Some anti-KJV/KJVO debaters consistently appeal to King James defenders to judge the KJV by “the same weights and measures” as they judge other translations. Well, duh. Wishful thinking. If a person believes his Bible is the word of God, he is not going to judge it in the same way he does a Bible that he believes is spurious. This presupposition, though the polemicist thinks it is wrong, will not be defeated by such an approach.
Other approaches of disputing with the KJV and TR defenders miss the mark in the same or similar ways. If a person accepts his Bible because he hears the voice of the Shepherd speaking to him through it, or because of what he believes that it teaches about inspiration and preservation, or because he is convinced of the preservation of the traditional Reformation-era texts, and such like – he will not be easily dissuaded by arguments that assume that the testimony of scholars is the kind of convincing that is needed.
Wolves and other predators pick off the weak members of a herd. It is my opinion that many of the contemporary King James Only and Traditional Text people who leave the position are “weak members” of the herd. That is probably offensive to some. Here is what I mean.
I have a settled conviction about the KJV and the traditional texts, based on my biblical belief of inspiration and preservation. I may be wrong, and others have the opportunity to convince me that I am. Nevertheless, my belief is not based on manuscript evidence, the testimony of scholars, and so forth. If scholars were to come up with persuasive proof that it is impossible for the water of the Red Sea to stand up as walls with dry ground in between, I would not believe them. I may not have the expertise to argue historical, archaeological, or scientific evidence for or against the proposition, but I do not need it. My belief is not based on evidence, but on faith – that is, because the Bible says so. I believe the Bible is God-inspired and God-preserved, not based on historical and/or manuscript evidence, but because the Bible says so. Many who disagree with me in the details may say they have the same kind of belief, but when it comes down to it, they cannot and will not directly and unapologetically defend specific texts as the inspired and preserved word of God. I believe the “weak members of the herd” are not necessarily those who do not agree with me on all points, but those who have been convinced – through a long and systematic process which is located in our theological seminaries and allied accomplices – that what they believe about the Bible must be founded on scholarship and physical evidence. They are ripe for picking.
Note: Other weak members of the herd are those who have been taught by “KJVO Quacks” – those who would be teachers, but don’t know the first thing about the KJV, inspiration, preservation, and transmission. These are often followers of authority figures as well.
5 comments:
Good post, great summation in the final paragraph.
Nitpicking:
1st paragraph: "....a Bible that he believes in spurious." - should this be either "...in spuriousness" or "...is spurious".
Footnote: "There are often followers of authority figures as well." is that to be as stated or was "There" supposed to be "These"?
Thought: you may want to do a Post exploring "the voice of the Shepherd" idea as opposed to the Mormon criteria of the "burning in the boson" or any other idea that is compared to it.
Grace and Peace.
Good catches. Thanks! Nitpicking of errors always welcomed.
I am aware that that the Mormons have the “burning in the bosom” expression and belief, but I would need to research it more to write knowledgably about it. Didn’t James Whiteout, I mean White, try to claim Peter Van Kleeck’s belief was the same as the Mormons? Seems I remember something like that from the debate.
yes sir, JW (not Jehovah Witness), the great(less) white shark, did make that claim against PVKjr.
I believe it is one of the most fundamental factors that drives us to accept our scripture as scripture - however, i am not referring to the burning bosom - i am referring to reading the scripture and knowing it is God speaking. I think you can find countless references in the word of God to determine what is scripture - however, a "feeling" is not one of them - emotions are minefields, and we don't determine our theology or doctrine on feelings - if that was God's criteria we would be on a rollercoaster every sermon or study, or at some sappy romance movie. but i digress.
FYI - must, like me, be using fat fingers:
Footnote: "Thers are often followers"
In my case, it is a short somewhere between the head and the hands.
Post a Comment