T. Justin Comer

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King James Only

So, I’ve been on YouTube for about three months now. Here is what I’ve noticed: More people hit the thumbs down than people hitting the thumbs up, more people comment negatively than positively, and more people will revert to circular argument than reasoning from the Scripture. The most common arguments that I’ve received are the King James only type arguments.

So, here are the questions that I ask.

If we can’t use the name “Yeshua”, because it says in our English versions the name “Jesus”, then what about the Spanish, German, Greek, Portuguese, Swedish, Polish, or any other language? You don’t read of “Jesus” in the Swedish Bible, because “Jesus” is specific to English. You don’t read of “Jesus” in the Greek, because in the Greek it is “Iesou” (pronounced yay-zoo). So, if we contend that it is only “Jesus” and not any other name that we can call God, then what about these other languages?

The question goes for KJV only. What about the Russian version of the Bible? Do Russians have to learn a specific type of English – one that is dead in modern times – in order to read the Bible? What about before 1600? Was there no viable “word of God” for 1600 years before the King James came along? And, if there was a “word of God” before this, then why can’t we insist upon using that? Why do we now have to make the switch? And, if it is only KJV, then why can’t we learn the original languages to read from the Masoretic (Hebrew KJV was translated from) and the Byzantene (Greek that KJV was translated from) for ourselves? Is it because we might “mistranslate” the words?

Here is what I’ve found…

When I speak on a certain subject, they who disagree will start talking about how this or that text, in the English, says this or that. Then, when I consult the original language with the lexicon (because I don’t always know the Greek or Hebrew words well enough to know their exact meaning and connotations), these arguments are simply waved away by, “Well, that isn’t what MY Bible says…”

How convenient… You have a direct link to God through your own opinion.

Then, when I start to reason on their own terms, they start to get even more angry, sometimes reverting to terrible insult or cursing. That kind of response is not only unchristian; it is antichrist. Why so harsh? Because he who hates his brother cannot then say that he loves God, who died for his brother. If you hate your brother, the love of God is not in you. That is plain in 1 John 4:20.

Here is what I mean to say:
Before you start writing on the Internet this or that response, thinking that you can act however you want because you aren’t talking to their face, know that God is still listening, He is still watching, and He will judge you even by the idle words you “type”.

Responses

  1. Susan Irene Fox Avatar
    Susan Irene Fox

    Can I just say, “Amen!”

    Needed to be said.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. tjustincomer Avatar
      tjustincomer

      I know Rob Bell has a bad name in the Christian world, but he once told those who went to his church, “If you can’t be Christian in the parking lot, you aren’t being Christian in here either…”

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      1. Susan Irene Fox Avatar
        Susan Irene Fox

        Oh, great quote! And I agree with much of what he says, so his name is ok in my house! Thanks for sharing that, TJ.

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  2. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    I try and avoid any arguments caused by what translation people use. It’s the Spirit behind the words who helps us understand what they mean and He is not a God of discord and argument.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. tjustincomer Avatar
      tjustincomer

      There are so many other more fruitful things to put our minds to. I only engage it when I have to, which is a lot more often than I want it to be…

      Liked by 2 people

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  3. Matthew Winters Ministries Avatar
    Matthew Winters Ministries

    I have studied these issues surrounding English versions for years. People will argue what grandpa used before they will look at logic. For some reason, people have this misconception that the Bible and Christianity are without scholarship and logic.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. tjustincomer Avatar
      tjustincomer

      I try to avoid this issue for that very reason… However, when things like this come up, I usually resort to mock and stupid illogical nonsense.

      Liked by 1 person

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  4. rdnk21 Avatar
    rdnk21

    Well said budfy

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  5. rdnk21 Avatar
    rdnk21

    Sorry, should say buddy not budfy

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. tjustincomer Avatar
      tjustincomer

      It’s alright. It’s happened to us all. Grace and peace in Christ, and thank you

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  6. wynnslife4jesus Avatar
    wynnslife4jesus

    I must agree to a certain extent. Certainly those who tout KJV only are almost as bigoted and stuck up that their version is SUPERIOR to ANY other version. Ive done some research on it, and yes, they come from two different text sources: one from Antioch, and the rest from Alexandria. And the they say, “Well, the people were first called Christian in Antioch, so that makes the Textus Receptus theologically superior to any other source text.” And that’s supposed to conclude the argument and they “win” hands down. Also, any of the MANY OTHER textual sources (the Alexandrian ones, Vaticanus and Sinaiticus etc.) are from the Roman Catholic Church and Egypt, and what good ever came from them? Again, no contest. But, this isn’t ABOUT a contest, or who wins the argument. This is about the Word of God, and it touching our hearts and changing us from the “old man” to the “new man” in Christ. And cannot God speak through whatever means he chooses? I have just started my blog, http://www.mylife4jesus.com, and I have thought that I should post something about this very subject. And I think I might—your own post has inspired me.
    That being said, there is much good from the KJV, and at the moment, my absolute favorite Bible is a nice King James that I picked up for my birthday from Local Church Bible Publishers. But I own about ten different translations, because certainly God isn’t corralled into one version only.
    Thank you for your post and inspiration.

