Mark Fenison, Larry Killion, Robert Myers, Jeff Short, Paul Stepp, and Jim Turner, editors. The Landmark Edition of the New Testament (KJV Study Bible). Bloomington, IL: Xlibris, 2013. 872 pp., $22.42, Softcover (9781493102952). Also available in Hardcover (9781493102969), and eBook (9781493102976).
This is a brief review to give my initial takeaways on this Bible edition. I have only perused the edition and have not viewed all of the Bible text and footnotes.
This New Testament Study Bible, as the name suggests,
presents a Landmark Baptist view of ecclesiology. Six ordained elders of
Landmark Baptist churches (one, Larry Killion, is now deceased) edited,
compiled, and prepared the work. It begins with a “General Introduction,”
including remarks on Landmarkism and the King James Bible (pp. 7-12). An essay on “The Value of Inspiration” follows (pp. 15-19). The editors are
committed to divine inspiration and the infallibility of the Scriptures. They
see “two primary lines of textual transmission,” and prefer the traditional
text to the critical text (for example, see the comment on 1 John 5:7).[i] However, they conclude that the “contextual pattern for self-definition has not been ‘broken’ or
destroyed in either line of transmission.” [ii]
After the introductory material, the text of the New
Testament follows (pp. 23-872), with commentary by Mark Fenison (11 books), Larry Killion
(10 books), Jeff Short (1 book), and Paul Stepp (3 books). Jim Turner is
credited with the initial idea for this work, and Robert Myers for technical work and other suggestions (p. 7).
Each book of the New Testament begins with an outline
and an introduction. Some helpful maps are provided. This Study Bible
introduces several changes – most notably (and the primary impulse for its
existence) translating the words “baptism” as immersion and “church” as
congregation. Overall, the King James translation remains intact, except for
those two modifications – as well as the word “with” sometimes changed to “in”
(e.g. Mark 1:8 “baptized you with water” becomes “immersed you in water”). The edition also
updates archaic words and standardizes Old Testament names to match the Old Testament spellings. The edition does not remove “archaic words.” Rather, the updated word is placed in brackets beside the original KJV word, as a sort of definition or
commentary.[iii]
“Due to theological bias and due to rules imposed upon
the KJV translators, they chose to use two ecclesiastical words that did not
properly translate two Greek terms” [i.e., ekklesia
and baptizo, rlv] (pp. 18-19). I take
issue with the idea that the words “church” and “baptism” are not “properly
translated.” As best I can tell (not having read 100% of the comments),
the editors are careful not to claim that the King James translators created or
transliterated these words – as some who are less informed or more careless do.[iv] However, they do not seem
to acknowledge that these two words have long standing in the English language
prior to 1611, and that they do possess
the meanings “congregation” and “immersion” – even if they have a broader
semantic range.[v]
This editorial decision may lead to clarification for one
reader and confusion for another. On its face, it contradicts our long-standing
Baptist contention that baptism is
immersion and that church is congregation
or called-out assembly. That this must be fixed suggests we were wrong. The change is almost complete capitulation to the counter claims of the opposition!
I find the practice of the editors to a degree inconsistent.
These editors ask us to believe the issue is so important that they must change
the words “baptize” and “church” in the Bible. Yet they continue to use
“Baptist” and “Church” in the names of their immersionist congregations! The
back cover uses congregation instead of church, but as far as I can tell that
was only an accommodation in print. When I find their churches on the internet,
each is a Baptist Church.[vi] That, to me, seems sort of “believe what I say and not what I do.”
I have this formatting complaint. On each page, the header prints the Bible book’s name but not the book’s chapter
number. This makes searches for chapter and verse initially somewhat difficult.
The editors are Landmark in ecclesiology and Sovereign Grace in soteriology. The notes clearly reflect those positions. Those who are Landmark will generally find agreement with the ecclesiological comments. Those who are Calvinistic will generally find agreement with the soteriological comments. I think the commentary in this work can be helpful. Yet it is a large and rather expensive purchase in comparison to the amount of commentary provided. I give it a cautious recommendation to an informed reader.
[iii] In this is performs something like a “Defined King James Bible.”
[iv] For example, as seen here: “A majority of translations, in both English and foreign versions, prefer to transliterate the word ‘baptism,’...” Surely words that have long since been transliterated and have been an integral part of the English language for a thousand years have gained status and meaning. It is no longer necessary or proper to keep referring to them as if some recent transliteration has occurred.
[v] Both words were established in the English language by the time of John Wycliffe’s Bible translation in the 1300s.
[vi] With the exception of Charleston Baptist using “congregation” instead of church in their name. Charleston Baptist Congregation, Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, Indore Baptist Church, The Lord’s Baptist Church, Victory Baptist Church.
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