, I have prayed about the bible version issue a lot and last year, the Holy Spirit led me to 1 Corinthians 14 as well. He also showed me that if the original letters were written in the common Greek of the day why can't we read them in our common modern language. Thank you again!!
I've looked at some of your content and I want to watch everything! I really look forward to learning more about translations. Thank you for your work!
Nice wrap up on the 50 false friends topic . Sorry you had to put up with those vile folks that you mentioned. I have one of those types that I have come across. I won’t say his name he called himself a pastor a mr S. A. Here in the Phoenix area. It’s so ironic that they believe in one translation only when even the original writers of the NT used the Septuagint and some of the Hebrew to quote the OT . Great job Mark looking forward your new content. . I will keep you in my prayers on your new direction for your channel. Blessings
@@markwardonwords you single handedly gave me the power and inspiration to stand up for the Bible in all its translations. I fell in love with the ESV and having pastors tell me it was corrupt seemed wrong to me. Never forget the impact you’ve had on my life as well as so many other Christian’s. Philippians 4:13 [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Thank you for this enlightening video. I come from a KJV only background. The KJV is still the only translation I personally read, but I am needing to understand how to work together with other believers who are using the NKJV and the ESV in ministry. In order to not violate my conscience, I need to understand the differences in the versions and get some questions answered. You have answered many of my concerns (for which I am grateful). I will be checking out some of your other videos. Thank you for sharing and for taking some undeserved heat from those who are wrongfully questioning your motives.
PRAISE GOD! I’m so thankful I found this channel. After being saved I got into a kjv only church. I’m enjoying your teaching. It’s wonderful to hear your perspective. I’ve been fearful for 20 years to use a different version. Your teachings are clearing things up for me. I appreciate you!
Take your time, my friend. There are many other responsible voices to listen to as well. I work to be accessible, though, in a way not all responsible voices feel called to do! I pray that my work can indeed benefit you in a lasting and healthy way.
"The bible is clear on matters of salvation but on countless minor points God has chosen not to give us the level of certainty we might want." So in a similar way, words like "meat" for food or "ass" for donkey isn't going to effect our salvation. Many of these words I understand through context or I can look them up. But yes, I agree that this is a challenge, if you don't know that a word or phrase has a different meaning. And it's good to know it's true meaning. But as a whole, with the KJV I understand enough to grasp the essentials. Even with modern bibles, there's disagreements over the meaning of verses, even though we clearly understand the words. Also, with many modern versions, there are words and verses missing that are in the KJV. I'm not an onlyist, but I find the KJV uplighting, and it touches my heart in ways that no other bible does. At the same time, I do appreciate modern versions of the bible, too.
I'm one of your Catholic viewers and really enjoy your videos and point of view. I know Catholicism isn't your focus, but I do see one weakness in your discussion of the Catholic Church's use of Latin. The Catholic Church is universal, with people speaking hundreds of languages. What language should one (the Pope, for example) speak to the universal church? Although I usually attend a Novus Ordo (English) mass, the Tridentine form is appealing (on occasion) because I feel connected to the worldwide Church and the Church throughout time. Also, I have a missal and translations are provided, so I don't feel like I don't understand what is being said when I do attend Tridentine mass. This comes in handy if traveling in a foreign speaking country. I can attend the Tridentine mass and know exactly what is going on (aside from the homily). Speaking to the universality and connectedness of the Catholic Church is very different from talking about daily/weekly mass/services a local parish/church. I know, not your focus, but I don't think you can completely write off "dead" languages - just something to think about.
I've been thinking about this. I appreciate your gracious response; it comes from a new enough angle that I think I'd like more time to think about it!
Great video, Mark. Thank you for your humble spirit. Looking forward to getting your 50 false friends book when it comes out. Have a blessed week, brother.
Excellent presentation! After talking to many KJO observants I have come to the conclusion that the majority of their arguments boiled down to one thing, pride. I've had a person explaining to me their principles but when I asked him why he did not use the 1611 Authorized version he didn't catch the implication. I pointed out that if accuracy were the real issue then they would switch to the NASB because, as one scholar and translator said, "the NASB is the horse you ride to learn Greek." He told me he wouldn't because "it's a Catholic Bible," whatever that is supposed to mean. I have also had to swallow my pride and am transitioning from the NASB (my absolute all time favorite) to the CSB because the majority of people I now know barely have an 8th grade reading level. That's not a dig, just a statement of fact. If they cannot understand the language used in the NASB there is no possible way they will understand the KJV. At least give them a version that when they do read the Bible they can understand the language.
It is difficult to reach people who believe in a conspiracy theory, and that’s what KJV-Onlyism is. It says that all the scholars who SAY they’re trying to help you are actually dupes or devils trying to undermine true Christianity. But I share precious common ground with my KJV-Only brothers: we all want to understand God’s Word. And I believe that I can build on that common ground.
Mark and viewers, is there a really good KJV Bible that includes notes that clarify most or all of the most confusing or easy to misunderstand words? Alongside, not in the footer - and not including cross references or manuscript notes? If you could include the best 2 or 3 choices, it would be a great help to me. I’d like a KJV that I can take to my KJV-P church, and also find such words easily by glancing to the side to check Thank you very much. Paul Knoxville Tenn.
I'd send you to the KJV edition I use in my videos. www.amazon.com/dp/0785295143?tag=3755-20 It's from Thomas Nelson. It's the KJV Personal Size Large Print Reference Bible in their Premier Collection. You don't have to get goatskin; they're not all expensive. I think it catches more archaic words than any other KJV edition I've seen.
Thank you Dr.Pastor Mark for this video which is really informative and helpful to me in my research on the King James Bible particularly to those who don't access to many reading materials which shared to viewers and listeners of this video.May I ask for your comment on choosing between the Westminster Reference Bible published by Trinitarian Bible Society and New Scofield Reference Bible 1967?You maybe surprised why addressed you as Dr.its because I read an article you wrote "Which Textus Receptus?:A Critique of Confessional Bibliology which I am now reading and paused to watch this video.
Yes, I’m a Dr. But, as I tell my kids, not the useful kind. =) I’m not intimately familiar with the New Scofield. I do like the TBS Westminster Reference Bible. They did well with those glosses. I don’t favor the two-column, every-verse-a-paragraph format, however. It depends on what you need a given KJV edition to do for you. For daily reading, I would push you pretty adamantly away from that format and into a single-column, paragraphed format.
Thanks for your response Dr./Pastor Mark.The reason I ask you about the NSRB(New Scofield1967) is because of the article by Pastor Sam Gipp about the NSRB saying its not KJV version and the updating was made years after C I Scofield passed away and with his permission and that those involved are deceiving the public into believing it's a reliable reference Bible.I would like to say I'm using in my daily Bible reading the Geneva Bible with my KJV,NASB 1995 and ESV beside me.Sometimes i can't help but think here is a version/translation that is older than KJV which maybe consider that time by Geneva Bible only if there was such a group that there is no need for a revision or updating of the GB because its a perfect translation.Before I forget one archaic word which I read yesterday is consumption in Leviticus 26:16 and Deuteronomy 28:22 in the KJV,NKJ,NASB while the ESV and NIV 1984 read wasting disease,I'm surprise to find out in the TBS list of archaic words which have changed meaning there is no definition for consumption.
So glad I run across this series. All the work you've done. The main objection I hear about translations is that the word or doctrine is being changed to possibly devilish beliefs.
Right. And I believe that is most certainly not true. But even if it is, the NKJV and MEV are readily available and are based on the same Hebrew and Greek texts as the KJV!
King James onlyism is a greater symptom of the problematic nature of fundamentalism and it's terribly implemented philosophy of fallacy-driven argumentation.
"Why I use the King James Bible" Modern bible translations "try" to improve "readability", but they almost always alter sound biblical doctrine. These changes can distort the true meaning and intent of God's Word, leading to misinterpretations, confusion, and a departure from core principles. Consider Matthew 7:14 for one, the KJV version says "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life." Compare that to the ESV and NKJV, and many others, which say "narrow" and "hard" or "difficult, is the way? Salvation is Simple. This suttle shift suggest that salvation is inherently difficult, complicating the simple Gospel message of salvation by Grace through Faith in Christ alone. Considering the doctrinal changes present in the modern versions, I encourage you to research for yourself. It's not a secret, So let us hold fast the word of God as faithfully preserved in the King James Version. Cherish the simplicity and the purity of the Gospel message, and proclaim it boldly to a world in need of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Keep the truth in doctrine, 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:2-3; 1 Timothy 4:16; Matthew 15:9 7:28; 1 Timothy 6:1; Mark 11:18; Acts 2:42; John 14:15; Romans 16:17; John 15:10, this is just a few. As always God's Blessings
Great video, Mark. When I saw the length, I said to myself that I wasn’t going to watch the whole thing-way too long. I had zero interest. Before I knew it it, I was watching the ending message. I am blessed to be led by the Spirit to read the Bible daily. I’ve probably been something like 70% KJV, 20% NKJV, and 5% CSB. I come from a background of modern translations, and just “discovered” the KJV a year ago. Always being adverse to writing in my Bibles in the past, I decided to try a wide margin. I wanted to get one in NKJV, but couldn’t find one that I loved (I don’t want my daily driver to have skinny 8 point font-I just don’t enjoy that). I suspect I wouldn’t love the Cambridge Eagle, and there are not a lot of options in NKJV. I ended up with a KJV, and I’m loving taking notes in it. Long story short, I am probably 90% KJV now as a result. I love the beauty and the extra challenge in the language. I absorb more from the KJV than the CSB, because I have to slow down so much and think about every word. That being said , I have discovered false friends that make me misunderstand. 😔 I am looking forward to your book on false friends. I will be one of the first to buy! 😊. I have noticed some of the false friends that challenge me in my personal study, and...I don’t know what I don’t know. One that got me is Job 22:24. On of my favorite passages is Job 22:21-30. 24 had me thinking God was to make his loyal servant rich (laying up gold as dust and silver as rocks), but other translations taught me that the meaning is quite different, possibly opposite even. I do get some things from reading the KJV that I don’t from other translations. However, I have to recognize that it simply can’t be my only translation, and while I do gain from that translation specifically, I also lose from that translation specifically. I look forward to more videos.
I, too, am relatively new to the KJV. I used some homeschooling materials that utilized the KJV exclusively. I worked some of the assignments with my children, including memorization of verses. A funny thing began to happen over time. When I would hear or read a verse from a modern version, I would inevitably compare it to what I had memorized from the KJV. Uh-oh. Until that point, I had assumed that all versions carried the same meaning, but just used different words to convey that meaning. These verse comparisons between the KJV to modern versions showed the modern versions to read "weak;" also, phrases and important word modifiers were missing from the modern versions. This led to a personal study that sought to answer the questions: How do the versions differ? Why do they differ? And lastly, what will the answers to those questions require of me? The answers that I found to these questions were life changing. All these things brought me to a place of conviction about Bible versions. I am so grateful to have "found" the KJV, albeit later in life. Now, if I ever have to refer to passages in modern versions for research purposes, I find that at best, they read like a story book about the Bible; at worst, they contain omissions, additions, and even errors pertaining to many things.
Shirley, internet friend, I’ve been reading and comparing multiple English versions for over 20 years now-and during the majority of that time I’ve been using Greek and Hebrew, too. I can’t think of a single example in which the modern translations are “weaker” than the KJV-except for “he that pisseth against the wall.” I think they ought to go ahead and hold on to that phrase. As for your “omissions” and “additions” and “errors”-this is the conspiracy theory talk I warn against in this video, my friend. =( I’m going to have to presume that you do not read Hebrew or Greek. If indeed I am right, then I would encourage you to humbly acknowledge to yourself that you cannot judge the quality of a Bible translation. You have to accept the authority of others. By accepting the authority of the KJV-Only voices you have listened to, you have found yourself in deep tension with what Scripture says in 1 Cor 14. They are insisting on the exclusive use of a translation that contains hundreds of dead words and at least 50 false friends that appear 1,362 times by my count. I urge you to watch through my Authorized video series. Seven videos that work through my book.
