Christian Monthly Standard

Your Thoughts

1. 

   Gary Zimmerli
   November 25, 2008 at 11:47 am

   Hi Brent,

   The only KJV I own is a paperback one given to me by my mom several years ago simply because I mentioned that I didn’t own a KJV. I have barely cracked it open and don’t plan on doing so, either.

   I really think a lot of KJV sales come from those nice, fancy family Bibles and such. People see them and think they’re pretty, and so they buy it, not to read and study it but because they think they need a “family” Bible to put their family records in. (Never mind that a lot of other translations have an area for such records, too!)

   I know some folks buy the KJV because a lot of times they’re the cheaper version to buy, since they’re public domain and anybody can print them. People can get a nice, leather-covered Bible for a lower price with the KJV.

   But I still don’t want one. ;-)

2. 

   Joe
   November 25, 2008 at 3:39 pm

   Brent, when you figure out the mystery let us know.

   I think many hear that all new translations are corrupt and so get sent onto the KJV without digging any further into the truth.

   If one used a KJV, much time would be spent explaining that what it says, is not what it really says…..know what I mean :-)

3. 

   Wendyl Leslie
   November 26, 2008 at 7:22 am

   Brent,

   Like you, I’m baffled as to why the sales for the KJV is so high. I read the CBA sales report each month and have done so for a couple of years now and am intrigued as to why KJV always ranks in the top 3 in either dollar or unit sales.

   I do know this: Those who espouse the KJV border on the fanatical end of the “debates” as to which bible is the “real” bible. To read or listen to their reasoning not so much for why they believe the KJV to be the only true bible, is made only the more ridiculous by their reasoning why the other “corrupt” versions are from Satan!

   I’m thinking they think that because they can read the KJV and supposedly understand what it says when us “ignorant” folks can’t, that this puts them in a special class of Christians . . . like “because we read and revere the KJV we’re the only ones going to heaven.”

   In a nutshell, it’s a pride thing: if you read the KJV, you’re a real Christian. The rest of us are condemned.

4. 

   Richard
   November 26, 2008 at 9:07 am

   Come on guys!

   The KJV sits at or near the top of the lists for several reasons. Not necessarily in order of importance: 1) It was (along with Shakespeare) the main foundational work that solidified the Modern English language, in the same way M. Luther’s version helped set the German language, and Cervantes’ Don Quixote De La Mancha set Spanish. 2) Despite the insignificant errors (which all versions possess, some more than others) and differences in word usage (easily remedied with a dictionary) it is also available in more languages than the rest. 3) It is typically available for less money than its brothers, making it easier to post and sell in places where inexpensive versions rule. 4) Because of number 3) it is therefore more affordable than other versions around the world, where many people do not have the luxury of owning multiple versions, nor of having the time and means for comparison study.

   And last but not least: 5) There is absolutely nothing at all wrong with it. As Brent posted we are to seek God “with great diligence.” But one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor.

   If we are told to “study to shew yourself approved;” that entails diligence, does it not. Do all things now have to be stated in detail for us to get the point – nothing at all left even modestly abstract for our feverish little minds to ponder? If I study without diligence what is it that I shall gain for my time? “Seek and ye shall find.”

5. 

   Joel
   December 25, 2008 at 9:57 am

   I have experienced 1st hand fanatic cults (claiming to be the “Lords Church”) who preach that if you do not use the KJV, you are going to hell. They actually teach that the men who translated the KJV were angels in the form of man who gave us Gods word directly from his mouth. This “congregation” had 4 elders. Those elders taught class by reading the KJV and then translating it to the listeners who had no clue what it meant. The first hint that something was wrong was that nobody in the congregation was under 60 years old. The straw that broke the camels back for me was when during the coal miners disaster a few years back, a nondenominational memorial service was held in the Babtist church parking lot across the street from the mine. The Elder who was teaching the class commented that it was a shame that all those folks at that memorial were going to hell for being babtists. I asked the elder who gave him the power to decide who is going to hell and then walked out. It is groups like that, along with people stuck in tradition that are buying the KJV. If that doesn’t change, it will be bad for the church. Our language is moving away from the KJV faster all the time. That being said, there is a place for the KJV among those who understand it properly.

6. 

   Marci
   April 6, 2009 at 11:05 pm

   People continue buying the KJV because of the following reasons:

   - When college English literature and comparative religious studies students buy a Bible, it is usually the KJV.  The KJV is the most literary English Bible.  When authors of classic literary works quote or allude to the Bible, it is usually the KJV.

