Here's the thing: I am actually a huge fan of the King James Version! I think it was a monument of English translation and prose, and I find it little short of miraculous that the KJV is still a bestseller, over four hundred years after it was first published. However, this idea that the translation of the Bible into English somehow reached its perfection in 1611 is, frankly, ridiculous. And it does a great disservice to many of the fine translations that have appeared over the past century, and the dedicated people who developed those translations.
Another thing I can't understand is why the KJVOs believe their favorite Bible is "under attack." I mean, have they seen a recent bestseller chart (probably not). If they had, they would see that plenty of people are still devoted to the good ol' KJV. There are plenty of churches that are KJVO, and an abundance of websites and Facebook groups that promote the KJVO agenda. So why to they have to troll around on my Facebook group, which is meant to be a friendly place where people can talk about the many translations of the Bible that exist in the English language?
Moreover, it still amazes me (although it doesn't surprise me any more) that KJVOs use such horribly disrespectful language to fellow Christians, and spout such misinformation about what they think are the modern "perversions" of the Bible. I have had KJVOs call me stupid, cast all kinds of doubt on my devotion to the faith, demand my repentance, and many other personal attacks. Meanwhile, some of the accusations they level against modern Bible versions are, quite simply, wrong. For example, I recently had a guy on Facebook (who actually claimed he wasn't KJVO) ask me, "Do you believe in the ascension of Christ? If so, why was it taken out of the RSV and the other modern versions?" Seems like a pretty serious charge, doesn't it? However, if you look in Acts 1:9 in the RSV, you'll read:
9 And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
51 While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.[a]
I imagine this will be an issue that I simply have to deal with from time to time, as the Admin of a Bible Versions Facebook group. Still, it's unfortunate to my way of thinking that Scripture could divide people so badly, when it should be uniting us. Thanks for reading...