I. The King James Version (KJV) in Context
* A. Historical Placement
* Followed 7 prior English translations (e.g., Wycliffe, Tyndale).
* It is not the only inspired or infallible translation.
* B. The "KJV Only" Position
* View that the KJV is the only valid translation.
* The 1611 KJV translators themselves disagreed, stating in the preface that even the "meanest translation... is the word of God."
* C. Reasons for the KJV's Longevity (270 Years)
* Produced in England.
* Sold in various sizes for church and home.
* Promoted by the Church of England.
* Fewer marginal notes, leading to less theological controversy.
* Translated by a committee of 47 scholars.
* Rhythmic, lyrical, and powerful English prose.
* A compromise between Puritans and High Church Anglicans.
* Financial and political backing from the English throne.
II. Problems with the KJV for Modern Readers
* A. Outdated Language
* The primary issue is the drastic change in the English language since 1611.
* B. Categories of Language Issues
* Obscurity: Words no longer in common use.
* Example: "amerce" (Deut. 22:19) -> "fine"
* Example: "froward" (1 Peter 2:18) -> "harsh"
* Inaccuracy: Words whose meanings have changed, causing misunderstanding.
* Example: "outlandish women" (Neh. 13:26) -> "foreign women"
* Example: "gay clothing" (James 2:3) -> "fine clothes"
* C. The Need for Accessibility
* The goal is for everyone, like Tyndale's "plowboy," to understand scripture.
* This is not "dumbing down" the Bible, but making it understandable.
* The KJV translators advocated for translation into the "common language."
III. The Path to Modern Translations
* A. Early Revisions
* Revised Version (RV) (1881-1885): First official revision. Based on better manuscripts but was too literal and "weak in English."
* American Standard Version (ASV) (1901): The American edition of the RV.
* Revised Standard Version (RSV) (1952): An update to the ASV; considered "liberal" by some conservatives.
* B. Major 20th Century Translations
* New American Standard Bible (NASB) (1971): A very literal, word-for-word translation.
* New International Version (NIV) (1973, 1978): A new translation by over 100 evangelical scholars. Known for readability and broad acceptance.
* New King James Version (NKJV) (1979, 1982): Updates the KJV's language while retaining its underlying Greek text (Textus Receptus).
IV. Translation Theory & Practice
* A. Two Main Philosophies
* Formal Equivalence (Word-for-word): Tries to preserve the original words and grammar.
* Examples: KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV.
* Dynamic Equivalence (Thought-for-thought): Tries to convey the original meaning in natural modern language.
* Examples: NIV, NLT.
* B. The Challenge of Translation
* Languages don't translate 1-to-1.
* Words have a "semantic range" (multiple possible meanings depending on context, e.g., the word "board").
* Solution: Use multiple translations to get a fuller picture of the original meaning.
V. Reasons for So Many English Translations
* Different Translation Theories (Formal vs. Dynamic).
* Changes in the English Language over time.
* Textual Discoveries (more manuscripts and better understanding).
* Money (Publishers own translations and build product ecosystems around them, e.g., Zondervan/NIV, Crossway/ESV).
VI. Common Objections to the Bible's Reliability
* A. Issues of Human Involvement
* Scribal Errors: We can identify and correct errors by comparing the thousands of manuscripts we possess.
* "Telephone Game" Analogy: This is flawed because the 1st-century was an oral culture with highly developed memorization skills, and Christian communities had living eyewitnesses to correct errors.
* B. Issues of Canonization
* Myth: The canon was decided by Constantine or the Council of Nicaea.
* Reality: The council dealt with Arianism, not the canon. The New Testament canon was recognized gradually by the Church based on criteria like apostolicity and orthodoxy. Athanasius's list in 367 AD largely confirmed what was already accepted.