@@christopheryetzer Thank you for your reminders of the faithfulness and the promises of God upon which we wholly depend. What a treasure we have in the inspired, preserved word of God! I am so grateful that memorizing verses in the King James Bible shed light for me on the ways and instances in which modern Bible versions pervert the word of God. No 'man' can take credit for that illlumination. The word pervert is used in Jeremiah 23 of the KJV to describe the words of prophets that would falsely 'steal [God's] words every one from his neighbor' or falsely use their tongues and say, 'He saith.' To pervert is to alter or to corrupt. The devil perverted the word of God in the garden (Genesis 3). Paul warned of the many that corrupt the word of God in 2 Corinthians 2:17. Believers ought to always be watching for the subtle (or not so subtle) corruption of the word. When I began to recognize the omissions, additions, and errors in the modern versions by comparing them against the King James, I was shocked. I sat down with my NIV, the KJV, paper, and pen and began to write down verses as they read in each version. It was not 'rocket science' to compare the verses and recognize the omissions, additions, and errors between them, nor was 'Greek and Hebrew science' required. Praise God that men do not require a 'rocket or Greek and Hebrew science' mind to read and understand the Bible! All we need is the Bible and the Holy Ghost illuminating God's word for us as we read and meditate upon it. That is something that God provides to even a little child! Too, all benefit from the gifts of preachers and teachers which God also provides. In time, I compiled a list of 100 verses on an Excel spreadsheet with readings from the most popular modern versions today--the NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV--as they read against the King James. There was no mistaking it--there are doctrinal differences between the modern versions and the KJV. Micah 5:2 in the NIV states that Jesus has 'origins' from of old while the KJV states that Jesus is 'from everlasting.' The meanings of these words are mutually exclusive; both cannot be true. The NIV states in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Avoid every kind of evil" while the KJV states, Abstain from all appearance of evil. The expectation of God is greater than that as taught in the NIV. A prophetic verse about Christ's wounds from the crucifixion in Zechariah 13:6 in the NIV reads, "If someone asks, 'What are these wounds on your body?' they will answer, 'The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.'" The same verse in the KJV states, And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. A couple of important differences are found between these verses. The Ethiopian eunuch questions Philip in the KJV in Acts 8:36b saying, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip responds to his question in Acts 8:37: And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The NIV does not have Acts 8:37. There, the man's question is treated as a rhetorical one. The important requirement of believing on Christ prior to baptism is missing along with the man's confession of Christ. These are just a handful of the important differences between the KJV and the modern versions. When verses are looked at individually, it is hard to think of an area of doctrine that is not impacted by the modern versions. After seeing all of this, I began to read some books about the subject of Bible versions. That reading was enlightening, but really just confirmed what was already made apparent by the KJV itself. I think that next to evangelism and discipleship, the 'Bible version issue' is one of the most important things believers face today. We are called to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered in Jude 3. That faith is formed and relies upon clinging to the whole counsel of God, EVERY word of God. God is still revealing truth to babes today. Thanks again for your encouragement! (PS: Have you noticed how much easier it is to memorize the KJV than the modern versions? Believers need the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit to face this life. Who would make having these harder?)
@@sm8johnthreesixteen "Micah 5:2 in the NIV states that Jesus has 'origins' from of old while the KJV states that Jesus is 'from everlasting.' The meanings of these words are mutually exclusive; both cannot be true. The NIV states in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Avoid every kind of evil" while the KJV states, Abstain from all appearance of evil. " Regarding Micah 5.2, the Hebrew word in question is "olam." It's the equivalent of "aion" in the Greek New Testament. Here are some instances of the KJV translating it to mean "the distant past" instead of "eternity past": - the same became mighty men which were of old (Gen. 6.4) - Remember the days of old (Deut. 32.7) - Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time (Josh. 24.2) - for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land (1 Sam. 27.8) - the years of ancient times (Ps. 77.5) - I remembered thy judgments of old (Ps. 119.52) - I will build it as in the days of old (Amos 9.11) As for 1 Thes. 5.22, that's actually a case where the translations are saying the same thing, but you're misinterpreting the meaning of "appearance" in the KJV. It doesn't mean "all things that appear to be evil," but rather, "all ways that evil appears." It's easy to misunderstand because the Jacobean grammar sounds unnatural to our ears. In contemporary English, we would feel obligated to make "appearance" explicitly plural with an -s at the end.
@@MAMoreno I am so grateful for the God-fearing, learned men that worked on the translation committee of the KJV (and their predecessors) which put the Bible in English into our hands today. Also, we take great hope and comfort in God's promise to believers in John 16:13a: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth...
Mark, you are doing a very good service in your work. I ❤ the KJV, but have been hurt by KJV only men and women who discourage over 50% of the body of Christ from speaking to groups of people to spread the Good News. It flattens the field of competition for those men who pisseth against the wall who want to become popular preachers, but it also stops people from trusting in Jesus. Ultimately, it makes their business in pride, power and financial prosperity smaller since the Christians are reduced probably better than half. Also, when you speak of brothers in this video, do you mean followers of Jesus, or just male humans? You might be saying that brothers covers both sexes because there is no importance in physical sex when it comes to being disciples and proclaimers of Christ. I wonder if some women get so discouraged that they dry up since they are afraid to preach. Maybe even women so influenced go to hell for not doing the good they could have done. Lately, I've been reading NKJV and it seems to be keeping the poetry very well intact. For example: compare Psalm 1 in KJV and in NKJV. I love several versions, but NKJV is my favorite at the moment. Ostervald 1877 is my French favorite.
When I say "KJV-Only brothers," I often do mean male Christians-because female KJV-Onlyists almost never talk to me. But I usually try to say "brothers and sisters" if I'm speaking of all Christians.
so unmistakably definitive that all other explanations will seem anticlimactic your research speaks for itself although i still prefer the textus receptus because of its clearly evangelical translators as opposed to the dubious faith of other notoriously heretical persuasions , the moderns
Thank you for this! But you should read something by Dirk Jongkind (his Intro to the Greek New Testament of Tyndale House, especially) or Peter Gurry, like Scribes and Scripture. These are believing men, ardent evangelicals.
I tried to share this on Facebook, but for some reason it says that this video goes against the guidelines. What guidelines, and how? There was nothing hateful or derogatory in what you said...
I have one, but I haven't had much chance to look at it. =| I intend to! I was not impressed with the typographical quality, and that matters a lot to me. But the basic idea is one I firmly support. It looked like it was done responsibly.
Dear Mark, I would prefer to share the following in private, but I guess that it will help your ‘channel’ if I post it here. I was only introduced to your presentations through an ‘automatic site recommendation.’ so my comments are a long way behind when you initially posted the subject matter. Having typed that, I have appreciated each video as totally new; just like reading an old book for the first time. Albeit, with the added advantage (and privilege) of sharing my coincidental thoughts with the author... and other readers; viewers. I would just like to commend you for the work that you are putting in to share your knowledge and concerns; on top of your ‘day job’ and family commitments. While we do not have so much of an issue with King James Only theology here in Australia, I remember a Baptist friend of mine, back in the 1990’s used to talk about this very topic. He was a wholly wonderful person, but highly adamant about ‘putting people straight,’ if they happened to say anything contrary to his view on life. As he was much older than I, I used to just nod my head in agreement out of respect and sometimes chuckle to myself at a more personally convenient time. If the same situation raised now, I may simply ask a few pointed questions to try to balance his perspective; which would probably turn into a full blown argument (rather than debate) 🤣 I have to say that before our friendship began to flourish, I was ignorant to the various versions of the Bible. I just thought that the bible was the bible, not paying attention to the variations of the covers. He introduced me to the KJV and I bought a beautiful little leather bound copy, that I still have... but then found that I preferred reading my paperback NIV... I eventually discovered the Thompson Chain Reference versions and opted to buy the NIV version... and built up my own little Zondervan library of essentials... and various other books as I felt that I required. NO GREEK... Too lazy. 😁 Of course, times change and I have all the titles within a software based environment... when I decide to actually read; but it is comforting to know that I have them all at the ready. Anyway. I hope that you manage to keep up with your endeavours, thoughtfully balancing all of your commitments, as not to let one of your commitments fail because of another... while your audience continues to grow. Best regards. 👍
Just started watching this video and wanted to add that I'd only recently learned about the different "meats" when watching a show on historical Britain; it's fun to learn that odd-to-our-ears terms like green meat and white meat were the common ways to designate vegetables and dairy, but you're right: these little historical oddities shouldn't trip us up while reading the Bible.
Mark, I really appreciate your work and and plan on applying the knowledge out there in real life, but your videos are lengthy and in-depth. May I request you do a few recaps, summaries, or compilation videos, please? I’m looking forward to watching the videos for all 50 false-friends ( and intend to). Your message is important, and I’d really appreciate a layout (in video) that’s more concise, and ironically, easier to understand. And therefore easier to tell others.
I didn't know that Matthew 6:27 is ambiguous in the Greek. I wondered why this verse in the ESV reads differently from the KJV and was concerned. Thank you for clarifying the reason behind this difference.
The real irony is that no text, original or translation, removes the necessity for biblical interpretation or eliminates different possibilities of meaning in so many verses. This is how human language works-even if inspired by God. KJ-onlyism imagines that it escapes this problem by having "one true word of God," but it doesn't. One translation doesn't make the Bible's intention easy, simple, and transparent in countless cases.
Just like there isn't one textus receptus, there isn't one King James. I would ask KJV-only people which KJV version they think is "the one." If they say the first one, then why are they talking about Jesus all the time when the original KJV used Iesu? Virtually nobody uses the 1611 KJV and most use the 1769 version. How do anyone believe the 5th revision is inspired but not the first four?
Regarding #4, what is your opinion of the KJVER? I know it is not simply an annotated KJV, since it makes some changes, but it seems like it would answer this criticism being a mostly accurate update without significant revisions to the text. I believe I've seen some KJV-only people nit-pick it.
Calling it that means relegating itself to study status; no one is going to use an "Easy Reader" KJV in the pulpit. That's not bad; it's just true. What I'm aiming for is the (slow, if need be) replacement of the KJV in pulpits and other institutional contexts. So the KJVER has little utility for me, except to show, sadly, that many people who say "The text is the issue" are rejecting contemporary, intelligible translations based on the same text as the KJV.
Wait: you've made $6.06? You're sixty cents away from being exposed as the Man of Sin! :P On another note, I don't really think that learning the word "propitiation" (or retaining it in translations) is particularly helpful. Even more so than "justification," "sanctification," and some other theological terms in English translations of the Epistle to the Romans, it's a case of a word borrowed from Latin for the sake of borrowing a word from Latin, a vestige of Renaissance Biblical scholarship. (The RSV's alternative Latinism "expiation" is no better.) Surely we can go with better English glosses of ἱλαστήριον. I favor "atonement" because it's rooted in Old English words and because it's a word that people still actually use.
My wife and I both got a laugh out of that one! I have now passed $6.06, but I didn’t notice any moment when I was at $6.66 (or $6.16, according to some textual critics!). =) Boy… I’m prepared to be wrong about “propitiation,” and I’ve done some work on it in the past. I’ve been happy with the word because the concept it names is so important to the aspects of the gospel I take to be central. This is the kind of thing that few people are going to get without some help, so I tend to fall back on my usual “using-multiple-translations-can-only-help-tip-you-off-to-a-great-Bible-study-project” line. I’m okay with certain evangelical translations going different directions (“sacrifice of atonement,” one says, if I remember right).
