Where did King James only originate?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
7,586
3,171
113
#1
Awhile back I posted that KJV onlyism originated with the Seventh-day Adventist Benjamin G. Wilkinson and his book Our Authorized Bible Vindicated (1930). I recall at least one objection to this but as I remember it wasn't presented very well.

So my question is: Where exactly does KJV onlyism originate if not from Wilkinson? If you are KJV only surely you know. Please keep responses short and direct; it doesn't require an essay, just sources and why this or that person is considered the founder of KJV onlyism.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
7,586
3,171
113
#2
No one?

If there was a KJV only movement before Wilkinson, where did it start and who were the major players? How did it get from there to here; in other words, how did it get from from point A to point B? Is there a clear paper trail?
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,209
6,548
113
#4
The King James Only movement asserts that the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is superior to all other translations of the Bible. Adherents of the King James Only movement, largely members of evangelical, conservative holiness movement, traditional High Church Anglican, and Baptist churches, believe that the KJV is the greatest English translation ever produced, needing no further improvements, and they also believe that all other English translations which were produced after the KJV are corrupt.
These assertions are generally based upon a preference for the Byzantine text-type or the Textus Receptus and a distrust of the Alexandrian text-type or the critical texts of Nestle-Aland, and Westcott-Hort, on which the majority of twentieth- and twenty-first-century translations are based.


King James Only movement - Wikipedia
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,209
6,548
113
#5
Me, personally.......I use the Red Letter Edition of the King James, but will also use the Complete Jewish Bible sometimes just to compare Scriptures in both. Normally, they are one in the same, just different wording. the CJB using Jewish names and such......

I don't care what other people read. IMO, that is between them and God.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
7,586
3,171
113
#6
The King James Only movement asserts that the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is superior to all other translations of the Bible. Adherents of the King James Only movement, largely members of evangelical, conservative holiness movement, traditional High Church Anglican, and Baptist churches, believe that the KJV is the greatest English translation ever produced, needing no further improvements, and they also believe that all other English translations which were produced after the KJV are corrupt.
These assertions are generally based upon a preference for the Byzantine text-type or the Textus Receptus and a distrust of the Alexandrian text-type or the critical texts of Nestle-Aland, and Westcott-Hort, on which the majority of twentieth- and twenty-first-century translations are based.


King James Only movement - Wikipedia
Everyone knows this, but not everyone knows where the KJV only movement originated. Any clues on that one?
 

SomeDisciple

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2021
1,835
823
113
#7
I doubt it was a coordinated movement. At one point I think the KJV was just the most widely available English bible, but when lay-people started buying other versions it made some preachers mad because competing translations made their jobs harder, so they said "KJV only!" To their congregations to make their lives easier.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
12,246
4,960
113
#8
Awhile back I posted that KJV onlyism originated with the Seventh-day Adventist Benjamin G. Wilkinson and his book Our Authorized Bible Vindicated (1930). I recall at least one objection to this but as I remember it wasn't presented very well.

So my question is: Where exactly does KJV onlyism originate if not from Wilkinson? If you are KJV only surely you know. Please keep responses short and direct; it doesn't require an essay, just sources and why this or that person is considered the founder of KJV onlyism.
I would assume it stems from the kjv being the only accepted translation into English of the Bible for so long . And James thorough method of translation and guards against error

it was one of the worlds most massive literary undertakings in history 54 renowned translators broken into teams of nine diligently compared and revised and passed through the other groups until all the experts were satisfied

I think people trust what is established is probably why some only accept kjv also the thoughts of many are that newer translations are being corrupted by the world ect

each believer should believe whatever translation hey can understand and not doubt . We shouldn’t try to make someone else prefer the version we prefer or insist everyone does everything we do

salvstion is a very personal and private thing between a believer and there one and only lord

some people read Shakespeare and it’s like a foreign language and makes no sense , but if they read the original niv the language is. Or what they speak and hear in the world so they understand it better Than they could the kjv

im pretty convinced that the message is the same but only the words are different because over the worlds history. Languages have evolved and changed so really if Gods word is going to be preached to everyone we actually need different translations
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
7,586
3,171
113
#9
I would assume it stems from the kjv being the only accepted translation into English of the Bible for so long . And James thorough method of translation and guards against error

it was one of the worlds most massive literary undertakings in history 54 renowned translators broken into teams of nine diligently compared and revised and passed through the other groups until all the experts were satisfied
I would hardly call it "one of the world's most massive literary undertakings." The KJV is basically a revision of the Geneva Bible. Were you aware of this?

I think people trust what is established is probably why some only accept kjv also the thoughts of many are that newer translations are being corrupted by the world ect
This is a possible explanation for why people today become KJV onlyists. But we're still no closer to understanding why and how the KJV only movement came into existence.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
12,246
4,960
113
#10
I would hardly call it "one of the world's most massive literary undertakings." The KJV is basically a revision of the Geneva Bible. Were you aware of this?



