05/19/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BDCFhHRT9/
some words of wisdom from our Baptist brethren and sistren. The key? Whatever translation you use, does it faithfully convey the word of God to be understood by the reader or hearer?
I love the KJV. I even prefer the KJV. It has had a huge impact on the English speaking church, and there’s nothing wrong with reading it. But Christians are called to worship God and trust His Word, not treat one English translation like it dropped from heaven in 1611.
The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, not 17th century English. The KJV itself was actually a translation from those earlier manuscripts. If translating the Bible into English was good in 1611, then translating it into modern English today is not suddenly sinful.
Even the KJV translators said in their original preface that different translations can still faithfully communicate God’s Word. That alone should end the idea that only one English version is acceptable.
Good modern translations like the LSB, NASB 95, NKJV, CSB, and others are based on thousands of ancient manuscripts and are trying to accurately communicate the meaning of Scripture in language people can actually understand today.
The issue is not “Which English translation is perfect?” The issue is: “Does this translation faithfully communicate the Word of God?”
Nobody talks like this anymore: “peradventure,” “wist ye not,” “concupiscence,” “letteth,” etc.
There’s nothing holy about making the Bible harder to understand. The goal is clarity so people can know Christ, obey His Word, and grow spiritually.
Reading a modern translation is not attacking the Bible. For many people, it actually helps them finally understand it.
The early church didn’t have the KJV. Jesus Christ didn’t quote the KJV. The apostles didn’t preach in King James English.
God’s Word is inspired. Translations are attempts to faithfully communicate that inspired Word into other languages. We should respect good translations, compare them carefully, and be thankful we have access to Scripture in language we can understand, instead of turning one English version into a sacred object.