@@markwardonwords Yes, the NRSV opts for "sacrifice of atonement" (as does the NIV), which I prefer over the Latin gibberish that is "propitiation." At the same time, there's a good argument for "mercy seat" in the particular context of Rom. 3.25 (CSB, NET, LEB; cf. Tyndale, who never uses "propitiation" in any of these passages). Curiously, the Geneva Bible went with "reconciliation" in Romans (and elsewhere), while the KJV follows the Bishops' Bible in using "propitiation" (and then goes on to use it in 1 John 2.2 instead of the BB's "atonement," perhaps influenced by the Rheims New Testament or by a desire for increased concordance). Meanwhile, the ASV, NASB, NKJV, and ESV have managed to out-propitiate even the KJV by switching out its "reconciliation" gloss in Heb. 2.17. It's really bizarre to see more modern translations sticking in *additional* creaky Latinisms instead of moving away from them, but there it is.
@@christopheryetzer The underlying gematria works out the same with either variant numerical reading, so I'm not all that worried about Daniel Wallace potentially ruining things for conspiracy theorists and fans of The Omen.
Responding to a couple of your points: 1. KJV impossible to read! This is obviously an extreme statement, but I would like to say I find the understanding and comprehension does go down considerably when someone reads from KJV. In fact, I have to go to a modern translation and re-read the passage to know what it truly says. I do not digest the finer nuances of what is in the passage. Now, while I am fully bilingual and English is my second language, I don’t think my ability to understand is any less than native born English speakers. The ability to understand depends in a great deal on how much they have read and studied. 2. I had never thought of Corinthians 14 in light of translations. You laid out the underlying principle of understanding the message very well. Thank you. 5. As someone growing up in a country where English is not the first language, it would never have dawned on us to think a specific translation was the perfect Word of God. KJVO was a concept that would never have entered my mind. What really surprised me when I encountered it was the lack of discussion of the underlying Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic text. To me that would be the obvious foundation for a good Bible. I have since learned there is discussion on this also, but what I initially encountered lacked this consideration. It was also very offensive to think that my grandmothers and my mother would have never read God’s Word because it was not English! They did not know any English. Thank you for your insightful videos. KJV as a historical translation I have great respect for. It shows us how God providentially has been giving us his word. He is continuing to give us his word in modern translations, English and other languages, and I do not want to say no thank you to that gift.
to quote the king James version( of which i read for 14 years , and i do still like that version.) "A wise man becomes a fool that he may learn". If anyone holds to a view, with evidence that it may be wrong, and STILL doesn't change on facts, then i say, they have become a "fool" in this area( not that I am calling people fools, but the idea that they will not learn no matter what is given in correction, it doesn't mean some cant be KJV only people). PRIDE says i do not need correction nor do i want it, i know it all. To paraphrase Paul the apostle, "IF anyone thinks he knows anything, he doesn't know as he ought", - and another, "we see dimly as through a glass." this does not mean the KJV is bad, i still really like the version, but in reality those "false friends and dead words really messed me up in my understanding in my earlier christian years ( especially the struggle I had from the garbage JESUS saved me out of)
Most of these "objections" are simple ad hoc rationalizations. They are objections specifically crafted to defend their KJV-only stance which they have already assumed to be correct.
I think the 1 Cor 14 objection, at least on initial, inspection, bears some weight. But I'm not aware that anyone has tried to respond to this now two-year-old (right?) response.
The problem with Defined King James and Westminster Reference KJV is that they look like they were done by amateurs if you compare them to annotated Hamlet like Arden Shakespeare Hamlet, Cambridge Shakespeare Hamlet and Oxford Shakespeare Hamlet.
Could Nehemiah 8:8 also apply regarding translation? "They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading". Regarding the returning exiles to Israel.
Outstanding responses to objections raised by KJV Onlyists or exclusive users and see no need for revision or updates of archaic English words that have faded from the vernacular or have changed meaning. What I don't get from them is the fact that what they have in their hands is not the same as the 1611 original and the version underwent a number of revisions between then and 1789. This is a great and most helpful video.
Right on: they don't acknowledge this to me, either. They insist that the changes were just in spelling, when David Norton has shown that that simply isn't true. But the conversation always dies at that point.
@@markwardonwords I like the KJV Brother Mark and is the version I am most familiar with. I use it alongside the NKJV and sometimes refer to Darby's Translation and the very hard to read word for word YLT. Thinking about getting hold of a hard copy of the MEV that seems a decent Majority Text based version. The church I am in fellowship with have adopted the NIV and would rather they used a Majority Text Version but I would consult that from time to time too and in places I have to admit that some things are more clearly phrased and make more immediate sense than how rendered in any of my Majority Text Bibles. I was KJV Only at one time like yourself but have come to see that is an illogical position to take and involves a myopic denial of not a few straight up facts. The KJV is an excellent translation for the English vernacular of the time it was devised and then revised but it is not perfect and maybe not even the best translation there's ever been and have heard quite convincing arguments that the Geneva version was more accurate. The solid and serious Puritan Christians of that time were very reluctant to take on board the KJV and stuck with their trusted Geneva Bibles. In certain wordings, there is a bias towards Episcopalian concepts of church government and maybe it was this they were suspicious of. I'm all on for continuing use of the KJV but exclusive use just doesn't hold up. I have noticed that when I comment on YT around faith-based matters, any caustic, scornful or impolite replies tend to come from either of 2 groups. One is those that deny the eternal security of the believer and think that salvation can be forfeited. The other are the KJV Onlyists and who like to say that I have 'no final authority' and have compared me to Catholics and even Mormons. These videos are superb Mark. Much, much blessing in your service for the Lord.
@@bloodboughtbigphilr8266 Just to clarify one thing, the KJV, NKJV, and MEV are not based on the Majority Text, but rather on the Textus Receptus, which is very similar but does have differences. If you meant Textus Receptus all along, then MEV sounds like a good choice. But if you really meant Majority Text, I can recommend the World English Bible. It's one of the few English translations of the Majority Text, it's in modern English, and it's in the public domain.
@@curtthegamer934 Thanks Curt. The TR versions are very much predicated on the Majority Text and often described interchangeably but there are differences. The Majority Text still corrects the TR. I'll have to check out The World English Bible and appreciate the recommendation. It would be good to have a version that's wholly based on the Majority Text for reference. Much blessing to you Brother.
Mark, I’m thankful for your work! The book and these videos! I’m sure that the negative comments make this a miserable topic to cover, but it has been a light for so many. I think we could agree that the way KJV-onlyism is defended (as akin to blasphemy if you read another translation) is troublesome at least .
This is what I'm struggling with I grew up KJV only and have literally in the past few days started on the ESV. I'm kind of afraid because I've had it drilled into my head that the other translations are pretty much like putting poison directly into your brain.
Having discovered you just last week, I've scanned thru your videos, watching and commenting on a number of them. (By the way, the one with the "hall-urchin" ... she was adorable.) Here's what surprised me. My ministry years spanned 1981 to about 2009 and I never had a clue that there was still much ado about the KJV, the topic of most of your videos. I guess there's been a whole world of controversy I was clueless about. I never knew we were not, according to some, supposed to use other versions. With such insistence, I would have thought they would require Greek and Hebrew manuscripts only, ignoring that the originals don't exist anyway. Is there no end ..... ?
Ever been to a New Believers discipleship Class? Ever notice they DONT tell them there are 7000 textual variants in the critical texts Vs Byzantine manuscript tradition?
Agreed. And I think they should start explaining that toward the end, depending on the length of the class. Not something to mention the first day, but not something to avoid mentioning till people discover it on their own-from Bart Ehrman's TH-cam videos.
Lets be clear and honest the venerable KJV is a good translation and we can confidentiality say it is the word of God. However it is a translation of the originals and has its weakness as do all english translations. In fact all of our most cherished popular translations are very good and provide us with all that is necessary for faith godliness and sound doctrine. There is not one single doctrines we regard as necessary to salvation obscured because of modern translations and the original texts from which they are translated. NASB NKJV ESV NIV NRSV NET are all solid translations we can use. No one is bound or morally oblogated to use the KJV exclusively despite what the cultists say.
I've made it through all of the FF videos to this point. I find some of your resultant arguments/comments from the KJV-Only folks a bit discouraging and maybe even a little disturbing. When clear evidence is presented through multiple videos but the message is still rejected, what is one to do? I would like to think Christians can approach a topic/discussion like this with some rationality. I can understand the differences in opinions around the manuscript lines (TR vs Byzantine vs. Alex.) or 'why do we need so many translations?' but that's not what we are talking about here. We are talking about a single word (in most cases) that used to mean something different than it does today (black and white). Why is this so controversial and blindly rejected? We as Christians shouldn't ever be in a mental state of 'I don't care what you say or how true it is - I will reject it'. We see this in abundance in secular society today (politics, media, etc.). It's the sign of a hardened heart. "The sky is blue". "No it's not". "Convenient no longer means what it used to". "Yes it does". "Do you understand 'Incontinent' in this verse?". "Of course! I always have". And the truly sad part of all of this is if you were 'attacking' (/s) the NIV translation with the exact same False Friends arguments (and the KJV never came into the picture), the KJV-Only crowd would be your biggest supporters. I know this isn't the same as 'calling good evil and evil good'. But when you blindly reject something just 'because' - aren't you approaching this? This is exactly what the unbelieving world does constantly. Just watch the news. I take that back - don't watch the news. And I say all of this being a predominantly KJV reader. I love the KJV. Mark - I appreciate all of your work on this. I don't think I will ever stop reading my KJV bible. And, this series of videos has only increased my understanding and thus edification. 🙂
I'm totally with you. But here's how I remind myself to show mercy to these folks, just a few points in no real order: 1. I have to think that there is a significant number of KJV defenders who are listening silently and taking what I'm saying about false friends, at least, on board. No matter what viewpoint you have on whatever issue, you don't immediately give up publicly on that viewpoint the instant you hear some data you can't account for. It will take time. It has taken time with many people. And if people who watch my videos fail to move on to the ESV or NIV but they read the KJV with better understanding, I've still got a ton to be happy about. 2. It's the most cantankerous people who are inclined to make negative comments. Most people, most of the time, just ignore videos/channels that they know don't share their perspective. And how different is this from what I do? Not much. I don't watch progressive Christian channels; they fill me with dread. I don't do a lot of listening to egalitarians on the left or QAnon conspiracy theorists on the right. I see why a lot of KJV-Only people view me as a dangerous progressive. I would have felt the same as a teenager. 3. Not many wise, not many noble are called. I see a lot of evidence out there not of malice but of simple ignorance. People who may be very good at whatever their jobs are simply don't understand language change. It's just too easy to dismiss all Mark Ward's claptrap if you don't understand the building blocks of linguistic principles. It's easy to assign language change to the category of "bad stuff that liberals do," especially right now as people really do seem to be making a self-conscious effort to change elements of English that relate to gender and sex. Thank you for your patient listening, your thoughtful comment, and your concern. Pray for our brothers and sisters who reject the truth here.
King James is an important early modern English version. Standard English owes a ton to KJV, being the early Primary for education of children and English usage. Maybe that is why it's mostly readable, except for some language changes. My late mother's Bible defined words in verses, she liked never having to use a Dictionary. I think I'm mostly KJV and NKJV, that's it.
You might enjoy my Fifty False Friends in the KJV series, Timmy: th-cam.com/play/PLq1Aq0ucgkPCtHJ5pwhrU1pjMsUr9F2rc.html I'll bet you'll learn the meaning of some words you didn't realize you were misunderstanding!
