Customer Reviews

Crowned With Glory : The Bible from Ancient Text to Authorized Version

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Among those christians that consider themselves to believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, there are two basic approaches to the text of the Scripture as it exists today. The first, held by the majority of conservative christians, is that we should criticize the text of the Bible as we would any other book to determine its text to the best of our abilities. This view insists that since we can find the most important truths of christianity in whichever Bible we use, we can be assured that we have the message God wants us to have. The second view, which is the view of Dr. Holland, myself, and many others, is that the body of Christ must have a Bible which speaks with authority. The scripture promises the preservation of its words, not just its general message and fundamental truths, so that the very words God wants us to have must be somewhere. The author believes these words for the English speaking people are to be found in the King James Version of the Bible. The King James Bible has come under heavy fire in the 20th century, being disparaged by many modern scholars. Its translators have been put down, its text has been put down, and some have gone so far as to suggest that the reason christian conservatives are considered "backward" is because some still use it and believe it!

The author of this book, in a sweet spirit, free of rhetoric, biting remarks, or insults of other versions of the Bible or people who use them (you wont find any version called a "perversion," etc.), presents the rich history behind the King James Version and the traditional Greek and Hebrew texts it was translated from, along with the other traditional early versions which preceeded it. Unlike other books on both sides of this debate, Crowned With Glory does not "preach to the choir." The Foreword was even written by a man who disagrees with his views! In fact, one of the best descriptions of this book is found in the foreword: "Other recent and popular attempts at presenting a foundation for discussion have occasionally betrayed their own ignorance, but Dr. Holland pulls every scrap of evidence-for and against his view-out of the closet of the certainty of the modern paradigm and reopens an honest discussion of the issues themselves."

This is a wonderful book that I believe should be read by all, regardless of which view they hold. It is scholarly, geting into deep subject, yet manages to keep things at a level where anyone can understand, and I definitely give it five stars.

Dr. Thomas Holland has written an excellent work that both gives an overview of how we got our Bible and conveys a well-informed picture of how the KJV came to be, and why its translators made some of the choices they made.

Amply documented, this book contrasts more than favorably with other books on the subject, such as one I forbear to name by an Arizona professor which conveys much of the same ground (re: how we got the Bible) but is smoothly but carelessly written, contains an anti-KJV apologetic with a nasty edge, and is blatantly unfair at many points. Holland on the other hand makes his points with due respect for alternate perspectives, but with tenacity. His is the kind of book that all will find informative, and many will find persuasive. I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in this topic.

I have read several books on the subject of textural criticism including the King James Defended, Unholy Hands on the Bible and several others. I found Dr. Hollands book to be very readable and very informative. As others have pointed out... He does not force his arguments down your throat... but looks at them in a very unbiased view. I would STRONLY recommend this book for anyone interested in finding out more information on the Subject of God's Preservation of His Holy Word: the Bible.

Two Thumbs Up Dr. Holland!

This is it!

THIS is the KJV book you want and need!

Doc Holland not only has twice the soul-seeking zeal of a James White or a Bob Ross type of refomed "scholar" (who doesn't??), but he's about twice as smart, too. I first became aware of Holland when an old female saint at a camp meetin' refered me to his website. She said something like this by way of a warning: "Don't get too much ungodly hubris from the way he made James White squirm. Just praise God for him." This, as it turned out, was excellent advice! (By the way, not only did White squirm, he ACTUALLY ASKED Dr. Holland to remove his criticisms from print!!-- Check around the net for their dialogues!)

Critics of the KJV movement delight in demeaning their detractors. Holland tells the truth in love, and it IS DEVASTATING. Buy a copy for a scholar's dupe you love and care for.

THIS IS IT!

I thought this well-written, well-documented book had some good arguments in favor of the AV. It brought up some points defending the AV that I had not read before, and should be a must read for those interested in this issue. Don't let your bias for modern versions deter you from reading this book. It is well balanced and any Christian who claims to be seeking the truth should at least read it.

