April Book Review
April Book Review
The King James Only Controversy
AUTHOR: JAMES WHITE
Greetings to Awakening Church. Based on our schedule, we missed March’s book review. However, we did move an entire church. With all our extra time on Sunday mornings, I wanted to suggest an excellent read that touches on more than its title suggests.
Author: James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries. He is Professor of Church History and Apologetics at Grace Bible Theological Seminary, and has taught Greek, Hebrew, Systematic Theology, Textual Criticism, Church History, and various topics in the field of apologetics for numerous other schools. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty-four books.
Content: James White’s The King James Only Controversy dives into a big argument: Is the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible the only “true” English Bible, or are modern ones like the NIV and ESV just as good? I ran into this question when I first became a believer and was shopping for my first significant Bible purchase. White writes this to explain why he thinks the KJV-only crowd is off base and why newer translations are trustworthy.
After my conversion, I fell into the months-long trap of trying to figure out why so many claimed that people were “changing the word of God”. I used the King James version of the Bible for months, thinking that in the worst case, it was a defensive move in which I couldn’t go wrong. I certainly didn’t want to have some version of the Bible that had been nefariously altered guiding me in my faith.
The book starts with a quick history of the KJV—how it was made in 1611 using a set of Greek and Hebrew texts called the Textus Receptus. White compares that to modern Bibles, which use older, more varied manuscripts. His main point? The KJV is an awesome and historic translation, but it’s not perfect, and newer versions aren’t trying to ruin anything—they’re just built on better evidence.
James White takes on big KJV-only claims, like how some verses (think Acts 8:37 or 1 John 5:7-8) are “missing” in new translations. He says it’s not a conspiracy—it’s just scholars trying to get closer to the original words. He’s clear and smart about it, breaking down examples so you can follow.
The good: James White knows his Bible languages and history, and he’s great at debunking wild ideas (like modern translations being some evil plot).
The bad: It can get heavy with details about old manuscripts—this is cool if you’re a nerd for that, but might be boring if you’re not.
Recommendation: This book, written in 1995, still matters today because people still fight over this question. It’s perfect if you’re curious about how Bibles get made and don’t mind some heavier, brainy parts. If you just want a light read, it might feel like too much. If you have questions about your Bible version or are itching to begin learning about the science of textual criticism, this is a great place to start.
Always remember:
“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.”
- Charles Spurgeon
In Christ,
Ryan Milne
Author: James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries. He is Professor of Church History and Apologetics at Grace Bible Theological Seminary, and has taught Greek, Hebrew, Systematic Theology, Textual Criticism, Church History, and various topics in the field of apologetics for numerous other schools. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty-four books.
Content: James White’s The King James Only Controversy dives into a big argument: Is the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible the only “true” English Bible, or are modern ones like the NIV and ESV just as good? I ran into this question when I first became a believer and was shopping for my first significant Bible purchase. White writes this to explain why he thinks the KJV-only crowd is off base and why newer translations are trustworthy.
After my conversion, I fell into the months-long trap of trying to figure out why so many claimed that people were “changing the word of God”. I used the King James version of the Bible for months, thinking that in the worst case, it was a defensive move in which I couldn’t go wrong. I certainly didn’t want to have some version of the Bible that had been nefariously altered guiding me in my faith.
The book starts with a quick history of the KJV—how it was made in 1611 using a set of Greek and Hebrew texts called the Textus Receptus. White compares that to modern Bibles, which use older, more varied manuscripts. His main point? The KJV is an awesome and historic translation, but it’s not perfect, and newer versions aren’t trying to ruin anything—they’re just built on better evidence.
James White takes on big KJV-only claims, like how some verses (think Acts 8:37 or 1 John 5:7-8) are “missing” in new translations. He says it’s not a conspiracy—it’s just scholars trying to get closer to the original words. He’s clear and smart about it, breaking down examples so you can follow.
The good: James White knows his Bible languages and history, and he’s great at debunking wild ideas (like modern translations being some evil plot).
The bad: It can get heavy with details about old manuscripts—this is cool if you’re a nerd for that, but might be boring if you’re not.
Recommendation: This book, written in 1995, still matters today because people still fight over this question. It’s perfect if you’re curious about how Bibles get made and don’t mind some heavier, brainy parts. If you just want a light read, it might feel like too much. If you have questions about your Bible version or are itching to begin learning about the science of textual criticism, this is a great place to start.
Always remember:
“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.”
- Charles Spurgeon
In Christ,
Ryan Milne
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