Agreed! If the KJV is perfect, then why did God see fit to preserve, in a cave, more ancient manuscripts than the KJV translators had that do clearly point out its errors?
Thank you good video a Simplified KJV review would be good. We used to be a KJV only Bible Baptist church now we are a Brethern fellowship that uses the NKJV,KJV andSimplified KJV. God Bless😀
thank you very much mark it was very insitful to be with you this past couple of years and that is what i tell my brothers down here in El Salvador there are so many bible translations in spanish thank you
No it isn’t. That’s slander, my friend. I literally was in the room with some of the people you’re slandering last week. They are godly men who love the Lord.
I am grateful for the impact the KJV has had on my life, being used by God to draw me to Himself, and then help prepare me for local church ministry. But I remember the day a friend told me about a new translation called the NIV. I later received a copy and my understanding and love for God's clear words were born in me. I have enjoyed your series and have learned so much. Thank you for your intellectual integrity, obvious sincerity, hard work, and appropriate humor in presenting this important subject. And I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that I have seen Christ in your responses to those who would not receive your teaching. Thank you very much, Mark!
Praise God. Thank you for these exceptionally kind words. And I resonate with your opening lines: I am grateful for the KJV, and grateful for the contemporary translations I have subsequently turned to.
I read the" living bible" starting with the " living New Testament" then bought a leather bound whole Bible. It is a paraphrase. God spoke to my heart every time I read it! I use most all the main translations today. God still speaks to me through His word. Even the King James though having a 9 th grade education,I went to work full time at 15 years old.
Honestly, this series has been an incredible gift. I can’t imagine the amount of time you spend on these endeavors, but I truly, TRULY appreciate it. I look forward to sharing your new book with many of my loved ones!
It was a gift given at real cost, and with real love. It’s a delight to see the Lord using it for good in people’s lives.
I also really appreciate your work. I've always been KJV only, although not judgy about it, but I've started on the ESV and it's really nice to have the Bible written in clear, normal speech. I'm pretty used to decoding KJV language, but it's nice not to have to do that, and I can just focus on what it's trying to say.
*Pro tip:* go into settings and speed up the video to 1.25 or faster.
I so appreciate your "False Friends" series. I'm only one fifth of the way through and I've already learned so much. Despite growing up with the KJV, I was completely bamboozled by words I *didn't know I didn't know.* Also, I love your thoughtful respectful treatment of this topic, plus your metaphors and humor.
Many thanks for reaching out! (And I like listening to audio at double speed myself!) I would absolutely LOVE to discover-and I am so serious here-that KJV-Onlyism has radically changed since I was in it in high school, and now all the KJV-Only pastors are way ahead of me, teaching their people to recognize dead words and false friends. I have no evidence that this is the case. So I think and hope that the work I’m doing here needs to be done.
@@markwardonwords you're welcome. I'm not in a true KJV-only environment (although years ago my church was that way.) Bible translation preference is shifting from legalism to a matter of conviction like Romans 14. Preachers will occasionally read other versions from the pulpit, or read the KJV and then re-read a key verse in another version. I've been reading an ESV for several years now. Since this is such a hot-button issue for some, it is easier to not bring up the topic. I'm enjoying learning the different false friends and by extension deeper, more accurate meanings of verses.
Have you run into the tradition that argues "thee's" and "thou's" are more respectful to God in prayer? I've heard an alternate explanation is that "thee's" and "thou's" are singular "you" in old English. I'm in my twenties so I've never impersonated a Puritan in my prayer language.
Mark. Thank your putting yourself in a difficult position in order to love and serve our KJV only brothers. Your work has been a blessing to me!
Thank you so much!
Might I suggest, “The History of Your Bible, Proving the King James to be the Perfectly Preserved Words of God,” by Terence D. McLean
Thomas Nelson kjv reference center column does have definitions for archaic words. They have a symbol in the text that tells people they need to look at the definitions.
So glad you're continuing past the initial 50. In this one you mentioned other translations made in other European languages at the time of the KJV 1611, which made different translation choices. To me this is the most interesting thing about the textual absolutist view regarding the KJV.
Proponents (here in South Africa) apply the concept of KJV-only to an old Afrikaans translation made in 1933 and revised in 1953 (based in part on the older Dutch version). There seems to be a blind-equation of the KJV with this one, with people thinking they are the same.
However, a careful reading of this 1953-revision shows that it has in fact made different translation choices differing with the KJV, yet proponents of this 1953-only view don't seem to realise this.
Love these videos! Thanks from a sunny South Africa!🌍
This is my new favorite video in the series, Mark. Your heart and your motive is fully on display, and your closing statement was very moving. I know there can be a lot of anger and vitriol from people when they are challenged, and I imagine you have received more of that than you will ever reveal.
I want you to know you have helped me immensely, and I'm forever grateful for your hard work and your contributions to this study. Sincerely, thank you.
Wow, thank you! That is so generous!
The series was a big help, Mark, thank you. May GOD bless you and yours, more abundantly.
Many thanks for the kind words!
I went through this series in two days. Such good info. I'm with you about KJV onlyism, but as I've had KJVO family members I'm grateful for these tools to help such people understand what they're reading, even if they won't accept other versions. The Lord bless thee. :)
Wonderful!
I appreciate all your hard work. I just discovered your channel. Thank you .
Thanks for the word of encouragement!
This is wonderful, Mark! Please continue to do content. I would watch your videos on a large variety of Bible topics because you present yourself so well and so charitably! Would be interested in you exegeting some commonly misunderstood passages of the Bible, even in modern versions! Or a series on common verses taken out of context.
Good ideas! I'm not sure where this channel will go in the future. I want to please the Lord and serve Christ's body.
Your work has been an awesome resource. I imagine when the discussion of KJV onlyism comes up, it will not be possible to talk about it without mentioning your contribution!
I am praying that my work will change the conversation over the KJV, moving it away from textual criticism (where very few people can have truly intelligent discussions) and to English readability (something everybody knows at least a little something about!).
I am still patiently waiting for a KJV-only adherent to explain to me what is the problem with English Bibles *BEFORE* the KJV, such as the Geneva Bible. Why did God supposedly wait for no less than a half dozen different English translations to be made before deciding "ah yes, NOW is the time to preserve my Word."
Thank you Mark for your work and your presenting the facts to us. I'm 77 years old and I love the King James, but I realize that you are correct. Obviously our language has changed. I have really enjoyed your 50 false friends videos.
This is very meaningful to me. You don't have to stop reading your beloved KJV, of course! I haven't! You can just read it now with better understanding-and understand why ensuing generations may not share your experience with the KJV.
You know you are doing something helpful and good when people start making videos against you! I appreciate your videos very much. I prefer not to argue with my Christian brothers and sisters, but your info is helpful. I promise to be kind. Maybe I will just direct them to your videos! 😉
That's why they're here! Thank you for the kind word!
Aye. Same thing with ASL (America Sign Language). ASL is my first language. English is my second language. True, there is some ASL have some different sign on one word. 👍 Thank you for doing this to edification one another! 🤟
By the way, ASL and Hebrews language have similar structure grammar and picturesque.
So interesting!
I’m a student at a KJV Baptist College. I’m always wondering which one you refer to when you you don’t give a name. I’m not KJV-only in the Ruckman sense and I’m not TR only either. I’d call my self mostly Majority Text except for a couple readings. I’m practically a TR and KJV guy in that sense. I plan on learning more Greek than I already know from a different school and further diving into the subject myself. I suspect my conclusion will be that a new translation would be acceptable and possibly necessary if a movement could properly get behind it. I will keep an open mind and continue to consume your content. I don’t think the other versions are spawn of Satan, and I’d rather go to a church which preaches the Critical Text Faithfully than a hobby horse preaching TR church.
I often leave out the names of KJVO Bible colleges because I don't want people to feel defensive, or because I'm hopeful that they're coming along toward a less Ruckmanite position and I don't want the institutional leaders to feel defensive. Also: I don't like attacking Christians, or even appearing to. I regret the existence of this whole argument. =( I want KJVO schools to survive, reform, and thrive.
I appreciate this comment. Even if you never agree with my willingness to use critical text Bibles, I hope you can benefit from learning how to understand the KJV better.
I was raised Lutheran and did the Luth Sem in Gettysburg. It did not, however, go in that direction for ministry. Looking for greater freedom (bishops gave me claustrophobia inasmuch as I was more evangelical than the rest) so I went UCC ... before they began their headlong rush to the left. I eventually ended up in the CCCC (Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.) Prior to that however, I spent 5 years at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in a combo Acad Admin and Exec Director of the D.Min. program they hired me to start in '98. My greatest joy there was getting to know Jim Packer personally and even having a private breakfast with him one morning -- because I'd left him stranded at 1am in the Pittsburg airport the night before (there were supposed to be no more flights arriving that night ... woops.) Once my wife finished her MDiv there, we moved on to an independent church in New Hampshire. I'm now retired in OR where we moved to help our son who planted a Naz church here in Salem. Denominationally, I'm a mongrel.
Interesting. Yes, I suppose in those circles there would be no KJV-Onlyism.
This answers a multitude of questions I had not thought prior it might address such as speaking in tongues.
✔
The French bit at 26:38 was both hilarious, cheeky, and punched the point home. Very thoughtful, funny and well timed!
✔ Thank you!
Amen brother. I truly appreciate your charitable and wise handling of this significant and sometimes incendiary topic. Speaking as one not that long out of onlyism myself. God bless!
Thank you for the kind words! I’d love to hear your story. Would you consider sending me an email and telling it to me? byfaithweunderstand.com/contact
Thanks so much for your vids, particularly the 7 part Textual Confidence series. I’ve only recently become acquainted with your channel, and can say I would have watched sooner, but I was let hitherto. 😊
Love this!! Lol!!
Thank you so very much for your content and your book. Articulate, clear, and kind. Rare voice in social media these days. You have enriched my Bible interactions.
Wow, thank you! This is so incredibly kind!
I'm thankful the Lord has placed this burden on you. Thank you for your hard work. Blessings, brother! 😊
I appreciate your words so much!
1 John 5:21
When I was in Liberia a couple years ago I was talking to a friend who is the pastor of a church there. We were discussing many different topics. He would ask me questions about these topics and I would guide him to scripture to find the answers. He just couldn't understand. You see, years ago someone gave him a KJV and that's what he taught out of. Much of it he couldn't understand so he didn't teach on certain topics or he mislead people because he mistranslated what he was reading.
I had two other versions with me and I handed him one of them. He read through many passages and was so excited. He said, "I finally understand. It is so clear to me now."
These people in Liberia and other third world nations are mostly simple minded people without any kind of education. They need to hear the gospel in its simplicity. This includes most of the world.
When I witness and teach others, I use the easiest to read translation I have so that they will understand.
I am very thankful for the many translations out there.
Thank you for your channel and insight. Much appreciated.
God bless
This kind of thing is one of the big reasons I pursue my little "calling" to push back against KJV-Onlyism-not against the KJV, but against KJV-Onlyism. A lot of people really can do fine (maybe not great, but fine) using just the KJV. I think I did. I was a good reader, a spelling bee champion, one of 100 New York State Geography Bee finalists in 1993! =) I did okay with the KJV. But a lot of weaker, struggling people who were not given the same educational opportunities I received sort of pick up from the ether that the KJV is the only trustworthy Bible translation, and they really struggle. I cry out to the Lord about this all the time. Defend the weak!
@@markwardonwords Amen brother. God is not the author of confusion, people and translations are. Christianity is not rocket science, we need not treat it that way.
Nice job in the video. I did have to pause it this morning because of our "Zoom" service. I just now watched the rest to the end.
