2011 Marks the 400th Anniversary Year for the King James translation of the Bible

The year 2011 marks the 400th anniversary year for the King James translation of the Bible which has given another occasion for some to criticize the KJV. The criticism comes in the form of attacking the scholarship of the translators by criticizing the lack of scholarship of the Greek manuscripts from which the King James was translated. But most of all, critics tend to make fun of those who take a position of King James only. For the record, I am, with conviction, a supporter in the Received Majority Text. I preach and teach from the King James. However, as I have blogged before, making statements from the pulpit needs to be totally truthful. 

Many critics make fun of preachers who stand in the pulpit and shout that they preach only from the 1611 King James Version. I am afraid that at preacher's fellowships and other Bible Conferences I hear too many times preachers make statements such as, “Bless God, if you are not preaching from a 1611 you are preaching from a perversion.” Truth is very important. I do not know of anyone who preaches from the 1611 King James Version due to the fact that the English words of that day do not look much like our English words today. You will see from the example below that most people would have a difficult time reading it. So, when statements are made from the pulpit that we use only the 1611 it allows for much attack. 

The facts are that we have the Word of God. Our Bible is our Final Authority in all aspects of life. God in His power preserved His Word to all generations. We do not need to make ignorant statements. Preachers, please teach the truth and speak the truth in all statements made.