Pay attention and check your facts

In a Facebook group forum, the ubiquitous anti-KJVO critic Rick Norris thought he had found a bird’s nest on the ground. The rules given to King James’s translators include, in Rule 3, the statement that “The Old Ecclesiastical Words [are] to be kept, viz. the Word Church not to be translated Congregation &c.”

Imagining what ecclesiastical words were to be kept, Norris then imagined a translators’ violation of the rule, writing:

“If ‘bishop’ was one of those ecclesiastical words to be kept, they violated their rule at Acts 20:28.”

Unfortunately for Rick, in this case his imagination played a trick on him. The translators did not fail to keep “bishop” in Acts 20:28 – because the word “bishop” was not in Acts 20:28. Translators rule number 1 stated that, “The Ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly called the Bishop’s Bible, is to be followed, and as little altered as the Truth of the originals will permit.” When the Bishop’s Bible is actually checked – instead of just assuming – it turns out that the base text, the 1602 Bishops Bible, did not have “bishop,” but rather” overseers,” the same word found in the 1611 translation!

1602 Bishops: Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flocke, over the which the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers, to rule the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his owne blood.

1611 King James: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, & to all the flocke, over the which the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Modern spelling KJV: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Rule 3 specifically mentions only one “old ecclesiastical word,” the word “Church.” It is not hard to think that words like baptism and bishop would also be under consideration. Men like Norris dig to find some nefarious intent of the translators, to wield as a weapon against King James Onlyists. Rather than some sinister motive, the simpler explanation is the most likely. Consider:

• Retaining the “old ecclesiastical words” would mean retaining words that were commonly found in the Church of England liturgy, such as church, baptism, bishop, and many others. I have not given this much thought previously. The Book of Common Prayer would probably be a good resource for comparing and considering what are “old ecclesiastical words.”
• These words in themselves (e.g., church, baptism, bishop, etc.) did not belong to the Church of England. These were ecclesiastical words in the English language used by Reformers, Puritans, Separatists, and Anabaptists. These were words of long-standing use in the English language. They were not unique to the faith and practice of the Church of England.

This can serve as a lesson to all of us. Pay attention and check the facts.

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Note: “Overseers” is also found in the 1560 Geneva Bible, 1557 Geneva New Testament, 1540 Great Bible, and 1526 Tyndale New Testament.