I have at least 30 bible translations. Not that I recommend that many or use that many all of the time, (it's just part of what happens over a 60 year period!) but there are plenty of occasions (like just last night for me) that I will pull most of them out and take turns looking at a specific verse/section to get various perspectives from, in this case, Paul (plus it helps get the point into my head so I don't forget it so soon, or hopefully don't forget it at all). More than one translation is certainly better than only one. I use (and was born and raised on) the KJV too. You can learn a lot by finding out WHY the translation differences are there, and it isn't always (and even rarely) an error.
Right! More than one is better! And when you see little differences, they lead to Bible study insights!
I’m not KJV-O, but I do treasure the KJV as my favorite translation. I stand with Spurgeon on this. I prefer “our Grandfather’s bible”. But I think it’s useful to know where the language has changed. So I have conflicting feelings on your series, Mark. In the main, I think the beauty and rich history of the KJV, and I would say it’s general accuracy, merits it’s continued use. Blessings.
Absolutely! Continued use. Not exclusive use. And not an elaborate set of doctrines constructed to defend that exclusive use and condemn those who use other versions. =) My work should *help* KJV users to continue to use the KJV, especially if they catch not just my conclusions but my methods.
@@christopheryetzer, I am willing to stand before God and be measured with the measure with which I have measured. I'm especially certain that I'm right about 1 Cor 15:19. =)
This is what I observe: At first, the modern versions were introduced in the seminaries to be used alongside the KJV. Men continued to preach from the KJV from the pulpit, for example, but began to use modern versions for study. In time, a switch occurred--the KJV was preached less from the pulpit, but men continued to use the KJV in their personal reading. I think we all need to consider this: Given what we have observed in history, would we say that American pulpits and congregations are stronger for it?
In the same way, believers today are told, "Continue to use your King James, just not exclusively." We are then pointed to an array of modern Bible versions to use. If we notice doctrinal differences between the KJV and modern versions, we may be informed that we aren't capable of making distinctions among them unless we know Greek and Hebrew. Instead of being encouraged to hold fast to the truth, personal preference is touted as a primary factor when choosing a version. An artificial distinction is being put into our minds separating 'devotional' and 'study' use. We are told to be dissatisfied if we have to look up the meaning of some archaic, but true, words, but nothing is said of the doctrinal differences of verses in the modern versions when compared to the KJV.
The devil knows that Reformation-era Bibles are not modern versions. Since the seminaries are largely given over to the modern versions, the last group to aim for would be the believer sitting in the pew. A patient, subtle approach would be needed to separate people from the time-tested English Bible. I hope that we can recognize it.
Shirley, all I can do is urge you in the strongest terms not to go down this conspiracy theory path. I'm not trying to insult you when I point out that you don't know Hebrew or Greek. But I will double down: you cannot make a reliable judgment of the quality of a serious, evangelical translation if you cannot read the languages from which it is translated. This shouldn't be controversial. Countless men and women who can read these languages have vouched for the quality of the ESV, for example. I do. Why is it, my friend, that I have never heard once from a KJV-Only brother or sister, "I acknowledge that I cannot read Hebrew and Greek, and that I am relying on other authorities who say they can"? Why is it that they all, to a man or woman, insist to me that they don't need to know Hebrew or Greek to make the right decision about Bible translations?
I've been skimming through KJV-Only leader Doug Stauffer's book "One Book One Authority," and though he's a clear writer, at point after point I'm just shaking my head. He gives no evidence that he understands Hebrew or Greek; he judges translation differences solely based on (his read of) the English. And yet, if you don't know Hebrew or Greek either, I think it would be hard to spot his numerous clear errors. I am jealous for the unity of the church, and these errors have brought division and harm.
@@markwardonwords I am so grateful to have "found" the KJV after so many years in the modern versions; you can imagine my grief and surprise that I (and others) would be encouraged to go to them.
I also did not know that the word "meat" at the Jerusalem council referred to food in general. I fact checked your statement and indeed, it is so. That fairly dramatically spins that passage differently for me.
Thank you for the hours of time spent on this.
And the funny thing is that impressions I formed early in life stick with me; I’ve read Acts 15 outside the KJV more often than I’ve read the passage in the KJV-and I still kept the picture formed by the KJV.
The KJV clearly does not teach that "meat" only refers to animal flesh. Gen 1:29--And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. It is clearly up to the individual reader to do due diligence in exegeting the text for the proper hermeneutical context.
Thank you Mark 🙂
My pleasure!
Howdy,
I listened to your audio book on Amazon and thoroughly enjoyed it (your book was the first that I haven’t physically read on pages). I really liked the way you incorporated the English accent in various parts-good job!
I’ll be ordering the hard copy soon.
Many thanks for your kind words! It was super fun making an audio version of the book!
Hard copy is priceless
How do KJV-onlyists accept the modernised spellings in the majority of currently printed KJVs? If the words of the 1611 were perfect, surely their spellings were inspired too? And if the old spellings can be replaced with current spelling, why not replace the outdated words with modern equivalent ones?
Appreciate your work. Wish I had paid more attention to this kind of material 20 years ago. Grew up with and still use the KJV primarily. We had pretty good teachers that pointed out most of the false friends as we went through the Bible, but confusion still happens. Comes down to trust. Understanding how the Bible came to us has made me realize every translation has different strengths. Once you realize that almost all translations are "inspired" and can be used without fear for the glory of God.
Right! At the very least, we should be able to trust the sincerity-not the perfection-of groups of evangelical Christian scholars.
Thanx, Pastor 🌹🌹🌹
Thank you for watching!
I’m VERY grateful for your work to move modern translation acceptance forward. If I become ble$$ed, I hope you will accept my gift to finance the survey.
As of this very moment, I am considering raising funds for a bigger survey than I can do with volunteers. Your support would be much appreciated. But I'm not asking for it yet! I'm praying and weighing my options.
I guess I’m a Bible nerd. I loved every minute of this video. Thanks for all the work you do Mark.
Wow, thank you!
As a reader of God's Word, I will say that any translation that expresses theology accurately if fine for me. I have 10 different Bibles an d when I pick up one to read I hopefully understand it. If confused, I just check several other Bibles to get clarification on the meaning of the passage. I think it is a straight forward approach to understanding biblical truth.
Yes!
@@markwardonwordsI must list these translations..... KJV, RV, ASV, RSV, 1978 NIV, NKJV, NASB, HCSB, ESV, ME...... Goto is RSV. ESV for church. Really like ASV.
Do you think the word "saint" has become a false friend? I grew up with the correct understanding that all Christians are saints in the biblical sense. However, most people today tend to separate "saints" from mere Christians. This would be an interesting false friend, as it shows up even in some new translations, though I think the NIV actually opts to translate the Greek "hagiois" as "God's holy people" instead of saints.
Boy; I'd have to think about this one. My initial feeling is that, no, it's not a false friend, but I'm willing to consider this…
@@markwardonwords That was my initial thought too, but the more I thought about it, I began to think that maybe the influence of the Catholic Church has over time perhaps stripped the English word "saint" of its old meaning in the minds of the "plough boys", especially after listening to the kid in this video read from the KJV. (My wandering mind...)
I think you have a point. Like you I was brought up in church being taught what saint meant in a biblical context, but in the UK most people aren't part of a church let alone go to Protestant church meetings so who would teach them the meaning and why would they think they needed to look it up? We only hear about saints on TV when the Catholic church has beatified or canonised some dead person. Biblical knowledge and understanding is rapidly falling out of our culture.
The best translation is the most accurate one you’ll read everyday. God’s word is our daily bread.
Yes!
I love this guy 🤭 it never dawned on me that’s why the milk is in the back of Walmart. 🐄
You learn all kinds of things here! ;)
Just found your channel. Thank you for the great content that I have seen so far. By the way, I have prayed about the bible version issue a lot and last year, the Holy Spirit led me to 1 Corinthians 14 as well. He also showed me that if the original letters were written in the common Greek of the day why can't we read them in our common modern language. Thank you again!!
Amen! A precious truth to be protected!
I've looked at some of your content and I want to watch everything! I really look forward to learning more about translations. Thank you for your work!
Enjoy!
Hallelujah wherever you work at they are truly blessed to have you praise the Lord. Enjoy your journey
Ha! I’m not so sure… Pastoring is hard, and I’ve made mistakes. =|
@@markwardonwords yes, I've been there done that.🤓
Nice wrap up on the 50 false friends topic . Sorry you had to put up with those vile folks that you mentioned. I have one of those types that I have come across. I won’t say his name he called himself a pastor a mr S. A. Here in the Phoenix area.
It’s so ironic that they believe in one translation only when even the original writers of the NT used the Septuagint and some of the Hebrew to quote the OT . Great job Mark looking forward your new content.
. I will keep you in my prayers on your new direction for your channel.
Blessings
Right. This is why a number of them reject the existence of the LXX. Thank you for your prayers-that means a lot.
Great video...got your book on the subject from Logos.
Enjoy!
Thank you for this. I can only strive to have your massive amounts of humility, passion, and love. Have a blessed day
Pray for me, brother. Those amounts don't feel massive right now. =(
@@markwardonwords you single handedly gave me the power and inspiration to stand up for the Bible in all its translations. I fell in love with the ESV and having pastors tell me it was corrupt seemed wrong to me. Never forget the impact you’ve had on my life as well as so many other Christian’s.
Philippians 4:13
[13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
@@malcolmhayes9201 Praise God! Hold on to the truth here! Don't let them tempt you back!
Thank you for this enlightening video. I come from a KJV only background. The KJV is still the only translation I personally read, but I am needing to understand how to work together with other believers who are using the NKJV and the ESV in ministry. In order to not violate my conscience, I need to understand the differences in the versions and get some questions answered. You have answered many of my concerns (for which I am grateful). I will be checking out some of your other videos. Thank you for sharing and for taking some undeserved heat from those who are wrongfully questioning your motives.
Many thanks. May the Lord help you, sister!
PRAISE GOD! I’m so thankful I found this channel. After being saved I got into a kjv only church. I’m enjoying your teaching. It’s wonderful to hear your perspective. I’ve been fearful for 20 years to use a different version. Your teachings are clearing things up for me. I appreciate you!
Take your time, my friend. There are many other responsible voices to listen to as well. I work to be accessible, though, in a way not all responsible voices feel called to do! I pray that my work can indeed benefit you in a lasting and healthy way.
@@markwardonwords thank you brother.
Your next series should be "100 false friends in the Bishops Bible" 😆!
I feel certain there are that many. And as soon as there arises a Bishop's Bible Only movement (BBO), I'll do the work, I promise! =)
"The bible is clear on matters of salvation but on countless minor points God has chosen not to give us the level of certainty we might want." So in a similar way, words like "meat" for food or "ass" for donkey isn't going to effect our salvation. Many of these words I understand through context or I can look them up. But yes, I agree that this is a challenge, if you don't know that a word or phrase has a different meaning. And it's good to know it's true meaning. But as a whole, with the KJV I understand enough to grasp the essentials. Even with modern bibles, there's disagreements over the meaning of verses, even though we clearly understand the words. Also, with many modern versions, there are words and verses missing that are in the KJV.
I'm not an onlyist, but I find the KJV uplighting, and it touches my heart in ways that no other bible does. At the same time, I do appreciate modern versions of the bible, too.