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    1. tjustincomer Avatar
      tjustincomer

      Hey there! Thanks for the comment. I also have a very nice KJV, and I read it from time to time (I have a cycle that I go through to keep the texts fresh).
      The texts coming from two different areas might be true, and I won’t debate it because I don’t think it matters too much. The question could be asked: “Why does that matter at all?” Does the area of the world that a text comes from actually dictate whether something is theologically superior? And maybe more importantly, isn’t the point to get back to what John, Paul, Luke, etc actually wrote? Are we concerned with the words of the apostles, or with a theological bias?
      I also understand the concern of following the Roman Catholic texts. But again, a little research shows that the Textus Receptus was mostly constituted by what Erastmus had collected. And, when the translators were uncertain of a certain Hebrew or Greek term/phrase, they consulted the Vulgate.
      And yes, I do think it’s about the new man in Christ. Many KJV only will say that the new man will only enjoy the KJV, because the others are polluted.
      Ultimately, I don’t think the danger is in the KJV, but the mindset that sets KJV above all other versions. It’s dangerous, because it stunts critical thinking in many places, and from a spiritual perspective, it is dangerous to read one translation based on a ‘wisdom’ of the age, and a fear that God will judge you for a wrong wording. That isn’t serving the living and eternal God, but rather the principalities that operate by that very mindset and reasoning.
      Grace and peace in Christ. I’ll have to check out your blog 😃

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  7. wynnslife4jesus Avatar
    wynnslife4jesus

    Thank you for your reply. I guess what I meant about nothing good ever coming from the Catholic Church should have been in quotes, because that was my meaning on what the “KJV only” adherents have to say. Lol…I am a practicing Catholic! So I do hear much evil about the Catholic Church, however, it is my understanding that the whole world was officially Catholic for many, many years, until the Reformation. But I was born in 1973, so I wasn’t there :). And as far as there being two different sources, this was referring to what many other KJVO people say—the Textus Receptus, which is what the KJV is translated from, and the Alexandrian sources, which are supposed to be what “everything else” is translated from. But I complete forgot that the TR came from Erasmus, who himself was Catholic! Thank you for that reminder. Also, the new Modern English Version is also translated from the TR, and it’s sort of a nice update to the KJV, with similar wording and phrasing. And on a side note, my blog only has three posts on it, maybe 4 by the end of today! But yes, a nice little read would be appreciated.
    My question to you is, do you follow a certain or particular Bible reading plan, or is it just where the Spirit leads you? I have a calendar with a Bible reading plan that is produced by Treasure Valley Baptist Church, based in Meridian, Idaho. (I live in the city next over, Boise.) Actually it was at TVBC that I first heard of KJVO. They produce a nice calendar ever year that has the Bible in a year—one OT reading, one from the Psalms, one from Proverbs, and one from the NT. I’ve never completed a year, but I find their schedule most helpful. It changes year to year, which is nice, but always that specific content. Anyway, I was just wondering because you said you have a cycle you go through to keep the readings fresh, an excellent idea that I had not thought of. Thank you for your reply. Let us remain peaceful and thankful for the blessings given us by God the Father through Jesus Christ. —Winnie

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    1. tjustincomer Avatar
      tjustincomer

      My Bible reading plan is really simple: I flip back and forth between OT and NT. I just finished 2 Timothy, and now I’ve begun 2 Chronicles. Next I’ll read Titus, and then Ezra. There are less NT books, so you read through the NT more often, but that’s okay. There are certain books that I find difficult to get through (Numbers has always been strenuous for me), and if it’s causing me to not want to read the Bible, I skip to the next book.
      I just recently (last Christmas) got a new NKJV version that I’ve been using. Before that was the NIV, and before that the Scofield reference, and before that the Jerusalem Bible, and before that a Catholic Bible, before that NIV, and before that NKJV. The rotation is partially because certain versions become familiar when you read them and reference them enough, but also I’ve given away my fair share of marked and highlighted Bibles. Which means finding whatever I can afford at the local thrift store.
      By the way, I’m not affiliated with any denomination, but have no desire to debate. Catholic/Protestant matters to me, but only on paper. Ultimately, I’ve had people who debate me because of this or that doctrine, and I don’t want to be that to others. You’re welcome here.

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