This is a possible explanation for why people today become KJV onlyists. But we're still no closer to understanding why and how the KJV only movement came into existence.
I didn’t I said it was one of the most massive literary undertakings name another that was more massive regarding literature beforehand ?

and yes I’ve looked into how the kjv was translated and what existed before it was translated

I’m doesn’t human nature sort of explain why some will always prefer the thing that was most well established for such a long period of time ? Humans are like that tradition worth’s a lot in mans mind

especially with something as important to believers as the scripture they believe in for their everlasting soul . Trust is why some don’t trust any other versions the kjv was established before anything else really took any significant root in the English speaking world.

there of course we people who tried to translate before that , my point is James version was the one that was accepted basically worldwide for a very long time and those roots still exist in many today

they simply don’t trust other versions because they believe what was priorly established . If the niv would have been established that early on many would be niv only believers .

kjv only is just what came first it was the Bible everyone recognized for a very long time and newer versions just aren’t trusted by everyone

like anything some people think one way others have different ways of thinking some think kjv authorized is the only acceptable version others don’t it’s not really that complex it came about the same way every movement in the church came about and the residue remains in some today
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,481
12,950
113
#11
So my question is: Where exactly does KJV onlyism originate if not from Wilkinson?
When the Church of England approved a revision of the King James Bible in the 19th century, Westcott & Hort were the leading enemies of the KJB. So they decided to change the entire Bible, using corrupt manuscripts for their "critical texts".

However, there were other accomplished and respected textual scholars such as Scrivenener, Burgon, and others, who strongly objected to the wholesale corruption of the Bible. Therefore they upheld the KJB as it was in the 19th century. Since then, all those who know the truth about Bible corruption stand squarely on the KJB. So that is really where "King James Only" began. Some people since then (such as Ruckmann) have gone to extremes, but that does not change the validity of this position.

As to Wilkinson, whether he was SDA or not has no bearing on the subject. He wrote and excellent book, and everyone should read it and stick with the KJB.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,481
12,950
113
#12
The KJV is basically a revision of the Geneva Bible.
That is just nonsense. The KJB was commissioned because of opposition to the Calvinistic Geneva Bible. Which shows that you know little or nothing about this subject.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,481
12,950
113
#13
...but when lay-people started buying other versions it made some preachers mad because competing translations made their jobs harder, so they said "KJV only!" To their congregations to make their lives easier.
Not really. There is a lot more to it than simply making their lives easier.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
7,586
3,171
113
#14
I didn’t I said it was one of the most massive literary undertakings name another that was more massive regarding literature beforehand ?

and yes I’ve looked into how the kjv was translated and what existed before it was translated

I’m doesn’t human nature sort of explain why some will always prefer the thing that was most well established for such a long period of time ? Humans are like that tradition worth’s a lot in mans mind

especially with something as important to believers as the scripture they believe in for their everlasting soul . Trust is why some don’t trust any other versions the kjv was established before anything else really took any significant root in the English speaking world.

there of course we people who tried to translate before that , my point is James version was the one that was accepted basically worldwide for a very long time and those roots still exist in many today

they simply don’t trust other versions because they believe what was priorly established . If the niv would have been established that early on many would be niv only believers .

kjv only is just what came first it was the Bible everyone recognized for a very long time and newer versions just aren’t trusted by everyone

like anything some people think one way others have different ways of thinking some think kjv authorized is the only acceptable version others don’t it’s not really that complex it came about the same way every movement in the church came about and the residue remains in some today
Still waiting for the origin of the KJV only movement.
 

arpon

Junior Member
Feb 24, 2017
73
25
8
33
#15
What is the Word of God?
1) Jesus Christ is the word of God which is the most important. This word of God is unchangeable and it will not change. He is the eternal word of God.
2) The direct message that God told his people, prophet, priests etc and the message Jesus directly said(Which was aramic > So Greek Bible do not stated Jesus's speech directly, Greek Bible has translated Jesus's talk).
3) The Whole Bible which is inspired by Holy spirit that which verse can be there which are not.
*** among these three- I strongly believe unchanging and eternal word of God is Jesus Christ, others I am not so sure, Cause revelation ended after new world, I don't know anything after that. In Old testament time Compiled Bible was not there, in Abrahamic time there was no Bible but they still are saved. SO I know word of God Bible does not save us but Jesus does. I am not saved by How I pronounce Jesus but how I relate to him.

**** Now here is the main point. I think KJV only or others only etc argument are devils plan to make us sidetrack. I don't know which are correct But I know that God use incorrect and incomplete things to do good. Off course God care about his word(Bible) but he cares more about us, his children. I pray for those who extremely argue about these things and miss the main point. It does not get any better if you have the correct Bible but do not have the fathers heart. Just study Bible in humble heart, love God and others and share Gods love in Jesus Name.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
7,586
3,171
113
#18
When the Church of England approved a revision of the King James Bible in the 19th century, Westcott & Hort were the leading enemies of the KJB. So they decided to change the entire Bible, using corrupt manuscripts for their "critical texts".
Can you document that Wescott and Hort were "enemies" of the KJV? That's a pretty bold statement. Is it a fact or just your supposition? Did they ever say: "We hate that KJV and we'll destroy it!"

However, there were other accomplished and respected textual scholars such as Scrivenener, Burgon, and others, who strongly objected to the wholesale corruption of the Bible. Therefore they upheld the KJB as it was in the 19th century. Since then, all those who know the truth about Bible corruption stand squarely on the KJB. So that is really where "King James Only" began. Some people since then (such as Ruckmann) have gone to extremes, but that does not change the validity of this position.
Were Scrivener and Burgon King James only? You said they "upheld the KJV"; but did they ever say: The KJV is the only version authorized by God and all others are false?
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
12,246
4,960
113
#19
Still waiting for the origin of the KJV only movement.
Mans ignorance and prone nature to tradition same as any movement man thinks we have the authority so we follow after traditions established over periods of time

for along time kjv was the Bible everyone accepted and converted to Christianity through heard in church gatherings ect simple brother were always the cause we hand down our own traditions like “ the kjv is the only true version of scripture “ from man to man