I'm one of your Catholic viewers and really enjoy your videos and point of view. I know Catholicism isn't your focus, but I do see one weakness in your discussion of the Catholic Church's use of Latin. The Catholic Church is universal, with people speaking hundreds of languages. What language should one (the Pope, for example) speak to the universal church? Although I usually attend a Novus Ordo (English) mass, the Tridentine form is appealing (on occasion) because I feel connected to the worldwide Church and the Church throughout time. Also, I have a missal and translations are provided, so I don't feel like I don't understand what is being said when I do attend Tridentine mass. This comes in handy if traveling in a foreign speaking country. I can attend the Tridentine mass and know exactly what is going on (aside from the homily). Speaking to the universality and connectedness of the Catholic Church is very different from talking about daily/weekly mass/services a local parish/church. I know, not your focus, but I don't think you can completely write off "dead" languages - just something to think about.
I've been thinking about this. I appreciate your gracious response; it comes from a new enough angle that I think I'd like more time to think about it!
Great video, Mark. Thank you for your humble spirit. Looking forward to getting your 50 false friends book when it comes out. Have a blessed week, brother.
Thank you so much, Corey, and for your prayers.
Excellent presentation! After talking to many KJO observants I have come to the conclusion that the majority of their arguments boiled down to one thing, pride. I've had a person explaining to me their principles but when I asked him why he did not use the 1611 Authorized version he didn't catch the implication. I pointed out that if accuracy were the real issue then they would switch to the NASB because, as one scholar and translator said, "the NASB is the horse you ride to learn Greek." He told me he wouldn't because "it's a Catholic Bible," whatever that is supposed to mean. I have also had to swallow my pride and am transitioning from the NASB (my absolute all time favorite) to the CSB because the majority of people I now know barely have an 8th grade reading level. That's not a dig, just a statement of fact. If they cannot understand the language used in the NASB there is no possible way they will understand the KJV. At least give them a version that when they do read the Bible they can understand the language.
It is difficult to reach people who believe in a conspiracy theory, and that’s what KJV-Onlyism is. It says that all the scholars who SAY they’re trying to help you are actually dupes or devils trying to undermine true Christianity. But I share precious common ground with my KJV-Only brothers: we all want to understand God’s Word. And I believe that I can build on that common ground.
Mark and viewers, is there a really good KJV Bible that includes notes that clarify most or all of the most confusing or easy to misunderstand words? Alongside, not in the footer - and not including cross references or manuscript notes?
If you could include the best 2 or 3 choices, it would be a great help to me. I’d like a KJV that I can take to my KJV-P church, and also find such words easily by glancing to the side to check
Thank you very much.
Paul
Knoxville Tenn.
I'd send you to the KJV edition I use in my videos. www.amazon.com/dp/0785295143?tag=3755-20
It's from Thomas Nelson. It's the KJV Personal Size Large Print Reference Bible in their Premier Collection. You don't have to get goatskin; they're not all expensive. I think it catches more archaic words than any other KJV edition I've seen.
Great wrap up video. I listened to the whole thing. Very well done!
It’s an honor, Andy.
Hi Mark. Is the 21st Century King James an attempt to address objection #4? Thanks
I believe so. I'm not certain how successful they were. Just haven't had time to go over it in detail.
@@markwardonwords thank you, thanks for all your work
Thank you Dr.Pastor Mark for this video which is really informative and helpful to me in my research on the King James Bible particularly to those who don't access to many reading materials which shared to viewers and listeners of this video.May I ask for your comment on choosing between the Westminster Reference Bible published by Trinitarian Bible Society and New Scofield Reference Bible 1967?You maybe surprised why addressed you as Dr.its because I read an article you wrote "Which Textus Receptus?:A Critique of Confessional Bibliology which I am now reading and paused to watch this video.
Yes, I’m a Dr. But, as I tell my kids, not the useful kind. =) I’m not intimately familiar with the New Scofield. I do like the TBS Westminster Reference Bible. They did well with those glosses. I don’t favor the two-column, every-verse-a-paragraph format, however. It depends on what you need a given KJV edition to do for you. For daily reading, I would push you pretty adamantly away from that format and into a single-column, paragraphed format.
Thanks for your response Dr./Pastor Mark.The reason I ask you about the NSRB(New Scofield1967) is because of the article by Pastor Sam Gipp about the NSRB saying its not KJV version and the updating was made years after C I Scofield passed away and with his permission and that those involved are deceiving the public into believing it's a reliable reference Bible.I would like to say I'm using in my daily Bible reading the Geneva Bible with my KJV,NASB 1995 and ESV beside me.Sometimes i can't help but think here is a version/translation that is older than KJV which maybe consider that time by Geneva Bible only if there was such a group that there is no need for a revision or updating of the GB because its a perfect translation.Before I forget one archaic word which I read yesterday is consumption in Leviticus 26:16 and Deuteronomy 28:22 in the KJV,NKJ,NASB while the ESV and NIV 1984 read wasting disease,I'm surprise to find out in the TBS list of archaic words which have changed meaning there is no definition for consumption.
So glad I run across this series. All the work you've done. The main objection I hear about translations is that the word or doctrine is being changed to possibly devilish beliefs.
Right. And I believe that is most certainly not true. But even if it is, the NKJV and MEV are readily available and are based on the same Hebrew and Greek texts as the KJV!
Ignore the rumors. Do your own research.
King James onlyism is a greater symptom of the problematic nature of fundamentalism and it's terribly implemented philosophy of fallacy-driven argumentation.
"Why I use the King James Bible"
Modern bible translations "try" to improve "readability", but they almost always alter sound biblical doctrine.
These changes can distort the true meaning and intent of God's Word, leading to misinterpretations, confusion, and a departure from core principles.
Consider Matthew 7:14 for one, the KJV version says "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life."
Compare that to the ESV and NKJV, and many others, which say "narrow" and "hard" or "difficult, is the way? Salvation is Simple.
This suttle shift suggest that salvation is inherently difficult, complicating the simple Gospel message of salvation by Grace through Faith in Christ alone.
Considering the doctrinal changes present in the modern versions, I encourage you to research for yourself.
It's not a secret, So let us hold fast the word of God as faithfully preserved in the King James Version. Cherish the simplicity and the purity of the Gospel message, and proclaim it boldly to a world in need of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Keep the truth in doctrine, 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:2-3; 1 Timothy 4:16; Matthew 15:9 7:28; 1 Timothy 6:1; Mark 11:18; Acts 2:42; John 14:15; Romans 16:17; John 15:10, this is just a few.
As always God's Blessings
Awesome job 👍 I had no idea there were so many dead, archaic, obsolete words in the KJV.
It's a big book; they don't appear in every verse. But they're there!
Great video, Mark. When I saw the length, I said to myself that I wasn’t going to watch the whole thing-way too long. I had zero interest. Before I knew it it, I was watching the ending message. I am blessed to be led by the Spirit to read the Bible daily. I’ve probably been something like 70% KJV, 20% NKJV, and 5% CSB. I come from a background of modern translations, and just “discovered” the KJV a year ago.
Always being adverse to writing in my Bibles in the past, I decided to try a wide margin. I wanted to get one in NKJV, but couldn’t find one that I loved (I don’t want my daily driver to have skinny 8 point font-I just don’t enjoy that). I suspect I wouldn’t love the Cambridge Eagle, and there are not a lot of options in NKJV.
I ended up with a KJV, and I’m loving taking notes in it. Long story short, I am probably 90% KJV now as a result. I love the beauty and the extra challenge in the language. I absorb more from the KJV than the CSB, because I have to slow down so much and think about every word. That being said , I have discovered false friends that make me misunderstand. 😔 I am looking forward to your book on false friends. I will be one of the first to buy! 😊.
I have noticed some of the false friends that challenge me in my personal study, and...I don’t know what I don’t know. One that got me is Job 22:24. On of my favorite passages is Job 22:21-30. 24 had me thinking God was to make his loyal servant rich (laying up gold as dust and silver as rocks), but other translations taught me that the meaning is quite different, possibly opposite even.
I do get some things from reading the KJV that I don’t from other translations. However, I have to recognize that it simply can’t be my only translation, and while I do gain from that translation specifically, I also lose from that translation specifically.
I look forward to more videos.
I, too, am relatively new to the KJV. I used some homeschooling materials that utilized the KJV exclusively. I worked some of the assignments with my children, including memorization of verses. A funny thing began to happen over time. When I would hear or read a verse from a modern version, I would inevitably compare it to what I had memorized from the KJV. Uh-oh. Until that point, I had assumed that all versions carried the same meaning, but just used different words to convey that meaning. These verse comparisons between the KJV to modern versions showed the modern versions to read "weak;" also, phrases and important word modifiers were missing from the modern versions.
This led to a personal study that sought to answer the questions: How do the versions differ? Why do they differ? And lastly, what will the answers to those questions require of me? The answers that I found to these questions were life changing.
All these things brought me to a place of conviction about Bible versions. I am so grateful to have "found" the KJV, albeit later in life. Now, if I ever have to refer to passages in modern versions for research purposes, I find that at best, they read like a story book about the Bible; at worst, they contain omissions, additions, and even errors pertaining to many things.
Shirley, internet friend, I’ve been reading and comparing multiple English versions for over 20 years now-and during the majority of that time I’ve been using Greek and Hebrew, too. I can’t think of a single example in which the modern translations are “weaker” than the KJV-except for “he that pisseth against the wall.” I think they ought to go ahead and hold on to that phrase.
As for your “omissions” and “additions” and “errors”-this is the conspiracy theory talk I warn against in this video, my friend. =( I’m going to have to presume that you do not read Hebrew or Greek. If indeed I am right, then I would encourage you to humbly acknowledge to yourself that you cannot judge the quality of a Bible translation. You have to accept the authority of others. By accepting the authority of the KJV-Only voices you have listened to, you have found yourself in deep tension with what Scripture says in 1 Cor 14. They are insisting on the exclusive use of a translation that contains hundreds of dead words and at least 50 false friends that appear 1,362 times by my count. I urge you to watch through my Authorized video series. Seven videos that work through my book.
@@christopheryetzer Thank you for your reminders of the faithfulness and the promises of God upon which we wholly depend. What a treasure we have in the inspired, preserved word of God! I am so grateful that memorizing verses in the King James Bible shed light for me on the ways and instances in which modern Bible versions pervert the word of God. No 'man' can take credit for that illlumination.
The word pervert is used in Jeremiah 23 of the KJV to describe the words of prophets that would falsely 'steal [God's] words every one from his neighbor' or falsely use their tongues and say, 'He saith.' To pervert is to alter or to corrupt. The devil perverted the word of God in the garden (Genesis 3). Paul warned of the many that corrupt the word of God in 2 Corinthians 2:17. Believers ought to always be watching for the subtle (or not so subtle) corruption of the word.
When I began to recognize the omissions, additions, and errors in the modern versions by comparing them against the King James, I was shocked. I sat down with my NIV, the KJV, paper, and pen and began to write down verses as they read in each version. It was not 'rocket science' to compare the verses and recognize the omissions, additions, and errors between them, nor was 'Greek and Hebrew science' required. Praise God that men do not require a 'rocket or Greek and Hebrew science' mind to read and understand the Bible! All we need is the Bible and the Holy Ghost illuminating God's word for us as we read and meditate upon it. That is something that God provides to even a little child! Too, all benefit from the gifts of preachers and teachers which God also provides.
In time, I compiled a list of 100 verses on an Excel spreadsheet with readings from the most popular modern versions today--the NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV--as they read against the King James. There was no mistaking it--there are doctrinal differences between the modern versions and the KJV.
Micah 5:2 in the NIV states that Jesus has 'origins' from of old while the KJV states that Jesus is 'from everlasting.' The meanings of these words are mutually exclusive; both cannot be true. The NIV states in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Avoid every kind of evil" while the KJV states, Abstain from all appearance of evil. The expectation of God is greater than that as taught in the NIV.
A prophetic verse about Christ's wounds from the crucifixion in Zechariah 13:6 in the NIV reads, "If someone asks, 'What are these wounds on your body?' they will answer, 'The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.'" The same verse in the KJV states, And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. A couple of important differences are found between these verses.
