Back in 2016 I was visited by a traveling revivalist who carried along with him a bible museum. He wanted to come and do a 3 night revival at our church and display his collection of rare bibles. I was fascinated with the rare bibles (my theology professor at Liberty University had an awesome collection) and was open to him coming and preaching the revival. Then I noticed a bumper sticker on his car which read “If it ain’t the King James then it ain’t the Bible”. So I curiously asked “What type of messages do you preach during your revivals?” and his answer was “I preach on why the King James Bible is the only true version of the Bible.”.
So he asked me what version of the Bible I preached from and I watched him recoil in horror as the words “NIV 1984” came out of my mouth. All other versions are wrong to the KJVO crowd but the 84’ NIV is pure anathema to them. I have no clue why but in my experience dealing with them that is the case. Now let me say this - I have no issues with the King James Version. I do however have issues with someone telling me that I am not saved if I do not have the King James Bible or that I am a “second class” Christian.
So I have put together a little test below for those who want to participate. Here is John 3:1-10 - can you spot or determine which one is the King James without cheating? Without googling or using a Bible website?
So which will you choose? A, B, or C?
A. There was now a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man could do these miracles that thou doest, except God were with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born which is old? can he enter into his mother’s womb again, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, except that a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh: and that that is born of the Spirit, is spirit. Marvel not that I said to thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every man that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered, and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered, and said unto him, Art thou a teacher of Israel, and knowest not these things?
B. There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
C. But there was a man from among the Pharisees, his name Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; he came to him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art come a teacher from God, for none can do these signs that thou doest unless God be with him. Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except any one be born anew he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus says to him, How can a man be born being old? can he enter a second time into the womb of his mother and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except any one be born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not wonder that I said to thee, It is needful that *ye* should be born anew. The wind blows where it will, and thou hearest its voice, but knowest not whence it comes and where it goes: thus is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, Thou art the teacher of Israel and knowest not these things!
So which letter is the King James Version? A, B, or C? Did you know without consulting your Bible or using the internet?
So here are the answers:
A. - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=GNV
1599 Geneva Bible
B. - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=KJV
King James Version
C. - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=DARBY
Darby Translation
Now if you are reading this and you are a King James Onlyist please explain to me the translational difference between these three Bibles.
Why is the King James an idol among many professing believers today?
I guess William Tyndale died for nothing…