My blog sits in cyberspace, silent, with the occasional reader, awaiting renewed attention. While I am much too busy to write as actively as I once did, and I will post most of my writing at Proclaim & Defend rather than here, nevertheless an old topic calls for some new attention because certain events bring it up again. More discussion, if not resolution, is needed in addressing:
The King James Version debate.
You may be among the many who wish this debate would simply go away. You also probably know that as long as there are vociferous advocates of the King James Only position your wish will never come true.
One recent spark to this topic for me comes from the post on Aug 27, 2018 at Proclaim & Defend by my good friend David Shumate. I encourage you to read his whole article; it is a summary of the various statements made by the FBFI (Foundations Baptist Fellowship International) over the years. In his conclusion, he says:
- The FBFI is on record as holding to the preservation of Scripture as a matter of doctrine. It has also taken the position that it does not believe that this doctrine (or other Scriptural doctrines or principles) compels a specific textual allegiance. However, there is still a need to determine the contours of the doctrine of preservation: what are the bounds of legitimate disagreement, what are the implications for textual positions. For example, does preservation include what is often called “general availability,” and how does this affect textual arguments? On the other hand, can claims of perfect preservation in a specific text cross the line into de facto multiple inspiration?
- A second major question is the issue of what constitutes divisiveness over the issue? The answer to this question, of course depends upon the resolution of the issue just mentioned (It is not schismatic to separate from theological error). The FBFI has always had members that have appreciated and used the King James Version. It also has members who use other translations. When does expressing one’s conviction (perhaps enthusiastically) about a text or translation become judgmental of brethren who believe or practice differently? On the other hand, when does disagreeing (perhaps also enthusiastically) with someone else’s convictions or arguments become dismissive of one’s brother?
I’d like to take some time to write especially in these two areas. I am writing as an individual, not as a spokesman for the FBFI or even my own local church. Besides my own articles, articles from friends who also want to engage the issue will appear here as well.
The topic is one of long-standing, but there is a need for clear definition on these points. I hope our efforts here can move us (some of us?) towards some resolution concerning this matter. I don’t plan daily posts. I don’t have a definite number of posts in mind. It may be a brief flurry of activity for a few weeks, then silence once again. But today, we are raising the oxgoad and we are aiming at some resolution of an issue that even after many decades continues to plague fundamentalism.
— Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
Other posts in this series:
Why Can’t We Update the Words?
Switching Tools in the Translation Debate – Brent Niedergall
Can We Update the (KJV) Words?
A Bible Worthy of All Translations, or “The Nature of the KJO Error”
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