The Ethiopian eunuch questions Philip in the KJV in Acts 8:36b saying, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip responds to his question in Acts 8:37: And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The NIV does not have Acts 8:37. There, the man's question is treated as a rhetorical one. The important requirement of believing on Christ prior to baptism is missing along with the man's confession of Christ.
These are just a handful of the important differences between the KJV and the modern versions. When verses are looked at individually, it is hard to think of an area of doctrine that is not impacted by the modern versions. After seeing all of this, I began to read some books about the subject of Bible versions. That reading was enlightening, but really just confirmed what was already made apparent by the KJV itself.
I think that next to evangelism and discipleship, the 'Bible version issue' is one of the most important things believers face today. We are called to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered in Jude 3. That faith is formed and relies upon clinging to the whole counsel of God, EVERY word of God.
God is still revealing truth to babes today.
Thanks again for your encouragement!
(PS: Have you noticed how much easier it is to memorize the KJV than the modern versions? Believers need the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit to face this life. Who would make having these harder?)
@@sm8johnthreesixteen "Micah 5:2 in the NIV states that Jesus has 'origins' from of old while the KJV states that Jesus is 'from everlasting.' The meanings of these words are mutually exclusive; both cannot be true. The NIV states in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Avoid every kind of evil" while the KJV states, Abstain from all appearance of evil. "
Regarding Micah 5.2, the Hebrew word in question is "olam." It's the equivalent of "aion" in the Greek New Testament. Here are some instances of the KJV translating it to mean "the distant past" instead of "eternity past":
- the same became mighty men which were of old (Gen. 6.4)
- Remember the days of old (Deut. 32.7)
- Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time (Josh. 24.2)
- for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land (1 Sam. 27.8)
- the years of ancient times (Ps. 77.5)
- I remembered thy judgments of old (Ps. 119.52)
- I will build it as in the days of old (Amos 9.11)
As for 1 Thes. 5.22, that's actually a case where the translations are saying the same thing, but you're misinterpreting the meaning of "appearance" in the KJV. It doesn't mean "all things that appear to be evil," but rather, "all ways that evil appears." It's easy to misunderstand because the Jacobean grammar sounds unnatural to our ears. In contemporary English, we would feel obligated to make "appearance" explicitly plural with an -s at the end.
@@MAMoreno I am so grateful for the God-fearing, learned men that worked on the translation committee of the KJV (and their predecessors) which put the Bible in English into our hands today. Also, we take great hope and comfort in God's promise to believers in John 16:13a: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth...
Mark, you are doing a very good service in your work. I ❤ the KJV, but have been hurt by KJV only men and women who discourage over 50% of the body of Christ from speaking to groups of people to spread the Good News. It flattens the field of competition for those men who pisseth against the wall who want to become popular preachers, but it also stops people from trusting in Jesus. Ultimately, it makes their business in pride, power and financial prosperity smaller since the Christians are reduced probably better than half. Also, when you speak of brothers in this video, do you mean followers of Jesus, or just male humans? You might be saying that brothers covers both sexes because there is no importance in physical sex when it comes to being disciples and proclaimers of Christ. I wonder if some women get so discouraged that they dry up since they are afraid to preach. Maybe even women so influenced go to hell for not doing the good they could have done.
Lately, I've been reading NKJV and it seems to be keeping the poetry very well intact. For example: compare Psalm 1 in KJV and in NKJV. I love several versions, but NKJV is my favorite at the moment. Ostervald 1877 is my French favorite.
When I say "KJV-Only brothers," I often do mean male Christians-because female KJV-Onlyists almost never talk to me. But I usually try to say "brothers and sisters" if I'm speaking of all Christians.
I agree with what you say. All has opened my eyes of understanding about the KJV of the Bible.
Thank you!
so unmistakably definitive that all other explanations will seem anticlimactic your research speaks for itself although i still prefer the textus receptus because of its clearly evangelical translators as opposed to the dubious faith of other notoriously heretical persuasions , the moderns
Thank you for this! But you should read something by Dirk Jongkind (his Intro to the Greek New Testament of Tyndale House, especially) or Peter Gurry, like Scribes and Scripture. These are believing men, ardent evangelicals.
I tried to share this on Facebook, but for some reason it says that this video goes against the guidelines. What guidelines, and how? There was nothing hateful or derogatory in what you said...
Yeah, not sure!
Do you have an opinion on the KJVER Sword Study Bible that is supposed to be the KJV with outdated words replaced with their modern equivalents?
I have one, but I haven't had much chance to look at it. =| I intend to! I was not impressed with the typographical quality, and that matters a lot to me. But the basic idea is one I firmly support. It looked like it was done responsibly.
Dear Mark,
I would prefer to share the following in private, but I guess that it will help your ‘channel’ if I post it here.
I was only introduced to your presentations through an ‘automatic site recommendation.’ so my comments are a long way behind when you initially posted the subject matter. Having typed that, I have appreciated each video as totally new; just like reading an old book for the first time. Albeit, with the added advantage (and privilege) of sharing my coincidental thoughts with the author... and other readers; viewers.
I would just like to commend you for the work that you are putting in to share your knowledge and concerns; on top of your ‘day job’ and family commitments.
While we do not have so much of an issue with King James Only theology here in Australia, I remember a Baptist friend of mine, back in the 1990’s used to talk about this very topic. He was a wholly wonderful person, but highly adamant about ‘putting people straight,’ if they happened to say anything contrary to his view on life. As he was much older than I, I used to just nod my head in agreement out of respect and sometimes chuckle to myself at a more personally convenient time. If the same situation raised now, I may simply ask a few pointed questions to try to balance his perspective; which would probably turn into a full blown argument (rather than debate) 🤣 I have to say that before our friendship began to flourish, I was ignorant to the various versions of the Bible. I just thought that the bible was the bible, not paying attention to the variations of the covers. He introduced me to the KJV and I bought a beautiful little leather bound copy, that I still have... but then found that I preferred reading my paperback NIV... I eventually discovered the Thompson Chain Reference versions and opted to buy the NIV version... and built up my own little Zondervan library of essentials... and various other books as I felt that I required. NO GREEK... Too lazy. 😁
Of course, times change and I have all the titles within a software based environment... when I decide to actually read; but it is comforting to know that I have them all at the ready.
Anyway. I hope that you manage to keep up with your endeavours, thoughtfully balancing all of your commitments, as not to let one of your commitments fail because of another... while your audience continues to grow.
Best regards. 👍
Thank you for your kind words! May the Lord bless your Bible study!
And I could use your prayers about those commitments… It's getting a little rough!
Just started watching this video and wanted to add that I'd only recently learned about the different "meats" when watching a show on historical Britain; it's fun to learn that odd-to-our-ears terms like green meat and white meat were the common ways to designate vegetables and dairy, but you're right: these little historical oddities shouldn't trip us up while reading the Bible.
Right!!
Mark, I really appreciate your work and and plan on applying the knowledge out there in real life, but your videos are lengthy and in-depth. May I request you do a few recaps, summaries, or compilation videos, please?
I’m looking forward to watching the videos for all 50 false-friends ( and intend to). Your message is important, and I’d really appreciate a layout (in video) that’s more concise, and ironically, easier to understand. And therefore easier to tell others.
Hmm. This is a good idea. Will cogitate.
I didn't know that Matthew 6:27 is ambiguous in the Greek. I wondered why this verse in the ESV reads differently from the KJV and was concerned. Thank you for clarifying the reason behind this difference.
My pleasure!
The real irony is that no text, original or translation, removes the necessity for biblical interpretation or eliminates different possibilities of meaning in so many verses. This is how human language works-even if inspired by God. KJ-onlyism imagines that it escapes this problem by having "one true word of God," but it doesn't. One translation doesn't make the Bible's intention easy, simple, and transparent in countless cases.
Just like there isn't one textus receptus, there isn't one King James. I would ask KJV-only people which KJV version they think is "the one." If they say the first one, then why are they talking about Jesus all the time when the original KJV used Iesu? Virtually nobody uses the 1611 KJV and most use the 1769 version. How do anyone believe the 5th revision is inspired but not the first four?
Regarding #4, what is your opinion of the KJVER?
I know it is not simply an annotated KJV, since it makes some changes, but it seems like it would answer this criticism being a mostly accurate update without significant revisions to the text. I believe I've seen some KJV-only people nit-pick it.
Calling it that means relegating itself to study status; no one is going to use an "Easy Reader" KJV in the pulpit. That's not bad; it's just true. What I'm aiming for is the (slow, if need be) replacement of the KJV in pulpits and other institutional contexts. So the KJVER has little utility for me, except to show, sadly, that many people who say "The text is the issue" are rejecting contemporary, intelligible translations based on the same text as the KJV.
@@markwardonwords that makes sense.
Wait: you've made $6.06? You're sixty cents away from being exposed as the Man of Sin! :P
On another note, I don't really think that learning the word "propitiation" (or retaining it in translations) is particularly helpful. Even more so than "justification," "sanctification," and some other theological terms in English translations of the Epistle to the Romans, it's a case of a word borrowed from Latin for the sake of borrowing a word from Latin, a vestige of Renaissance Biblical scholarship. (The RSV's alternative Latinism "expiation" is no better.) Surely we can go with better English glosses of ἱλαστήριον. I favor "atonement" because it's rooted in Old English words and because it's a word that people still actually use.
My wife and I both got a laugh out of that one! I have now passed $6.06, but I didn’t notice any moment when I was at $6.66 (or $6.16, according to some textual critics!). =)
Boy… I’m prepared to be wrong about “propitiation,” and I’ve done some work on it in the past. I’ve been happy with the word because the concept it names is so important to the aspects of the gospel I take to be central. This is the kind of thing that few people are going to get without some help, so I tend to fall back on my usual “using-multiple-translations-can-only-help-tip-you-off-to-a-great-Bible-study-project” line. I’m okay with certain evangelical translations going different directions (“sacrifice of atonement,” one says, if I remember right).
@@markwardonwords Yes, the NRSV opts for "sacrifice of atonement" (as does the NIV), which I prefer over the Latin gibberish that is "propitiation." At the same time, there's a good argument for "mercy seat" in the particular context of Rom. 3.25 (CSB, NET, LEB; cf. Tyndale, who never uses "propitiation" in any of these passages).
Curiously, the Geneva Bible went with "reconciliation" in Romans (and elsewhere), while the KJV follows the Bishops' Bible in using "propitiation" (and then goes on to use it in 1 John 2.2 instead of the BB's "atonement," perhaps influenced by the Rheims New Testament or by a desire for increased concordance).
Meanwhile, the ASV, NASB, NKJV, and ESV have managed to out-propitiate even the KJV by switching out its "reconciliation" gloss in Heb. 2.17. It's really bizarre to see more modern translations sticking in *additional* creaky Latinisms instead of moving away from them, but there it is.
@@christopheryetzer The underlying gematria works out the same with either variant numerical reading, so I'm not all that worried about Daniel Wallace potentially ruining things for conspiracy theorists and fans of The Omen.
Very clear and well done, thank you Mark
Thank you!
Good video, looking forward to the new book.
Thank you for faithfully watching and commenting, David. The book will likely take up to a year.
Responding to a couple of your points:
1. KJV impossible to read! This is obviously an extreme statement, but I would like to say I find the understanding and comprehension does go down considerably when someone reads from KJV. In fact, I have to go to a modern translation and re-read the passage to know what it truly says. I do not digest the finer nuances of what is in the passage. Now, while I am fully bilingual and English is my second language, I don’t think my ability to understand is any less than native born English speakers. The ability to understand depends in a great deal on how much they have read and studied.
