KJV Only 4
STUDIES & DOC
King James Only Bible
Part 4 of 5
The Only Holy Spirit Inspired Bible – EVER
By Your servant, Dan Baxley
If we must talk about inspired writing and inspired books we must include the King James Version of the Holy Bible. A book considered Holy and inspired by the Jewish/Christian God. In many ways, however, some would class the Holy writings of the Jews (back slash) Muslims as the Holy and inspired writings. This would leave the New Testament writings of the Christians on the side lines. It is strange how those of Islam claim their writings as Inspired, and having authority over the Hebrew writings, while claiming the same Father, Abraham, and recognizing the Torah, even calling the people of Israel/Judah, the People of the Book, and then go on to claim that their writings, bound up in a volume called the Koran, the accumulated writings of their chosen Prophet, have preeminence over all writings that came before. If we apply that principle, the Latter is the Better, over shadowing, or having preeminence over any Holy Writings that came before, then the KJV Bible would be the clear winner. The KJV Bible found its approval, as a Holy Inspired Book, worthy of worship, around 1611, AD, thus putting it over (behind) both the Hebrew Book and the Book of Islam. Like in a card game, the KJV declaration and acceptance as a Totally, Heavenly Inspired Book, TRUMPS everyone else's hand -- That is, of course, if any of these Books can be called, Truly Inspired, and then, the question -- Inspired by whom?
The Hebrew Writings, are those Christians know as the Old Covenant, but to the Jews, the Torah, or Law, the Prophets and the Writings, combined into a single volume, and accepted by the Christian communities as the Holy Word. Many of the Jewish believers, especially the strict followers of Moses, usually defined as the first Five Books of the Hebrew writings, do not recognize what the Christians call, New Testament writings. And some resent being associated with the cult of Christianity. While the Muslims may recognize YaHshua (they say Yeshua) as a great prophet the Jews do not -- not all Jews, however, there is that branch of Judaism called, Messianic, that do recognize Him as the promised Messiah.
The Muslims also recognize Mary, or Maryam, as the Honorable mother of Yeshua but they deny Yeshua as the son of God, and they resent anyone suggesting Yeshua, a great prophet, as the son of Allah. Their acceptance of Yeshua as a great prophet and even from a miraculous birth, some also saying that Yeshua is going to return with the 12th Imam. The 12th Imam is, of course, their Savior that they are looking forward to returning. Yeshua will be subservient to the 12th Imam, however. But, from their acceptance of Yeshua having existed and the Jewish Rabbis denial of his existence, one would think we, as Christians, would have more in common with the Muslim? Ah, how the world turns. Nonetheless, the Christians claim the Holy Bible of the Jews and the New Testament writings of the Apostles of YaHshua as their Holy Book, complete, finished, and as the only inspired words from the God of all Creation. This is where the breach occurs and now, among Christians, arises a teaching that it is the King James Version Bible, the King James Authorized Bible that is the only Holy Word, the ONLY inspired Words, virtually written by God Himself and there can be no other. All modern versions are classified as Satan inspired, that is, by the King James Only preachers and teachers.
A KJV Only would be offensive to the religious Jew, of course, and this claim should be offensive to most professing Christians. If anything is inspired, and its physical origin is from the Creator of all mankind it would be the Hebrew Scriptures and not later writings, least of all something written (copied) in the year 1611 AD and “authorized” by and English King. They have a good point but do not make much of it because of past history. Remember, at one time the Christians considered the Jews as Christ killers and chased after them from one century after another tormenting and killing them. This has turned around a bit since WWII, when the Christians witnessed the atrocities one race of people were capable of unleashing on another. Even Christians saw the sin in this, finally, not all but most. Besides, for the Jew haters of this modern era there is the Muslim terrorist and their supporters now chasing after the common enemy, the Jew and the West, perceived (correctly) as the Jews great protector. Modern Israel is tough but not tough enough to stand alone. Still, if they were to turn to their Creator in complete trust, which will have to happen eventually, they would and could then stand alone and not rely on other nations to save them.
