Pastors Changing the KJB
A Technique Used By Many Today!
26 Steps of How Some Pastors Proceed in Changing
Their Churches from their King James Bible.
Pastor D. A. Waite, Th.D., Ph.D.
At the Dean Burgon Society, July 19-20, 2005
This message is in outline format only. The full
text is available in audio cassette, VHS, or DVD format. It was based
on actual correspondence from a would-be Pastor to a local Baptist
Church. This Pastor wanted to become the Pastor of the church, but he
did not want to accept the church’s position on the King James Bible
and the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Words underlying it.
Step #1 of 26.
"While there is much that I agree with in your
statement," [No definition of "much."]
Step #2 of 26.
"I take another view on the KJV." [A clear yet
honest difference on the King James Bible]
A Reply to Step #2
The Church’s Doctrinal Statement Is Clear on This Point
"We believe God has promised in both the Old and
New Testaments to preserve His Words as given to us in the original
Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek texts" (Psalm 12:6-7; 78:1-8; 119:89, 111,
152, 160; Isaiah 30:8; 40:6-8; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Matthew 4-4;
5:17-18; 24:35; 28:20; John 10:35; Colossians 1:17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2
John 1:2, and elsewhere)
"We believe that the original language Texts which
have been Providentially preserved and are the closest to the original
autographs of the Bible are the Old Testament Traditional Masoretic
Hebrew Text that underlies the King James Bible, and the New Testament
Traditional Greek Text that underlies the King James Bible (as found
in The Greek Text Underlying The English Authorized Version of 1611 as
published by the Trinitarian Bible Society in 1976)."
"We believe that the King James Bible (or
Authorized Version) of the English Bible is a true, faithful and
accurate translation of these two Providentially preserved Texts,
which in our time has no equal among all of the other English
Translations; that the translators did such a fine job in their
translation task that we can without apology hold up the King James
Bible and say "This is the WORD OF GOD in English!"
"We believe that the King James Bible should be
used in all preaching services, in the Sunday School, in all Christian
literature and publications, in all memory work, and in all other
places; that all the verses in the King James Bible belong in the Old
and the New Testaments because they represent words that were in the
original Texts;"
Step #3 or 26
"My statement says: I believe that God has
preserved His Word." [Notice: Only His "word"
(meaning ideas, thoughts, concepts, or message) but not His "Words"]
A Reply to Step #3
Matthew 24:35
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my
words shall not pass away.
Mark 13:31
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my
words shall not pass away.
Luke 21:33
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my
words shall not pass away.
The Church’s Doctrinal Statement Is Clear on This Point
"We believe God has promised in both the Old and
New Testaments to preserve His Words as given to us in the
original Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek texts" (Psalm 12:6-7; 78:1-8;
119:89, 111, 152, 160; Isaiah 30:8; 40:6-8; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Matthew
4-4; 5:17-18; 24:35; 28:20; John 10:35; Colossians 1:17; 1 Peter
1:23-25; 2 John 1:2, and elsewhere)
"We believe that the original language Texts which
have been Providentially preserved and are the closest to the original
autographs of the Bible are the Old Testament Traditional Masoretic
Hebrew Text that underlies the King James Bible, and the New Testament
Traditional Greek Text that underlies the King James Bible (as found
in The Greek Text Underlying The English Authorized Version of 1611 as
published by the Trinitarian Bible Society in 1976)."
Step #4 of 26.
"through time and no detail or doctrine will
ever fail (Matthew 5:18-20)." [There are 356 doctrinal passages;
Matt. 5:18-20 teaches the preservation of Words, letters, and parts of
letters, including "detail" and "doctrine"]
A Reply to Step #4
Matthew 5:17-18
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the
law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and
earth pass, one jot [the smallest letter] or one tittle [the smallest
part of a letter] shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled.
Step #5 of 26.
"I believe that a translation which accurately reflects the original languages should be accepted as the
Word
of God." [Only "reflects" original languages? Which
"original languages"? Only "Word" not "Words"]
A Reply to Step #5
Deuteronomy 4:2
2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I
command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep
the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (KJV)
Deuteronomy 12:32
32 What thing soever I command you, observe
to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. (KJV)
Proverbs 30:6
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he
reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Matthew 4:4
4 But he answered and said, It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God.
Revelation 22:18
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth
the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto
these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in
this book:
Revelation 22:19
19 And if any man shall take away from the
words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out
of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things
which are written in this book.
Step #6 of 26.
"While some have a personal preference in
regard to various translations, it should only be that,"
["preference" but no "conviction" or assurance or firmness]
A Reply to Step #6
Proverbs 22:20-21
20 Have not I written to thee
excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 That I might make thee know the
certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the
words of truth to them that send unto thee?
1 John 5:13
13 These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye
have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of
God.
Step #7 of 26.
"and not grounds for separation."
[He refuses to separate over the Bible
issue]
A Reply to Step #7
2 John 9-10
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the
doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring
not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid
him God speed.
Step #8 of 26.
"This probably needs some explanation:"
[Here comes the hard-sell and justification for his error]
Step #9 of 26.
"I do not hold to
one single line of textual preservation (i.e. Textus Receptus)."
[He is totally against the textus receptus Words]
Step #10 of 26.
"I believe that God has preserved His "Word"
["Word" (meaning only His thoughts,
ideas, concepts, or message but not His Hebrew/ Aramaic and Greek "Words"]
A Reply to Step #10
Matthew 24:35
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mark 13:31
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luke 21:33
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
John 12:48
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not
my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in the last day.
Step #11 of 26.
