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Thursday, May 06, 2021

Did 17th Century Baptists Use the King James Bible?

What Bible were the English Baptist people using in the 17th century? Some decidedly say it was the Authorised or King James Version. Ed Edwards emphatically and absolutely claimed it was the Geneva Bible. He thought that the Baptists would not have used and were even boycotting the King James Bible. We might get some sense of the truth by examining the Scriptures quoted in their Confessions of Faith.

The London Baptist Confession of 1644 (1646 edition) (allowing for some spelling or typographical differences, and assuming the original is reproduced at the link) seems to follow the Authorised or King James Version rather than Geneva, in the four verses quoted in the introduction.
  • Acts xxiv. 14, 15. But this I confesse unto thee, that after the way which they call heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers, beleeving all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets, and have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust. (London Confession)
  • But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • But this I confess unto thee, that after the way (which they call heresy) so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets, And have hope towards God, that the resurrection of the dead, which they themselves look for also, shall be both of just and unjust. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
  • John xviii. 23. If I have spoken evill, bear witnesse of the evill; but if well, why smitest thou me? (London Confession)
  • If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • If I have evil spoken, bear witness of the evil: but if I have well spoken, why smitest thou me? (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
  • Matth. v.11, 12. & xix. 29. Blessed are yee when men revile you, and say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake. Rejoice, etc. (London Confession)
  • Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice... (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • Blessed shall ye be when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you for my sake, falsely. Rejoice... (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
An Appendix to a Confession of Faith, 1646, Written by Benjamin Cox quotes Matthew 10:27-28 in a way that matches the Authorised Version rather than the Geneva Version.
  • What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Appendix)
  • What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye on the houses. And fear ye not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him, which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
In the verses quoted in the The Faith and Practice of Thirty Congregations, 1651 it seems that sometimes they match the Authorised Version, but sometimes the Geneva. The quote of Ezekiel 43:11 does not seem to exactly match either. It might be, also, that there could be typographical errors in the some of the Confessions, that they did quote from either of the two, or that the Scriptures were written from memory, etc..

A Confession of the Faith of Several Churches of Christ in the County of Somerset, and of some Churches in the Counties neer adjacent. 1656 [The Confession is very rare, copies of the original being found only at the Angus Library, Regent’s Park College, Oxford, and at the British Museum.   Apparently neither Underhill nor McGlothlin knew of its existence, and it has probably not been printed in modern times.  A facsimile copy of the document found in the British Museum is given here.]
  • I Peter iii. 15. Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. (Somerset Confession)
  • but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and reverence. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
  • Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of minde, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.  (Somerset Confession)
  • These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • These were also more noble men than they which were at Thessalonica, which received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
1 Peter 3:15 (except for the absence of the word “But”) and Acts 17:11 match the Authorised Version, whereas Matthew 10:32 and Isaiah 8:20 are the same in both the AV and Geneva.

The Orthodox Creed, Or, a Protestant Confession of Faith [The version of the Creed reproduced here has been transcribed from the original publication rather than the editorial tradition. The punctuation, capitalization, and spelling have been transcribed as published in the 1679 original...]
  • Jude, 3.—That you should earnestly contend for the Faith, which was once delivered unto the Saints. (Orthodox Creed)
  • that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • that ye should earnestly contend for the maintenance of the faith, which was once given unto the Saints. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
  • Rom. 10.10. With the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness, and with the Mouth confession is made unto Salvation. (Orthodox Creed)
  • For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth man confesseth to salvation. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
  • I Tim. 1.17. Now unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only Wise God, be Honour and Glory, for ever and ever, Amen. (Orthodox Creed)
  • Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • Now unto the king everlasting, immortal, invisible, unto God only wise, be honor, and glory, for ever, and ever, Amen. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
  • I Kings 8.27. Is it true, indeed, that God will dwell on the Earth? Behold, the Heaven, and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Thee: How much less this House which I have built, (Orthodox Creed)
  • But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • Is it true indeed that God will dwell on the earth? behold, the heavens, and the heavens of heavens are not able to contain thee: how much more unable is this house that I have built? (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
  • Psalm 145.3. Great is the Lord, and worthy to be praised, and his Greatness is Incomprehensible. (Orthodox Creed)
  • Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • Great is the Lord, and most worthy to be praised, and his greatness is incomprehensible. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
  • I John 5.7. And there are three that bare Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one, (Orthodox Creed)
  • For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • For there are three, which bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost: and these three are one. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
Three examples from John Clarke in Ill Newes from New-England, 1652 suggests he was using both the Authorised and Geneva Versions (though they do not always exactly match, and he adds some comments). He perhaps was writing the texts from memory.
  • Phi. 2. 9. Wherefore (saith the Apostle) God hath also highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name
  • Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • Wherefore God hath also highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
  • Joh. 3. 30,31 He must increase (saith Iohn the Baptist, who came in the spirit of Elias, and was, saith Christ, more than a Prophet, so that among those that were borne of Women be∣fore him there was not a greater) and I must decrease; he that cometh from above (saith he) is above all, he that is of the Earth is Earthly, and speaketh of the Earth, he that cometh from Heaven is above all, and what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth, and no man receiveth his Testimony; he that hath received his Testimony hath set to his seal that God is true, for he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him; (Clarke, Ill Newes)
  • He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (Authorised Version at Bible Gateway)
  • He must increase, but I must decrease. He that is come from on high, is above all: he that is of the earth, is of the earth, and speaketh of the earth: he that is come from heaven, is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth: but no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath receiveth his testimony, hath sealed that God is true. For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for God giveth him not the Spirit by measure. (Geneva Version at Bible Gateway)
Conclusion:
I have performed a quick review of some documents that might help reveal the Baptist use of an English Bible version. This gives an idea, but ideally more time should be spent, especially in checking actual Bible printings that were available at the time the documents were written, as opposed to using the transcriptions at Bible Gateway. Furthermore, time should be spent making sure that the transcriptions of the Confessions faithfully represent them as originally printed.

Nevertheless, I expect what I have found is fairly representative. If so, claims of Geneva exclusivism make a false narrative. These Baptists had no problem quoting the Authorised Version – clearly were not “boycotting” it! Neither did they exclusively use it. The Geneva Version still lived in their thoughts as well. This is all I had time to do. It would make an interesting study for someone to conduct in greater detail.
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