Which Bible is true?
I guess many Christian’s have never thought about it. And I suppose others simply do not care. How do you know that the Bible you currently have in your possession, read, obey, and meditate on is the very word of God? Has God preserved His word in written form? If so, which Bible do we have in our possession today that represents God’s word? You cannot say it doesn’t really matter. The God you believe in through Jesus Christ is bigger than that, isn’t He?
There is historical evidence that the King James Bible is the preserved, written word of truth. In the attached guest article, you will see some of that history with corresponding scriptures. If you are interested in studying the subject in more detail, may I direct you to a website: Why the King James Bible?
Personally, I do not need the history of the Bible to discern that the King James Version is the very word of God. But history is also a part of God’s divine plan and is certainly relevant. Ultimately, if the Holy Spirit is not bearing witness with your spirit specifically through the King James Bible, if you are not stirred with spiritual understanding through the King James Bible, and if the words in the King James Bible are not alive and pierce your soul with the divine shears of truth, then history means very little anyway. If you need proof, other than the evidence that the indwelling Holy Spirit gives you, it’s my opinion you are using reason, intellect, and knowledge to understand God. The Christian life is spiritual not intellectual. The Christian life is a life of faith, not a life of reasonable calculation. Some Christians today remind me of Thomas. “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).
We do not have the original, very first manuscripts in our hands to see, hold, and review. And yet, by faith and by the indwelling Holy Spirit, we believe, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). With a spiritual mind and by faith, we firmly believe “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Holy Spirit dwells in, and works through, the word of God which is preserved in the King James Bible. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Can’t we say the same thing about other, more modern and up-to-date versions? I CAN’T. As a young Christian, I purchased easier to understand versions, like the New International Version. The words seemed shallow and dead to me. Had I been taught the King James was God’s preserved word? NO. I could not explain to others why I used the King James, other than it bore witness with my inner man. Without sounding too simple or too shallow, the King James Bible bears witness with my spirit, others do not. I know if you pray and give serious thought, and if needed, some investigation, you will conclude that the King James is indeed God’s preserved, inspired, and infallible word.
Download article by Will Kinney: The King James Bible
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
As Thomas was reintroduced to Christ, he said My Lord, Christ said Thomas because you see me, blessed are those who do not see me, yet still believe.
We read Gods word, we study and memorize Gods word, now we must implement Gods word.
In Christ,
Don DeSimone
God Bless you Forrest.
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
John 20:28-29 “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
Good point, brother. Thomas you see me…but blessed are those who have not seen, yet they believe! I believe the word of God and the Incarnate Word–Jesus! Because of this, I once was blind, but now I see!
December 6th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I will admit, I am not very knowledgable in the translation of Scripture into English. But I am sure that if you really want to read and understand the “preserved” Word of God, you would go back to the actually texts written in Greek and Hebrew. I like the King James Bible, and occasionally, I still use it today. But I also use other translations, my favorite being the New Revised Standard Version, the New International Version, my second favorite. If the King James Bible is the Bible you prefer, and you feel God addressing you through that particular translation, that is wonderful. God addresses me through other translations as well. I have more than one translation, and I don’t think one particular version can capture the entire meaning of certain texts. Looking at more than one translation helps me look at a scripture from various viewpoints, but in the end, they have almost the same meaning.
Yeah, the words can be different and some scripture may actually have a different meaning in different translations. But the overall message of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures remains the same…God sent Christ Jesus, his Son, and earth to show us the way to God, to die for our sins, rise again, ascend to the Father, and will come again to judge the quick and the dead. The Holy Spirit, Our Comforter, has come, and brings the words of the Bible to life for us. I do believe that it is the inspired Word of God. I don’t believe that we should read it in a literal way.
December 6th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Response for Magdiel…
YOU WROTE, “But I am sure that if you really want to read and understand the “preserved” Word of God, you would go back to the actually texts written in Greek and Hebrew.”
Psalms 12:6-7 says “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
Preserve – (Hebrew – natsar) – a primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain).
Did God guard, protect, and maintain His word? Every word?
YOU WROTE, “Yeah, the words can be different and some scripture may actually have a different meaning in different translations.
YOU WROTE, “I have more than one translation, and I don’t think one particular version can capture the entire meaning of certain texts.”
As you correctly pointed out, God inspired His word, not the meaning. We can only receive an accurate meaning from inspired words. Words that are different are not the same. So we must discover which Bible today has the inspired word of God in order to arrive at a true meaning. Wouldn’t you agree?
YOU WROTE, “I do believe that it is the inspired Word of God. I don’t believe that we should read it in a literal way.”
How can you believe it is the inspired (God breathed) word of God and not believe we should read it in a literal way? :(
Proverbs 30:5 says “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
If every word of God is pure, then isn’t every word important? And if every word is important, shouldn’t we be concerned with which English Bible represents the “preserved” written “word” of God?
YOU WROTE, “God sent Christ Jesus, his Son, and earth to show us the way to God, to die for our sins, rise again, ascend to the Father, and will come again to judge the quick and the dead. The Holy Spirit, Our Comforter, has come, and brings the words of the Bible to life for us.”
Amen to that!