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.
Here's one to ponder:
W. B. Riley stated in his book "The Menace of Modernism" (New York: Christian Alliance, 1917), the Modernist believes the Bible's "inspiration exists only in its ability to inspire . . . its interpretation is a matter of mental conscience." Dr. Riley goes on to say there were a group of men, whom he describes as the "old conception," who believed the Authorized Version or King James Bible (hereafter AV) was inerrant. He states on page 11, "On this point we are inclined to think that, even unto comparatively recent years, such a theory has been entertained." He then ascribes this belief to ignorance, and says, "I think it would be accepted without fear of successful controversy that such fogies in Biblical knowledge are few, and their funerals are nigh at hand." Dr. Riley then erroneously states the AV inerrancy position by saying on page 13, "To claim, therefore, inerrancy for the KJV . . . is to claim inerrancy for men who never professed it for themselves . . ."
So then, it seems clear to me that Dr. Riley believed there were still a few of the "old conception" men in his day that still believed in an inerrant AV, that they were mostly old men, and were soon to pass away. If these men were old men when Riley wrote his book, they must have dated to at least the latter part of the 19th century. Over one hundred years ago, a group of "old conception" men existed who still believed in the inerrancy of the AV. This appears to indicate the "King James Only" position is not of recent origin.
Thus we can see, in Riley's day, a group of men still existed who believed, "(1) the Bible was finished in heaven and handed down, (2) the King James Version was absolutely inerrant, and (3) its literal acceptance was alone correct." (Page nine of Riley's book as quoted by Dr. George W. Dollar in his book "History of Fundamentalism in America," Page 114) We can easily see that W. B. Riley (1861 - 1947), understood this group of men to believe exactly as the "King James Only" crowd does today, and believed it long before any of the contemporary antagonists were born! The challenge of one scoffer to "Name one person who believed in the inspiration or inerrancy of the King James Version prior to 1950 and I'll send you $1000", has just been answered (please send the money to me at the address in the front of this book!). This is the second time I have posted this information, with easily verifiable citations of books, author, and page. The first time Hymers ignored it. If Hymers ignores it again I will assume he is simply a liar and a four flusher who has no intention of keeping his word. If Hymers does send the money to the address below, I will give all of it to missions.
-- arranged by Herb Evans, Flaming Torch – Jan/Feb/March 2004, p. 1
https://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/in...3&toc.id=d1e193&brand=ia-books;query=#docView
