One Bible Only?: Examining Exclusive Claims for the King James Bible [Paperback]

Roy E. Beacham (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2001

An honest examination of the King James Only position offers a balanced and scholarly presentation of the issues based on the biblical and historical evidence.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Is there only one inspired Bible?"

The debate over the veracity of modern translations of the Bible continues to create confusion in the minds of believers who know that Scripture lies at the heart of the Christian faith. Yet, many don't understand why some believers insist the King James Version is the only accurate translation of the Bible. "King James Only" proponents claim it is the only viable option for those who want to trust Scripture for their faith and practice.  

Pastors and church members alike need solid, sensitive answers to the ongoing questions they confront in ministry regarding the KJV. This honest examination of the "King James Only" position offers a balanced and scholarly presentation of the issues based on biblical and historical evidence. The authors, each associated with Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, address the issues of origin, textual variant, and fallibility by drawing on the best current scholarship.

Roy E. Beacham, M. Div., Th.M., Central Baptist Theological Seminary; Th.D., Grace Theological Seminary, is professor of Old Testament at Central Baptist Seminary, Minneapolis, Minn. He has done graduate study with the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem. He is coauthor of The Bible Version Debate and a contributor to the Dictionary of Premillennial Theology.

Kevin T. Bauder is an associate professor of systematic and historical theology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds the Th.M. degree from Denver Baptist Seminary, The D.Min. degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and is a Ph.D. candidate at Dallas Theological Seminary. Over the past twenty years he has been a pastor, church planter, and teacher.

About the Author

Roy E. Beacham, M.Div., Th.M., Central Baptist Theological Seminary; Th.D., Grace Theological Seminary, is professor of Old Testament at Central Baptist Seminary, Minneapolis, Minn. He has done graduate study with the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem. He is coauthor of The Bible Version Debate and a contributor to the Dictionary of Premillennial Theology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (April 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825420482
• ISBN-13: 978-0825420481
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #683,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensible, calm, helpful, June 29, 2005

By 

Gontroppo "Music and Theology Lover" (Bathurst, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: One Bible Only?: Examining Exclusive Claims for the King James Bible (Paperback)

This book is written by fundamentalists to fundamentalists. It is well-written and gives an excellent defence of the eclectic approach to textual criticism. It shows clearly that the idea that the King James Version is the only inspired one is unbiblical and illogical.

The authors of the various articles show that all of the arguments for KJV-Onlyism are based on false information.

But the book also contains insights into bible translation and lots of useful information about the manuscripts from which we got our bible, both Old and New Testaments.

The writers write respectfully, with due praise for the King James Version and with courtesy to those who hold different points of view to them.

I have learnt quite a bit from this book, despite having previously read books such as Carson's The King James Version Debate: a plea for realism [which I also recommend, despite its age.]

Warmly recommended.

29 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reasonable and Helpful, February 11, 2006

By 

GreenParrot "GreenParrot" - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Bible Only?: Examining Exclusive Claims for the King James Bible (Paperback)

Where did Jesus say in Matthew 24:35 that the AV 1611 (a.k.a. the King James version) is the only word of God? Where in His wonderful words: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" does he say anything about His word ending up ONLY in a book in 1611 and then a little later with King James of England's name on it?

What Jesus Christ is saying is "His words" which are everything He spoke, because He is God, shall never pass away, they will always stand, even long after the temporary things such as the heaven and earth pass away. It's sad that some people actually believe the absurdity of Gipp, Waite, Ruckman, and Riplinger that by "His words" he spoke them in KJV English. He spoke Aramaic, and being God He most likely knew Greek as well.

What He is essentially saying in Matthew 24:35 is that everything He says stands and cannot, will not change. In other words, we can trust Him to not recant, not reneg, not go back on any one of His many promises. We also can trust that every command He gave will also stand forever. His word exists in the KJV, as well as the updated English versions (put into our modern language, just as the KJV was in their day) such as NKJV and NASB. God never said He would one day translate His word into one version ultimately and then that would be it. He said He would preserve it forever, which means He will continue to preserve it for eternity, and this includes the decent English language updates that are done every couple of decades to keep the language clear for the reader as language adapts. There have been many changes in the modern English since 1611.

His word was spoken and existed long, long before He even created the earth and universe. It is as eternal as He is, since He is not limited nor controlled by time. His spoken word transcends even the pages of a writtetn text which is limited by language translation in every language of the earth. The Holy Spirit is the One who helps us understand what His written word is saying. His spoken word existed for eternity before He wrote it down for mankind.

Matthew 24:35, along with Psalm 12:6-7, has been twisted way out of context and misused by those who wish to conform them to their KJV onlyist stance. This is taking license with God's word in creating new doctrine not literally and implicitly stated forth in what He said. We must take all his words, in all the verses, in context with one another in the passage in which they belong.

To take the KJVO stance so strongly, as most of the extremists do, is to revert back to the persecution and control which the Roman Catholic church forced upon anyone who was caught with any bible that was not the Latin Vulgate. Men like Tyndale and others were martyred by the RCC for translating the English bible into the language of the common man so they could read it in their own words and understand God's word. The KJVO extremists hold the same mindset as the RCC with its Latin Vulgate version. This needs some serious thought.

This book is an excellent book that explains more of the above and the many KJVO distortions which have caused contentions and confusion and deception inside many wonderful and well-meaning fundamental churches. We need to listen to the voice of reason and what God is actually saying in His word and not twist it to what we want it to say, as if twisting His arm to back up our own faulty arguments. The KJVO argument is extremely faulty. Anyone can see this if they have eyes to see and ears to hear.

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Defining Deliverance For the Layman!, October 29, 2001

By 

Karla R. Brien (APO, AP United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Bible Only?: Examining Exclusive Claims for the King James Bible (Paperback)

This book's consise format takes the reader through the history of the KJV-only issue and delves into all the hot spots without resorting to name calling as most Pro-KJV authors do (ie. Riplinger, Ruckman, Grady). The truth of God's inerrant Word shines brightly through the pages as we see clearly the translational process and preservation of our bibles today. Another plus is that the language is formidable-- what you would expect from educated, Godly authors! Carson and White's books were good, but this is the best yet.