   - There are quite a few popular study Bibles that use the KJV text (i.e. Life Application Study Bible, Scofield Bible, New Defender’s Study Bible, Evidence Bible (with a revised KJV text), King James Study Bible). All of these that I mention have marginal notes or revisions that explain the archaic terms of the KJV, so readability is not a problem.

   - The KJV is the cheapest to publish and sell. So gift Bibles will typically be the cheapest in KJV.

   - The USA has a large senior population, many of whom grew up on the KJV and they will buy a KJV to replace their worn out KJV.

   - Quite a few mainstream Christian ministries use the KJV (despite not being in the KJV Only camp).  When I listen to Christian radio shows in my area, quite a few read the KJV.  David Jeremiah, for example, is a mainstream preacher, and yet he uses the KJV.

   - When a serious student of the Bible begins to build his Bible collection for comparative study, the KJV will typically be among his collection.  Even Rick Warren sometimes quotes the KJV along with his million translations.

   - Some people actually prefer the KJV for stylistic or textual reasons.

7. 

   Richard Vandagriff
   April 7, 2009 at 4:31 am

   I concur Marci. I would add that our educational levels are sinking like a stone, with our reading and comprehension abilities following it down. But that does not mean the perceived problems with the KJV translation are real. They are certainly real enough to the unable and unwilling. To paraphrase the comic character Pogo – we have read about the enemy, but couldn’t understand that it was us. We English speakers seem to now think nothing of complexity or age has any value for us. If it did not take place, or was not born out of events in our lifetimes, it is ancient and unworthy.

8. 

   Joe
   April 7, 2009 at 1:41 pm

   @Marci those are all excellent reasons, some of which I have never really thought about much before.

   Just on a side note – I would have serious reservations about reading these passages during a lesson, bible class or kids class from the KJV – 1Sa 25:22, 1Sa 25:34, 1Ki 14:10, 1Ki 16:11, 1Ki 21:21, 2Ki 9:8

9. 

   Marci
   April 7, 2009 at 8:12 pm

   Hi Joe,

   Yes, “pisseth against the wall” sounds vulgar, but as strange as it may seem, that is the literal translation and so God said it (though in Hebrew it may not have sounded as vulgar).  Even today’s literal translations such as the NASB, NKJV and ESV translate the intended meaning (“males”) rather than the idiom word for word.  The LITV by J.P. Green says, “urinates against a wall,” which is literal and may not sound as vulgar as “pisseth against the wall.”

   Most of the time, the KJV uses euphemisms for words signifying mature content (e.g. “went in unto her” for “had sex.” “knew her” for “had sex.” “seed” for “semen.”), but “pisseth” apparently was okay for the Jacobeans.

   You may not agree with me, but I actually do not mind a child reading “piss” in the Bible.  The word is already in the vocabulary of most young children and every child knows what it means to “piss.”  I am actually more concerned about a child reading words such as “sex” and “semen” and not knowing what they are, and ending up Googling them or something.  And who knows what might pop up on Google.  That, in my opinion, is worse than reading “piss.”

10. 

    Joe
    April 7, 2009 at 9:19 pm

    Thanks Marci,

    I think this is a case where it does not need to be literal word for word to get the same meaning.  In most of those passages they would not have a clue as to what/who it is talking about, I wonder how many adults would….

    It is also pretty much cussing in some parts of the world(my part – perhaps that is where I am coming from)…my girl will never be allowed to say it while under my roof.

    I think there are certain parts of the Bible one needs to take caution with when dealing with younger children, there are some violent evil events that take place from time to time in the OT especially.

    Just my thoughts :-)

11. 

    Marci
    April 7, 2009 at 10:56 pm

    Hello Joe,

    I guess I am more concerned about a child being exposed to words that describe adult subject matter (i.e. sex) rather than a child being exposed to vulgar words that describe a subject matter that a child is familiar with.  I do cringe when a child uses an offensive term to describe bodily functions, but I for some reason am more sensitive to making sure that a child does not know about sexuality at too young an age.  So my ideal translation for a child would have the euphemisms of the KJV for sexual relations, and a less vulgar translation for the passages in the Samuels and Kings.  But in reality, there really is no way to shield a child for too long from adult content.  It is really sad. :(

    Anyways, thanks for the chat.  Cheers.

11 Responses to “Who Keeps Buying the KJV?”