Reading Crowned With Glory was reminiscent of the online Manuscript Evidence classes in terms of content to include the history behind the Authorized Version (King James Version) of the Bible and also the expose of the Alexandrian manuscripts (the corrupt lineage of manuscripts). The history of the AV and exposes of the Alexandrian manuscripts are presented in a kind spirit without flaming or caustic comments toward the corrupt manuscripts, their translators, and, their supporters. What's great about the "Tampering With The Texts" section is the accounts of the translators of the corrupt manuscripts and their Gnostic ideologies. This section comes in handy when studying basic Gnostic doctrines in contrast to what the Bible has to say about them. Especially helpful are the numerous charts and glossary to help the novice who is not familiar with the manuscript evidence issue. A must read for an historical account of the Bible!!

When I started reading Crowned With Glory, I realized there was something special about it. Dr. Holland has written a unique book which is charitable but powerful, simple yet scholarly, and concise though wonderfully informative. I knew early on in my reading that I had found a new "recommended introductory book" to offer people on this important subject.

I just finished reading Crowned With Glory and its great. I found it informative and easy to read. No matter which side you are on in this debate, you should get this book. I highly recommend it to all!

I was introduced to this book by Dr. Holland via his Bible Q and A club ... I think Dr. Holland does a great job of presenting his beliefs and opinions concerning the preservation of the Bible. The one thing I truly enjoyed was Dr. Holland's style of writing. He writes like a next door neighbor or like a friend would write a friend. He doesn't come in and try to force his ideas and opinions down your throat, he presents them and then lets the reader decide.

Another thing that impressed me about Dr. Holland was how he treated Bibles other than the KJV. He didn't call them names (i.e. perversions, trash, etc.) or tear down those of us who have been shown by the Holy Spirit that Modern Bibles are indeed God's Word. Dr. Holland doesn't play the games you see in Yahoo clubs. He stays a man of integrity and for that I am grateful.

I reccomend this book as a companion to other books including one by Philip Comfort on Bible versions. Read all the books, but remember to take God's Word first--there is no convincing argument in the Bible establishing the KJV above any other English Version. It's not there and should not be taught as it was.

I gave this 3 stars...good arguments, but not 100% convincing.

One of the difficulties faced by ordinary people who enjoy reading the Bible is the conflicting claims about the many versions available today. Part of the problem is the tone in which the debate is often conducted. There is a great deal of rancor on both sides. One of the pleasures of this particular volume is the equanimity, the calmness, and the spirit of goodwill, that the author evidences in the presentation of his point of view.

Holland has written a defense of the Traditional Text, which includes the Textus Receptus. The TR is the basis for the King James Version, and so this book is also a defense of the King James Bible. But it also a defense of the German Luther Bible and the Spanish Reina-Valera Version, since all of them used the TR as the basis for their various translations. One of the fine points about this book is its scope; bringing in the German and Spanish perspectives, though done only briefly, broadens the scope of the debate.

Another difficulty ordinary people have is that often the evidence for or against a particular passage is ambiguous; that is to say if one applies the canons of textual criticism one can come up with more than one answer as to the authenticity of the passage. Holland regularly uses approaches beyond that of comparing textual data to present his view. Again, this broadens the field of the debate. For example, Holland brings in patristic sources which are sometimes ignored and gives them more weight than many textual critics. In addition, Holland sometimes includes simple literary analysis; meaning what version makes sense from a literary perspective, from the perspective of readability. Adding this dimension to the debate is helpful in a number of instances.

In my opinion, the book does have its weaknesses. Some of Holland's defenses use a theology of biblical preservation. I'll admit to not being clear about what this theology implies. Though I have read one book devoted to the theology of preservation, I'm still not clear as to its implications. I found it difficult to integrate this approach into his other arguments. Perhaps others more familiar with the terms of this kind of theology won't find it an obstacle, but I would have appreciated at least a brief statement of what a theology of preservation means and perhaps some references.

The work is scholarly and sometimes that makes it difficult for the ordinary reader. For example, Holland does not translate a short passage in German, nor an equally short passage in Spanish; I suspect that he assumes most readers will be scholars and not need a translation. I know German so I was able to read that passage, but I don't know Spanish. I had to consult with a Spanish speaking friend.

Having said that, the book is an invaluable source of arguments and data in support of the Traditional Text. It is particularly strong on the Long Ending of Mark. His case for its authenticity is overwhelming. There is a good bibliography, a well done index, and important appendices in the back making this an excellent reference work for many years to come.