The subject here, however, is to “inspired Text”, and when we use common sense, even when we consider the past, should tell us this idea of the KJV ONLY is flawed – actually wrong. For one thing, no one will argue the Hebrew Scriptures are not the word of God through the hand of man – not the Jew and not the Christian, not even the Muslim. In fact, the Muslim call the Jews the people of the BOOK. The Muslim pays homage to the Hebrew Scriptures but like most other religious people they hardly ever read it or listen to what it says, preferring instead to create writings of their own. To consider their own writings as from God (Allah to them) is one thing, like the Christian New Testament writings, and then ignore the source, the Hebrew Scriptures, does not make much sense but they do this on a regular basis. If the Muslim would read the Book they think pronounces the punishment against the Jews and gives their book, the Koran, authority to punish them, then they would also read how anyone that goes out to torment the Jews will pay a dear price, that a time is coming when the God of all gods will crush and annihilate all those that have dared rise against His Chosen people – He is going to deliver them. The Christian and the Muslim should pay attention to this detail. But in their ignorance they are blinded by their own words. Imagine an Imam preaching from the Hebrew Scriptures – this could undercut their power base.
(Isa 11:9-14) They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD (YaHWeH) as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations (gentiles) will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. Ephraim's jealousy will vanish, and Judah's enemies will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim.
(Isa 11:14-16) They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them. The LORD (YHWH) will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River. He will break it up into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals. There will be a highway for the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt.
What should the Muslim or even the professing Christian reading these verses think? Should they take up arms and try to destroy what God (YHWH) has said He is going to save? The Muslim call God, Allah, and if their god Allah says to destroy the Jew and the infidel then this “Allah” cannot be the same God of the original Hebrew Writings. Allah cannot be just another name for our Creator, whom the Jews/Israel are supposed to represent. While the Koran of the Muslim calls for the eradication of infidels who will not convert, and for the elimination of Jews, the very BOOK that no one argues against as the words and records of our Creator says otherwise, so they cannot be the same -- the Koran cannot be a compliment to the Hebrew Scriptures, with the Muslims claiming the same source and fathers among Moses, and Abraham, cannot be the same, for the Koran opposes the very words of YaHWeH -- and He is never called Allah. If YaHWeH is Allah then there is a big problem, because they, the Muslim appearing after the Jew has their god contradicting Himself, that is, again, if Allah and YaHWeH are one and the same -- if that were true then this would be a Creator God contradicting Himself and making fools of everyone. Who would dare accuse their god of being in error, and not even know who he is? If Allah, on the other hand, is not the same as the YaHWeH of the Hebrew Scriptures, then who is Allah? Remember, those of Islam claim Moses as a Great Prophet, and Abraham as their source, their Prophet and Father, and they even call the Jews, the people of the Book -- not the Koran, but of the Book, the witness and writings of all Israel. Those of Islam witness against themselves.
So, the KJV has the same problem for those insisting the KJV is the ONLY inspired scriptures. Which god is telling them this? We are told by the God of the Bible, which includes the Old and the New Testaments, that every word is God breathed and inspired by Him.
(Pro 30:5) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
(Mat 4:4) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. (And read Duet 8:3)
(Deu 8:3) And he humbled you, and suffered you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you knew not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the YaHWeH does man live.
When these words were written King James had never been born and you will not find in the Holy writings one single place where King James is mentioned as the author of authority making his version of the Holy Book one and ONLY Bible.
We hear this business of the KJV being called the “only authorized” scriptures. This is tantamount to saying King James is god, because this business of “authorizing” was from the King of England, not the God of the Holy Bible. When they say it is the “Authorize Version”, they mistakenly lead themselves and others into thinking it is the God of the Holy Hebrew Scriptures that is doing the “authorizing” when in fact it is not, it is King James of England. How many different ways can it be said. King James “authorized” the copying and printing of the Scriptures into the English language. Another small point is found in the title itself – King James VERSION, not the King James ORIGINAL. In fact, the “original” copy of this “version” is nowhere to be found. That’s right, the versions we have of that version is a copy from a copy, like most other writings of antiquity, but look how close we are to the historical facts surrounding this version of the Scriptures and you have to wonder how the “original” work could have been lost so soon? Some say it burned up in a fire, which some may think appreciate. It is only paper and ink, it is not in and of itself, HOLY. None of the writings are, it is what is said, what is taken in, what is made into sense and conveying a message, delivered, perhaps by paper and pen, or even stone, but it is not the messenger that is Holy, it is the author and the author comes to us as He chooses. Even our Christ said that the words He spoke were SPIRIT –
(John 6:63) It is the spirit that quickened (makes alive); the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
Are we to now suppose the words on paper, for all men and women to read, are “spirit”? We have a copy, in writing, of what was said and the only way the Spirit can convey to us what these words mean is in our individual minds, where our spirit will receive the instructions and sayings from centuries before. We make a big mistake in making the printed page Holy. We do ere when we or anyone limits the power of our Creator to the printed page. His words, when translated into our minds of understanding become much more powerful that the book itself. King James of England does not have the exclusive right to presenting the written words of our God and Creator and Savior to us. Other writings and translations and copies of those words originally spoke are not confined to just one form. Even the Holy Hebrew Scriptures we have today are a copy of copies and most is from the Septuagint version, that is the Greek version copied down some 200 years before the Messiah, YaHshua , came. That’s right the Masoretic Text of the modern Jewish Bible is nearly all from the Greek Version BC. It is not the written words on the page, my friends, it is the message that is convey and understood in your own head, in your mind, in the seat of your intellect, the deepest part of your own spirit and it is there He, the Creator of all things, makes those words you see come alive and speak to you.
