One Bible Only?: Examining Exclusive Claims for the King James Bible

By Roy E. Beacham

Book Overview

Pastors and church members alike are in need of solid, sensitive answers to the ongoing questions they confront in ministry regarding the KJV and the veracity of modern translations of the Bible. This honest examination of the "King James Only" position offers a balanced and scholarly presentation of the issues based on the biblical and historical evidence.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0825420482
• ISBN13: 9780825420481
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Kregel Publications
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful!

This book was excellent, written from a fundamental Christian perspective, written in a clear testimony of Christlikeness and brotherly charity. The authors do not go to the extreme of ridiculing the wonderful KJV as some do when they feel defensive. Instead, on a scriptural, logical, even keel they examine the evidence available to us all and the logic of statements made by the KJV-is-inspired claimants. Whether you consider yourself new to all of this discussion regarding texts and manuscripts, etc. or not, you could profit from this book. I understand the perspective of some folks, who vigorously defend the biblical doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration and authority against modern and postmodern claims that the Bible is man's book. I do too, and so do these authors. But we need not go to the extreme of misunderstanding that not ascribing the work of transcription and translation to divine immediate intervention does not endanger these core, fundamental doctrines. "KJV-only" and "KJV-preferred" should not be a test of orthodoxy.

Reasonable and Helpful

Where did Jesus say in Matthew 24:35 that the AV 1611 (a.k.a. the King James version) is the only word of God? Where in His wonderful words: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" does he say anything about His word ending up ONLY in a book in 1611 and then a little later with King James of England's name on it? What Jesus Christ is saying is "His words" which are everything He spoke, because He is God, shall never pass away, they will always stand, even long after the temporary things such as the heaven and earth pass away. It's sad that some people actually believe the absurdity of Gipp, Waite, Ruckman, and Riplinger that by "His words" he spoke them in KJV English. He spoke Aramaic, and being God He most likely knew Greek as well. What He is essentially saying in Matthew 24:35 is that everything He says stands and cannot, will not change. In other words, we can trust Him to not recant, not reneg, not go back on any one of His many promises. We also can trust that every command He gave will also stand forever. His word exists in the KJV, as well as the updated English versions (put into our modern language, just as the KJV was in their day) such as NKJV and NASB. God never said He would one day translate His word into one version ultimately and then that would be it. He said He would preserve it forever, which means He will continue to preserve it for eternity, and this includes the decent English language updates that are done every couple of decades to keep the language clear for the reader as language adapts. There have been many changes in the modern English since 1611. His word was spoken and existed long, long before He even created the earth and universe. It is as eternal as He is, since He is not limited nor controlled by time. His spoken word transcends even the pages of a writtetn text which is limited by language translation in every language of the earth. The Holy Spirit is the One who helps us understand what His written word is saying. His spoken word existed for eternity before He wrote it down for mankind. Matthew 24:35, along with Psalm 12:6-7, has been twisted way out of context and misused by those who wish to conform them to their KJV onlyist stance. This is taking license with God's word in creating new doctrine not literally and implicitly stated forth in what He said. We must take all his words, in all the verses, in context with one another in the passage in which they belong. To take the KJVO stance so strongly, as most of the extremists do, is to revert back to the persecution and control which the Roman Catholic church forced upon anyone who was caught with any bible that was not the Latin Vulgate. Men like Tyndale and others were martyred by the RCC for translating the English bible into the language of the common man so they could read it in their own words and understand God's word. The KJVO extremists hold the same mindset as the RCC with its Latin Vulgate version. This needs s

Sensible, calm, helpful

This book is written by fundamentalists to fundamentalists. It is well-written and gives an excellent defence of the eclectic approach to textual criticism. It shows clearly that the idea that the King James Version is the only inspired one is unbiblical and illogical. The authors of the various articles show that all of the arguments for KJV-Onlyism are based on false information. But the book also contains insights into bible translation and lots of useful information about the manuscripts from which we got our bible, both Old and New Testaments. The writers write respectfully, with due praise for the King James Version and with courtesy to those who hold different points of view to them. I have learnt quite a bit from this book, despite having previously read books such as Carson's The King James Version Debate: a plea for realism [which I also recommend, despite its age.] Warmly recommended.

Best Book On The Preservation Issue

This book was originally released as "Central Baptist Seminary: The Bible Version Debate" in the 1980s. This updated version is a response to a video series by Pensacola Christian College in favor of the KJV Only point of view. (Ironically, the presenter of the PCC video was himself a graduate of Central Seminary, earning four degrees there in the 1960s). The book is excellent and details preservation of both the Old and the New Testaments. It borrows heavily from Daniel Wallace of Dallas Seminary in the preservation chapter. And the ending features Master's Seminary teacher Larry Petegrew and why the King James Only point of view simply won't hold up when compared with the evidence. This book is better than the James White book although not as 'contemporary.' But White's book is easier to locate. Check a nearby seminary to find this book.

Defining Deliverance For the Layman!

This book's consise format takes the reader through the history of the KJV-only issue and delves into all the hot spots without resorting to name calling as most Pro-KJV authors do (ie. Riplinger, Ruckman, Grady). The truth of God's inerrant Word shines brightly through the pages as we see clearly the translational process and preservation of our bibles today. Another plus is that the language is formidable-- what you would expect from educated, Godly authors! Carson and White's books were good, but this is the best yet.