Answer: First, I am not opposed to the KJV bible. It is a wonderful work and has a certain grace making it a wonderful example in classic literature. In my article “KJV Only?” much of my objections to using this bible as your only source is given but you have brought up a point that needs to be addressed. You are correct in saying “millions” have been converted using this bible version, but it is also true that millions had been converted using other translation before the KJV came on the scene. As the years rolled by this version became less and less of an eye opener and more and more a drudgery to read. To combat this there has been at least three major revisions but still, today’s modern readers have trouble with it. It is my opinion that the KJV bible has become a wall to many that would come to the word instead of s springboard into the faith that it should be. While in its beginnings millions may have coveted this book and its message time has proven is has lost its effectiveness as the book of choice for the common lay member. Don’t forget the reason for the KJV in the first place. Side step the obvious political reasons of that day and see the desire to give the common people a book they could read.
The following is the final answer to this question of why the KJV should be part of ones library and should be read but for reading and getting others to read the BOOK do not give this version to babes in the Christ but rather a newer version in a language they can read without being blocked by a play on old English words and wording.
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A review of a book on Amazon.com by user, Ex-soldier Jim (the American Apocalypse, by Terry James)
This quote gives a very clear reason, by an educated student of the Bible, for not using the KJV, and demonstrates why the KJV Bible might have been stifling the Christian religion for the last hundred years.
Point #2 Terry's MADDENING habit of using the venerable King James (bias?) version to exemplify scripture. I almost quit several times because the SAITH's, thees, thous and other obscure verbiage almost put me to sleep while simultaneously driving me mad with confusion. I detest the KJV of the Holy Bible. If I'd had to rely on that for guidance on my questions as a "baby" Christian (decades ago), I'd probably still be a pagan.
In all fairness to Terry James, and other authors that seem fixated on the KJV it should be mentioned that the KJV is ‘public domain’ and requires no special permission, nor requires no copyright fees as some of the more modern translations do. However, there are several open ended, non-copyright, translations that can be used but are objectionable to some as not having the backing of a majority of Christian Churches or institutions. The World English Bible (WEB) is a good example. There is also the Modern King James Version (MKJV), similar to the New King James (NKJ), a copyrighted version.
Ex-soldier Jim says it like it is and expresses exactly the sentiment of thousand upon thousands of people. Not a sentiment heard so much as felt. How many times an individual will pick up the KJV and put it right back down because it is in a near foreign language. The silent, near, converts, I call them, myself included at one time, appear only in conversation when the subject of reading the Bible comes up. I think we have all heard the complaint so adequately expressed by Ex-soldier Jim in one way or another. “Oh, I tried reading it once, but it was so hard with all those these and thous and then the begats and begots”, they say.
In my early years of Bible study I spent a great deal of time training myself to read the KJV by mentally converting the strange language into modern language. When I came to the “begots and begats” I skipped them altogether and it made for much better reading. Certainly, for some, the KJV has been a great excuse to claim biblical ignorance and with good reason, side step the issue of giving the Christian message a chance, but you have to wonder, how many souls would have been changed if they could have gotten their hands on a clearly worded modern translation?
When you are called you are called, no doubt, but I know of some called delaying their answer because of the difficulty of reading the KJV. Others have sat stupidly in the pews, heads bowed, thinking, I will let the preacher explain it to me. We wonder why we have become a people believing in a God but are biblically ignorant. We see preachers in this day teaching anything but the scriptures, giving out feel good messages any public motivator could deliver. They tell stories and smile while others sweat and stomp and harangue those seeking the truth into silence.
The KJV bvible has been the most available book in the history of books and there has been those holding this translation up as the only “authorized” bible of the Holy Spirit. The fact is the “authorization” of this bible version does not come from the Holy Spirit but from King James of 1611 AD. That’s right, the KJV bible is a government approved bible, a government project, if you will. What do you think would happen if the President of the USA were to stand up and declare a certain version of the bible as the only “authorized” bible in print, and the government would pay for its printing, and it would be the bible read in all the churches across the land? This is exactly what King James did. It is a work “authorized” and funded by the government of England under the order of the King. Basically the people were told that this would be the only bible to be used by the English speaking people.
Here is a good reference work on how we got the KJV bible and where it came from and how we have received the modern translations of today:
A VISUAL HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE, by Donald L. Blake
This is an excellent book if you want an easy to read and understand book on how we got our bible.