The KJV Only Cult

Dan Corner

13 Facts About the KJV (pdf)

The 1611 KJB (flash cartoon)

A Letter From a KJV Only Cultist

Do you know about the KJV only cult? The following letter from a staunch KJV Only proponent reflects how some KJV Onlyites, or in this case cultists, have exalted one's view of the KJV to a salvation issue, which therefore makes it cultic and DANGEROUS! Evangelical Outreach's response follows his.

KJV Only Cultist Wrote:

First off, I disrespectfully and emphatically disagree with your presentments about the King James Bible and those, like myself, who stand firm in our belief that it alone is the word of God, without error and, thereby, endowed with the absolute authority of Almighty God himself over our lives ... And yes, Dan, I know it is claimed that the Apocrypha was included in the original draft of the KJB 1611, but I'm not necessarily convinced that this was true. For the sake of argument, however, let's suppose for a moment that it is.

The addition of these perverted Catholic-backed writings to the 1611 KJB was no more damning to the actual Scriptures themselves than the often errant footnotes found in today's KJB and other bibles. So, what's your point? The Apocrypha clearly was not considered a part of the Canon of Scripture.

It was merely inserted between the Old and New Testament, and forty-four years later it was completely removed from the KJB (1655) ... The "messiah" you believe in, Dan, is different from the Lord who holds my soul in His hands .... For me, the Bible issue is a watershed between true and false Christianity, not merely a "disagreement among brethren." Doctrine defines fellowship, and the Bible you use defines doctrine. Can I make myself clearer? If at any time in the past I made reference to you as a "brother in Christ," I must now make a retraction.

In consideration of your rejection of the inerrancy and perfection of our English Bible as the word of God, I, however regrettably, cannot extend to you an acknowledgment of Christian relationship. That saddens me, Dan, and I would pray that you would not proceed in the course of apostasy wherein you are heading. I'm inclined to give any man the benefit of the doubt -- even if the doubt is enormous, but your own words have only served to confirm those doubts about your ministry. Let this letter be a warning to you, Dan, for the good of your eternal soul.

Christian Answer To KJV Only Cultist

[Bible Answer from Evangelical Outreach] Greetings in Jesus' name. After reading your letter I have no choice but to sadly conclude that your view of the KJV (which you refer to as KJB) is cultic. You consider me, and others like me, non-Christian based upon our rejection of the KJV as being the only English translation which is the word of God. I noticed that you have no Scripture upon which you base that I'm a Hell-bound person. If you can think of one, please send it to me, but I already know that such is non-existent. You, and some others like you, make wild inaccurate statements about the KJV such as it is without error, but for some reason, when you are confronted with various facts, they bounce off of you as if nothing was said. Let me recommend that you read my booklet A Critique of Gail Riplinger's Scholarship and KJV Onlyism.

Moreover, have you ever noticed how the KJV renders Acts 5:30? It reads,

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree."
This translation has Jesus dying [being slew as David slew Goliah], then being hanged on a tree (cross), which is an incredible mistake! Unfortunately, the KJV translators inserted the word slew in a location distorting when and where Jesus died by doing so! [Acts 10:39 is another time the KJV makes that same error!] That KJV mistake [error] is not in reputable modern translations, which you hate and even go so far as to exclude one from being saved, if he uses them as a source of preaching and writing.

Regarding the Apocrypha being in the 1611 KJV, there should be no question. This is fact. Dispute it if you want, but that won't change things. Furthermore, in the KJV 1611 translation, there are marginal notes from the New and Old Testaments to the Apocrypha and vice versa. That should convince anyone who is open to truth how those translators felt about the Apocrypha, which contains damnable heresy in it such as cited at Tobit 4:8-10; 12:8,9! Yet these heretical books were actually inserted between the New and Old Testaments in the 1611 KJV.

As to Jesus being Messiah or not as stated in reputable translations and the KJV, there is no difference! Most disturbing to me is that you would view people like myself, who don't view the KJV as you do, as being unsaved. Not that this shakes me, but that you have now added to Scripture a requirement for salvation which is not found in the Bible. That makes you guilty of preaching another gospel, like the kind mentioned in Gal. 1:8,9!

In closing, it has been to my great disappointment to learn from you, and some others, that there is an aggressive, misinformed and very divisive group of religious people who have exalted an issue not cited in Scripture as the basis of fellowship, and even salvation itself. You are doing much harm to the body of Christ and especially the new Christian, who desires to learn about God, but can't understand the archaic 1611 KJV words, which have changed their meanings over the years! You need to repent of being divisive, among other things.

More KJV Onlyism Propaganda

One KJV Only cultist stated:
The KJV is the only Holy Ghost-inspired written word of God in the English language. Moreover, only the bibles translated into foreign languages from the Textus Receptus are the true word of God. All other bibles are translated from two corrupted Alexandrian papyri, the Sinaiticus and the Vaticanus. The true saints have believed and lived by the KJV for over 400 years, and God honored His word by pouring out His Spirit in many great and mighty revivals.

A basic unknown truth seems to persist among KJV onlyites, that is, the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts are the Holy Spirit inspired word of God, the real Bible. Also, the KJV Onlyites are unaware, or in denial, that the KJV is only an English translation of the Hebrew and Greek, which evaluates the KJV and all other translations. There are also many translations in foreign languages: French, Spanish, Italian, etc. If one had to read the KJV to have God's word, then people in foreign lands would have to learn English first to read the word of God!

Beyond all that, and without proof, the KJV Only Cultist spews out their baseless rhetoric to exalt their archaic, error-ridden, incomprehensible and even blasphemous translation to the zenith of importance, which actually thwarts the spiritual understanding of those who believe it. But the most clear and destructive evidence establishing that and refuting KJV onlyism is from the KJV translation itself. Please see For KJV Only Lovers.

The Textus Receptus (TR) is the Greek text used for the KJV New Testament. The first edition of the TR was made by the life-long Catholic priest, Desiderius Erasmus, and dedicated to the pope. KJV onlyites often switch the subject to the mention of the Textus Receptus and away from the KJV wording. The two are not the same.

Questions for KJV Onlyites: Which edition of the Textus Receptus are you referring to and exalting and why that edition over the others? Why do other translations of the NT, which are also from the TR, different from the KJV and considered wrong? [In fact, without conclusive evidence, all translations are wrong and only the KJV is held up as the perfect and the only criterion of correctness in the KJV Onlyite's minds. An example of this is to cite Rev. 22:19 as a defense for KJV onlyism and to condemn the modern reputable translations.]

For 1600 years, churches were founded, millions of souls were saved, miracles occurred, people were filled with the Holy Spirit, revivals took place, the word of God was preached, etc., yet NO ONE EVER HEARD OF, READ OR PREACHED FROM THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE. That, however, is ignored to carry on this unfounded KJV propaganda - that it is the one, the only, the best, while all others are inferior and from the devil.

In our era now, because of modern reputable translations, MULTITUDES have been saved, built up spiritually and have drew near to God without reading the frustrating and misleading KJV. The word of God was spread without the KJV snare. Again, the KJV demolishes itself, and especially KJV Onlyism, but this myth continues on.

COMMENT: If you are in the KJV only cult, please know you are doing HARM to the body of Christ and SOULS. The KJV only cult has a misplaced focus on an archaic English translation, which never existed until 1611! The real issue is HOLY living, not KJV onlyism!

Please see also:
Open Letter To a KJV Only Advocate
A Critique of Gail Riplinger's Scholarship and KJV Onlyism
Thirteen Facts About KJV Onlyism
An Email Regarding KJV Onlyism
Evangelical Outreach Alphabetical Map

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