2. I had never thought of Corinthians 14 in light of translations. You laid out the underlying principle of understanding the message very well. Thank you.
5. As someone growing up in a country where English is not the first language, it would never have dawned on us to think a specific translation was the perfect Word of God. KJVO was a concept that would never have entered my mind. What really surprised me when I encountered it was the lack of discussion of the underlying Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic text. To me that would be the obvious foundation for a good Bible. I have since learned there is discussion on this also, but what I initially encountered lacked this consideration. It was also very offensive to think that my grandmothers and my mother would have never read God’s Word because it was not English! They did not know any English.
Thank you for your insightful videos. KJV as a historical translation I have great respect for. It shows us how God providentially has been giving us his word. He is continuing to give us his word in modern translations, English and other languages, and I do not want to say no thank you to that gift.
Excellent comment!
to quote the king James version( of which i read for 14 years , and i do still like that version.) "A wise man becomes a fool that he may learn". If anyone holds to a view, with evidence that it may be wrong, and STILL doesn't change on facts, then i say, they have become a "fool" in this area( not that I am calling people fools, but the idea that they will not learn no matter what is given in correction, it doesn't mean some cant be KJV only people). PRIDE says i do not need correction nor do i want it, i know it all. To paraphrase Paul the apostle, "IF anyone thinks he knows anything, he doesn't know as he ought", - and another, "we see dimly as through a glass." this does not mean the KJV is bad, i still really like the version, but in reality those "false friends and dead words really messed me up in my understanding in my earlier christian years ( especially the struggle I had from the garbage JESUS saved me out of)
Right: the goal is understanding what God has said! May the Lord help us!
Most of these "objections" are simple ad hoc rationalizations. They are objections specifically crafted to defend their KJV-only stance which they have already assumed to be correct.
I think the 1 Cor 14 objection, at least on initial, inspection, bears some weight. But I'm not aware that anyone has tried to respond to this now two-year-old (right?) response.
Great video and good answers to these objections.
Many thanks!
Hello! Have you made the document with the fifty false friends? I was looking for it in the description but it hasn’t been posted yet.
Super close.
@@markwardonwords that’s great news! Thank you for your content, it has been a blessing.
great series - good work.
Thank you!
The problem with Defined King James and Westminster Reference KJV is that they look like they were done by amateurs if you compare them to annotated Hamlet like Arden Shakespeare Hamlet, Cambridge Shakespeare Hamlet and Oxford Shakespeare Hamlet.
Could Nehemiah 8:8 also apply regarding translation? "They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading". Regarding the returning exiles to Israel.
I've long felt that it might be about translation. I did talk about this passage briefly in my book. amzn.to/2r27Boz
Outstanding responses to objections raised by KJV Onlyists or exclusive users and see no need for revision or updates of archaic English words that have faded from the vernacular or have changed meaning. What I don't get from them is the fact that what they have in their hands is not the same as the 1611 original and the version underwent a number of revisions between then and 1789. This is a great and most helpful video.
Right on: they don't acknowledge this to me, either. They insist that the changes were just in spelling, when David Norton has shown that that simply isn't true. But the conversation always dies at that point.
@@markwardonwords
I like the KJV Brother Mark and is the version I am most familiar with. I use it alongside the NKJV and sometimes refer to Darby's Translation and the very hard to read word for word YLT. Thinking about getting hold of a hard copy of the MEV that seems a decent Majority Text based version. The church I am in fellowship with have adopted the NIV and would rather they used a Majority Text Version but I would consult that from time to time too and in places I have to admit that some things are more clearly phrased and make more immediate sense than how rendered in any of my Majority Text Bibles. I was KJV Only at one time like yourself but have come to see that is an illogical position to take and involves a myopic denial of not a few straight up facts. The KJV is an excellent translation for the English vernacular of the time it was devised and then revised but it is not perfect and maybe not even the best translation there's ever been and have heard quite convincing arguments that the Geneva version was more accurate. The solid and serious Puritan Christians of that time were very reluctant to take on board the KJV and stuck with their trusted Geneva Bibles. In certain wordings, there is a bias towards Episcopalian concepts of church government and maybe it was this they were suspicious of. I'm all on for continuing use of the KJV but exclusive use just doesn't hold up.
I have noticed that when I comment on YT around faith-based matters, any caustic, scornful or impolite replies tend to come from either of 2 groups. One is those that deny the eternal security of the believer and think that salvation can be forfeited. The other are the KJV Onlyists and who like to say that I have 'no final authority' and have compared me to Catholics and even Mormons.
These videos are superb Mark. Much, much blessing in your service for the Lord.
@@bloodboughtbigphilr8266 Just to clarify one thing, the KJV, NKJV, and MEV are not based on the Majority Text, but rather on the Textus Receptus, which is very similar but does have differences. If you meant Textus Receptus all along, then MEV sounds like a good choice. But if you really meant Majority Text, I can recommend the World English Bible. It's one of the few English translations of the Majority Text, it's in modern English, and it's in the public domain.
@@curtthegamer934
Thanks Curt. The TR versions are very much predicated on the Majority Text and often described interchangeably but there are differences. The Majority Text still corrects the TR. I'll have to check out The World English Bible and appreciate the recommendation. It would be good to have a version that's wholly based on the Majority Text for reference. Much blessing to you Brother.
Mark, I’m thankful for your work! The book and these videos! I’m sure that the negative comments make this a miserable topic to cover, but it has been a light for so many. I think we could agree that the way KJV-onlyism is defended (as akin to blasphemy if you read another translation) is troublesome at least .
I appreciate your words very much. May the Lord help our erring brothers and sisters-and lead us ourselves away from temptation.
This is what I'm struggling with I grew up KJV only and have literally in the past few days started on the ESV. I'm kind of afraid because I've had it drilled into my head that the other translations are pretty much like putting poison directly into your brain.
Having discovered you just last week, I've scanned thru your videos, watching and commenting on a number of them. (By the way, the one with the "hall-urchin" ... she was adorable.) Here's what surprised me. My ministry years spanned 1981 to about 2009 and I never had a clue that there was still much ado about the KJV, the topic of most of your videos. I guess there's been a whole world of controversy I was clueless about. I never knew we were not, according to some, supposed to use other versions. With such insistence, I would have thought they would require Greek and Hebrew manuscripts only, ignoring that the originals don't exist anyway. Is there no end ..... ?
What denominational circles did you pastor in?
Great work dear brother!
Many thanks!
Ever been to a New Believers discipleship Class? Ever notice they DONT tell them there are 7000 textual variants in the critical texts Vs Byzantine manuscript tradition?
Agreed. And I think they should start explaining that toward the end, depending on the length of the class. Not something to mention the first day, but not something to avoid mentioning till people discover it on their own-from Bart Ehrman's TH-cam videos.
@@markwardonwords Amen. Forwarned to be Forearmed
Lets be clear and honest the venerable KJV is a good translation and we can confidentiality say it is the word of God. However it is a translation of the originals and has its weakness as do all english translations. In fact all of our most cherished popular translations are very good and provide us with all that is necessary for faith godliness and sound doctrine. There is not one single doctrines we regard as necessary to salvation obscured because of modern translations and the original texts from which they are translated. NASB NKJV ESV NIV NRSV NET are all solid translations we can use. No one is bound or morally oblogated to use the KJV exclusively despite what the cultists say.
I've made it through all of the FF videos to this point. I find some of your resultant arguments/comments from the KJV-Only folks a bit discouraging and maybe even a little disturbing. When clear evidence is presented through multiple videos but the message is still rejected, what is one to do? I would like to think Christians can approach a topic/discussion like this with some rationality. I can understand the differences in opinions around the manuscript lines (TR vs Byzantine vs. Alex.) or 'why do we need so many translations?' but that's not what we are talking about here. We are talking about a single word (in most cases) that used to mean something different than it does today (black and white).
Why is this so controversial and blindly rejected? We as Christians shouldn't ever be in a mental state of 'I don't care what you say or how true it is - I will reject it'. We see this in abundance in secular society today (politics, media, etc.). It's the sign of a hardened heart.
"The sky is blue". "No it's not".
"Convenient no longer means what it used to". "Yes it does".
"Do you understand 'Incontinent' in this verse?". "Of course! I always have".
And the truly sad part of all of this is if you were 'attacking' (/s) the NIV translation with the exact same False Friends arguments (and the KJV never came into the picture), the KJV-Only crowd would be your biggest supporters. I know this isn't the same as 'calling good evil and evil good'. But when you blindly reject something just 'because' - aren't you approaching this? This is exactly what the unbelieving world does constantly. Just watch the news. I take that back - don't watch the news.
And I say all of this being a predominantly KJV reader. I love the KJV.
Mark - I appreciate all of your work on this. I don't think I will ever stop reading my KJV bible. And, this series of videos has only increased my understanding and thus edification. 🙂
I'm totally with you. But here's how I remind myself to show mercy to these folks, just a few points in no real order:
1. I have to think that there is a significant number of KJV defenders who are listening silently and taking what I'm saying about false friends, at least, on board. No matter what viewpoint you have on whatever issue, you don't immediately give up publicly on that viewpoint the instant you hear some data you can't account for. It will take time. It has taken time with many people. And if people who watch my videos fail to move on to the ESV or NIV but they read the KJV with better understanding, I've still got a ton to be happy about.
2. It's the most cantankerous people who are inclined to make negative comments. Most people, most of the time, just ignore videos/channels that they know don't share their perspective. And how different is this from what I do? Not much. I don't watch progressive Christian channels; they fill me with dread. I don't do a lot of listening to egalitarians on the left or QAnon conspiracy theorists on the right. I see why a lot of KJV-Only people view me as a dangerous progressive. I would have felt the same as a teenager.
3. Not many wise, not many noble are called. I see a lot of evidence out there not of malice but of simple ignorance. People who may be very good at whatever their jobs are simply don't understand language change. It's just too easy to dismiss all Mark Ward's claptrap if you don't understand the building blocks of linguistic principles. It's easy to assign language change to the category of "bad stuff that liberals do," especially right now as people really do seem to be making a self-conscious effort to change elements of English that relate to gender and sex.
Thank you for your patient listening, your thoughtful comment, and your concern. Pray for our brothers and sisters who reject the truth here.
Mark,... You da man!
There is none good but God! ;)
King James is an important early modern English version. Standard English owes a ton to KJV, being the early Primary for education of children and English usage. Maybe that is why it's mostly readable, except for some language changes. My late mother's Bible defined words in verses, she liked never having to use a Dictionary. I think I'm mostly KJV and NKJV, that's it.
You might enjoy my Fifty False Friends in the KJV series, Timmy:
th-cam.com/play/PLq1Aq0ucgkPCtHJ5pwhrU1pjMsUr9F2rc.html
I'll bet you'll learn the meaning of some words you didn't realize you were misunderstanding!
Agreed! If the KJV is perfect, then why did God see fit to preserve, in a cave, more ancient manuscripts than the KJV translators had that do clearly point out its errors?
Thank you good video a Simplified KJV review would be good. We used to be a KJV only Bible Baptist church now we are a Brethern fellowship that uses the NKJV,KJV andSimplified KJV. God Bless😀
I really do need to do that!
thank you very much mark it was very insitful to be with you this past couple of years and that is what i tell my brothers down here in El Salvador there are so many bible translations in spanish thank you
Gracias, señor.
There is also another version accurate than KJV. Look for the Koine Greek version.
For the algorithm
Proverbs 4:23 would be a good one to do. Dealing with the phrase "issues of life".
Yes! Good call.
It's all about money son.
No it isn’t. That’s slander, my friend. I literally was in the room with some of the people you’re slandering last week. They are godly men who love the Lord.