Remember, we see the common sense answer to all of this in the title of King James bible when for generations it has always been correctly called, the King James VERSION, or KJV.
Why, then, do some insist the KJV is more than a version and is virtually written by YaHWeH or YaHshua Himself? Because of “doctrine”, the cherished doctrine handed down as based on the wording, or mis-wording of the KJV. Example in the extreme is found in Mark 16:9-20 is not found in any older manuscripts and has actually been dated to having been added in 11 AD, like a 1,000 years after the fact. There are other additions as well, but I have covered some of these in past articles and studies found in Part 1 of this study. The point is, when we examine the KJV bible and find so many fault the defenders then jump up and claim it is the ONLY inspired work and the final word. This then, for them, is the last word and no other and you are evil if you suggest otherwise. This protects some cherished doctrines that cannot be fully supported outside of the KJV. The scripture example found in Mark says that if you are to be a believer you should take up snakes and drink poison – really? I would think this would be a doctrine the enemy would want us to listen to, and thankfully not many do, not even the KJV Only people. Imagine, our enemy, Satan, devising another way of possibly killing off believers? Just get them to handle poison snakes and drink poison and the fools that do, well, they get what they deserve. Now, wait, I am not saying this, but those who hold to the KJV Only are doing just that. Even if they do not practice what they preach, and drink poison just as the KJV says they are to do, they lead others into believing this should be so because the KJV is the only “authorized” and true word of God – well of their god, perhaps, but not mine.
My God says He wants me to have life –
(Luke 6:9) Then said YaHshua to them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it?
This is a self-answering question and we see the desire of our Lord in “saving life” not the poisoning of life.
(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(John 5:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
(John 5:40) And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
(John 10:10) The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
We should never check our mind our fragile brains at the door of Molech, or of Baal, making the object more holy than the Spirit. The written word is a vehicle, a servant, a messenger to the believer – a tool, if you please. Angels are used in this same capacity and when someone tries to worship one of them, face to face, the angel refuses such worship and many times points out that they are servants, even as we are. The worshiping of the messengers (angels) of our God is very similar to worshiping the pen and paper that carry His Word to us –
(Col 2:18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
(Rev 19:10) And I fell at his feet to worship him (the angel). And he said unto me, See you do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of YaHshua: worship God: for the testimony of YaHshua is the spirit of prophecy.
The title of “angel” can also be applied as “messenger”, so a messenger of God would be and “angel” of God in the same sense and understanding of the word. The written words are too a messenger, even a type of “angel” and is not to be worshiped. Reread, Col 2:18, and maybe we can see the translation going something like this – “… and worshipping of books…”. Are you being beguiled by others insisting the Holiness of the KJV Bible? Expand your understanding and read other translation and see what has been found in the latest studies of the word and archaeological finds. What is written in stone should not be ignored either as it is some of these ancient writings, recently discovered, that add much to our understanding, even to proving the validity of the Holy Bible writings and translations we have today.
If you are flying down the freeway at 70 miles per hour and someone catches up to you and shouts out that you have a flat tire then whose fault is it if you crash because you refuse to believe them? My car never gets a flat, my car always goes full speed ahead, even if it is hundreds of year’s old, nothing falls off of it and if you say otherwise then you are a liar – really? This is the attitude of those pushing this false theology surrounding the KJV Bible.
I am not against the KJV Bible and I use it all the time. It is a great work, a wonderful piece of master literature -- oh, now I am in trouble, calling the KJV literature. Even and automotive mechanic does not bow down to his wrenches and at times will even use a wrench or two as a hammer, usually an older tool.
Hopefully some of the reasoning used here in this article will wake some up and get them started again and not stagnated in the wrecking yard of misapplied thought.
Peace to all who have taken time to read and consider these thoughts.
Email: dan@servantsofyahshua.com