"through the thousands of available Greek texts
that have been discovered." [Yet only ONE is basically relied
on--the Vatican "B" or those that agree with "B";
"thousands" are disre- garded and discarded. These men still
believe Westcott and Hort’s superior evaluation of the Vatican MS
"B."]
A Reply to Step #11
"We learn next that B VERY FAR EXCEEDS ALL OTHER
DOCU MENTS IN NEUTRALITY OF TEXT AS MEASURED BY THE ABOVE TESTS,
BEING IN FACT ALWAYS OR NEARLY ALWAYS NEUTRAL . . ." [F. J. A. Hort, &
B. F. Westcott, Introduction to Their Greek New Testament, p. 171]
The Evidence for Mark 16:9-20 SUMMARIZED (In
Burgon’s Day) showing the falsity of manuscript "B" the Vatican:
a. AGAINST Mark 16:9-20:
(1) Codex "B" (Vatican) [p. 70]
(2) Codex "Aleph" (Sinai) [p. 70]
b. FOR Mark 16:9-20:
(1) 18 Uncials [p. 71]
(2) c. 600 Cursive Copies [p. 71]
(3) Every known Uncial or Cursive
in existence except "B" or "Aleph"! [p. 71]
(4) Every known Lectionary of the
East! [p. 210]
Step #12 of 26.
"I also believe that it is our duty to carefully
examine the texts and come to the best conclusions we can while
trusting the Spirit’s guidance." [Examine the "texts" but
not
the textus receptus "text" They do not "carefully examine the
texts" but use only those agreeing with the Vatican ("B") text.]
Step #13 of 26.
"When I say, we, I do not mean the average
Christian." ["average Christians" should not examine this
issue?? What about the "universal priesthood of believers"?
Are we
to leave "truth" to the popes, priests, princes, prophets, professors,
professionals, or even pastors?]
A Reply to Step #13
John 5:39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them
ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 8:32
32 And ye shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free.
Acts 17:11
11 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.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.
1 John 4:1
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world.
1 Thessalonians 5:21
21 Prove all things; hold fast that
which is good.
Step #14 of 26.
"I believe that this is the task for the one
who has been trained theologically and academically." [Only
the "trained theologically and academically" should examine this
issue?? I repeat again, Are we to leave "truth" to the popes,
priests, princes, prophets, professors, professionals, or even
pastors?]
A Reply to Step #14
Isaiah 9:16
16 For the leaders of this people cause
them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
Jeremiah 23:1
1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and
scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Matthew 15:14
14 Let them [THE PHARISEES] alone: they be
blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both
shall fall into the ditch.
John 7:48-49
48 Have any of the rulers or of the
Pharisees believed on him?
49 But this people who knoweth not the law
are cursed.
Step #15 of 26.
"I believe that there are some valid and very
commendable versions available for people today (e.g., NKJV and the
NASB)." [NKJV and NASB the only two "commendable versions"
available, yet very defective. BFT #1442 lists over 2,000
examples of dynamic equivalency in the NKJV and BFT #1494-P lists over 4,000 examples of dynamic equivalency in the NASV
Step #16 of 26
"The level of scholarship and respect for the
texts of the above translations is without question." ["scholarship" and "respect for truth" without question by whom? If
so, how could I find over 2,000 and over 4,000 examples
in these two of dynamic equivalency?]
Step #17 of 26.
"Having said that, I greatly value the King
James Version" [why no "scholarship" and "respect for truth"
or "commendable" version for "people today"? Is this not a
self-serving statement and a smoke smoke
screen to mislead the church?]
Step #18 of 26.
"for it is the version that I have memorized
from and grown up with" [what made him forsake it? Why did he
abandon it? Why does he say this about the KJB? Is it that he "grew up
with it" but now that he is older and knows
better, he has left it behind?]
Step #19 of 26.
"it is also a version that I do and can preach
from."
[He "does" and "can" preach from but not only.]
Step #20 of 26.
"Unfortunately, this issue has become a dividing
line for some fundamental believers." [It is NOT "unfortun-
nate," but sorely need- ed!]
A Reply to Step #20
Mark 8:38
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of
me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of
him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the
glory of his Father with the holy angels.
John 8:32
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free.)
Step #21 if 26.
"To me it should not." [He does not believe
it should divide "fundamental believers." As it has been said,
BETTER TO BE DIVIDED BY TRUTH, THAN UNITED BY ERROR.]
Step #22 of 26.
"If you were to have me be your pastor, you
would have to understand where I am coming from" [the church
would have to "understand" and make allowances]
Step #23 of 26.
"and give me some freedom to study from versions
I believe are based on a reliable Greek text" [Freedom to
study from versions based on what he thinks is a "reliable Greek
text"]
Step #24 of 26.
"and from time-time quote from them as I
feel necessary." [he can even quote in the pulpit from any
version he thinks proper other than the King James Bible]
Step #25 of 26.
"While it seems as though your background
and teaching is pretty rigid regarding this issue" [The
church’s position on the KJB should be very "rigid"]
A Reply to Step #25
Ephesians 6:11
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye
may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:14
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt
about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Step #26 of 26.
"I certainly hope not." [The church must
not move from "rigidity" on the Bible issue]
A Reply to Step #26
Ephesians 6:14
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt
about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
CONCLUSIONS
1. You and your church must be well taught and
grounded in your stand on the King James Bible and its underlying
Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Words.
2. You must question your prospective Pastor on
each of these 26 points and demand complete and honest answers.
3. You must be prepared to REJECT a Pastor
who wants to lead you astray in the area of Bible texts and
translations.
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