Bible Study Resource The KJV

Bible Study Resource
The KJV-NIV Debate
by Dr. Jeffrey Khoo

1a. Introduction

1b. Controversy in the B-P Church

Lately the Bible-Presbyterian Church has been drawn into the KJV controversy. Within the B-P denomination, one will find a polarisation of views. There are basically two camps: (1) the pro-KJV camp, and (2) the anti-KJV, or pro-NIV camp. There are some who take a broad view or are indifferent, wrongly thinking that all versions are good. Many I believe want to study into the different arguments of the debate. They want to make a doctrinally educated, biblically informed, and Spirit-guided decision. This course on the KJV-NIV issue is offered to those who want to learn more about the KJV and NIV. Where do the differences lie? Do these differences affect our Christian beliefs and practices? Should we use the KJV or NIV?

2b. KJV-Only or KJV-Superiority?

Before we begin our study proper, I would like to first of all identify FEBC’s KJV position. There are basically two types of KJV-only groups: (1) the Peter Ruckman group, and (2) the Dean Burgon group.

1c. Ruckmanism

Peter Ruckman is president of Pensacola Bible Institute (not to be confused with Pensacola Christian College). He holds to the view that the KJV was given by inspiration of God and believes that it is superior to the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures. Others who hold to this view are Texe Marrs, and Samuel Gipp. This position is erroneous because inspiration in the light of 2 Tim 3:16, and 2 Pet 1:21 is applicable only to the original writers (Moses, Matthew, John et al), original writings (66 books of canonical Scripture), and original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). Most books which attack the KJV-only position use Ruckman as the locus of attack. There are many KJV advocates who are against Ruckman’s views, but these are unwittingly or unfairly lumped together with Ruckman by KJV opponents. If by "KJV-only," Ruckmanism is meant, then we are not "KJV-only." Instead of "KJV-only," I prefer the term "KJV-superiority."

More on Ruckman can be found in David Cloud’s booklet’What About Ruckman? (Oak Harbor: Way of Life Literature, 1995). You may want to look at some of his writings in the FEBC library.

2c. Dean Burgon/Trinitarian Bible Society

The Dean Burgon group of KJV advocates hold to a KJV-superiority view. This position is generally represented by D A Waite, President of the Dean Burgon Society, in his book’Defending the King James Bible: A Fourfold Superiority (Collingswood: Bible For Today, 1996), and the literature of the Trinitarian Bible Society. Others who belong to this group are Edward F Hills, David Otis Fuller, Thomas Strouse, and David Cloud. FEBC holds to this KJV-superiority view which is best expressed under section II.A of the Articles of Faith of the Dean Burgon Society.

1d. "We believe in the plenary, verbal, Divine inspiration of the sixty-six canonical books of the Old and the New Testaments (from Genesis to Revelation) in the original languages, and in their consequent infallibility and inerrancy in all matters on which they speak (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)."

2d. "We believe that the Texts which are the closest to the original autographs of the Bible are the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text for the Old Testament, and the Traditional Greek Text for the New Testament underlying the King James Version (as found in ’The Greek Text Underlying The English Authorized Version of 1611" as published by The Trinitarian Bible Society in 1976)."

3d. "We believe that the King James Version (or Authorized Version) of the English Bible is a true, faithful, and accurate translation of these two providentially preserved Texts, which in our time has no equal among all of the other English Translations. The translators did such a fine job in their translation task that we can without apology hold up the Authorized Version of 1611 and say "This is the Word of God!" while at the same time realizing that, in some verses, we must go back to the underlying original language Texts for complete clarity, and also compare Scripture with Scripture."