The leading opponent of the King James Bible (besides Satan) is James R. White of Alpha and Omega Ministries out in Phoenix, Arizona. James R. White wrote a book called The King James Only Controversy in 1995 that was almost 300 pages distinctly attacking the King James Bible. Mr. White states in his introduction that he is not attacking the King James Bible, however, his whole book is about disproving the King James Bible to be holy. Therefore his book clearly was attacking the King James Bible which claims to be holy. The purpose of his book was to refute what the King James Bible says about itself.
Mr. White's conclusion in "The King James Only Controversy" was that you cannot simply receive one manuscript, text, or book as all authority. His conclusion is that you must use (not believe) multiple books such as the New King James Version, the New American Standard Bible, and the New International Version. He says that if you get a copy of each of these and study all three of them, you can be confident that you have the true words of God. In other words, 'the' word of God and 'the' Bible are actually not singular books, the phrases "the word", "the Scripture", and "the Bible" are actually referring to pluralities of different authoritative books.
What are James White's objections to "King James Onlyism"? From reading his books and watching his Youtube videos, there are three main reasons why he opposes "King James Onlyism".
James White wrote a 286 page book against "King James Onlyism" saying that it is wrong, inconsistent, and ignorant to use either a Textus Receptus or a King James Bible as "all authority" (Titus 1:9, 2:15) and the Holy Scriptures. He states very plainly that he is not against the King James Bible itself, what he is against is King James Onlyism. It is the "ON LYISM" that he disagrees with, that is, "all authority". White does not believe that anyone has "all authority" in ONE volume. White recommends that you use a New King James Version, New American Standard Version, and a New International Version in order to get an accurate grasp of the original meaning of Scripture. But what does the Bible say? Is it Scriptural to have more than ONE authority? Can you keep and obey more than ONE authority? Certainly not. The Scriptures say 'Can two walk together, except they be agreed?' (Amos 3:3). Matthew 6:24 says very bluntly "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other." In 1 Corinthians 14 verses 31 and 33, speaking of receiving multiple revelations from God, it says "For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted....For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." Using more than one revelation from God at a time would be confusion! In Titus 2:15 Paul says that we have "all authority" to rebuke with, why would we need multiple versions if the Bible is suppose to be ALL authority "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority." What was that "all authority" that Titus had? "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Titus 1:9). The Bible is always spoken of as ONE Book, "THE word of God", "THE holy scriptures", and other singular titles. Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read (Isa. 34:16). This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein (Joshua 1:8). And he took THE BOOK of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people (Exod. 24:7). To recommend that Christians read the NKJV, with the NASB, and with the NIV, is contrary to what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches ONE Book One Authority. The NKJV differs from the KJV in hundreds of places, some places in which the Deity of Christ is under discussion (1 John 3:16). The NKJV and the NASB differ in thousands of places. The NIV has 64,000 less words and almost 20 whole verses removed. How could any honest person recommend that you read and believe more than one version? Hundreds and thousands of differences with different meanings cannot be ignored. James White pretends like you can trust and rely on both the NKJV and the NIV, but that is simply contrary to logic. Those two books contradict and differ from each other in thousands of places.
James White sounds like a Bible believer (see his statements below), but when it comes down to it he does not believe in ONE Book and ONE Authority. (Like a polytheist)
"I still, l own the small brown-leather, red-lettered King James Bible my parents gave me on my seventh birthday. I remember proudly taking it to church the next Sunday; unlike the one I had before, with a zipper and pictures on the cover, this one looked like and adult's Bible. How serious I must have seemed that day in Sunday school." (Scripture Alone Copyright 2004 Bethany House Publishers page 21)
What are James White's objections to "King James Onlyism"? From reading his books and watching his Youtube videos, there are three main reasons why he opposes "King James Onlyism".
- Mr. White says over and over again on his Youtube videos that King James Onlyism extremely blocks people off from any "meaningful debate" with heretics and false religions such as Muslims. (For example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WmBfPqD7Z4) However, Mr. White provides little evidence to support this claim. How would believing that the King James Bible is the inspired word of God preserved in the English language block you off from meaningful debate with heretics and unbelievers? This evidence proves otherwise. The great creation science scholar, Henry Morris, was a "King James Only advocate" and wrote an excellent pamplet defending the purity of the King James Bible called A Creationists Defence of the King James Bible. Henry Morris was perhaps the greatest creation science scholar that we have seen. Then there is the creation science scholar Kent Hovind who has debated many evolutionists in his lifetime, and he is a staunch King James Bible believer. Dr. Peter S. Ruckman is also a serious defender of the King James Bible and he has publically debated an evolutionist, a Catholic scholar, and a Muslim (all debates can be purchased from the Bible Baptist Bookstore in Pensacola, Florida). Not only that, Dr. Ruckman has also publically defended the purity of the King James Bible in moderated debates with Gary Hudson and also a member of the New International Version committee. Why would James White say that King James Only believers are not capable of contending for the faith just because they are King James Bible believers? I am afraid that Mr. White is just trying to 'sling mud' rather than speak the truth on the issue. (Note: I must mention that the only times "debate" is mentioned in the Bible it is always mentioned as a sin, see Romans 1:29 and 2 Corinthians 12:20. Why is James White's entire ministry focused on "debate"?)
- Mr. White says that King James Onlyism produces rude, caustic behavior and verbal abuse. White says on page v of the introduction to The King James Only Controversy, "Charges of blasphemy, heresy, and even stupidity, fly thick from some elements of the KJV Only movement. Thankfully, not all who hold to this position engage in such name-calling, but sadly the movement as a whole is marked by this kind of invective. The willingness of individuals such as Peter Ruckman to dehumanize those who disagree with him through personal attack breeds an "us versus them" mentality in those who buy into the KJV Only position." Throughout James White's book and his Youtube videos he condemns King James Bible believers for behaving in a rude, unchristian manner. However, what is his evidence? Of course there are some examples of KJV Only believer being rude, but for every KJB believer that is "rude" that is an equal or greater number of non-KJB Christians that are also "rude". Even James White himself accuses the "KJV Only Camp" of being "ignorant" and using "strawman" arguments throughout his book. On his Youtube channel he said "I don't know what it is about King James Only folks that just makes them a little on the weird side, and sometimes way over on the weird side when you look at people like Gail Riplinger and Peter Ruckman" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwA_oN0gEYc). James White also accuses KJB believers of being “inconsistent”p 60, 71, 72, 88, 209, 230, 231, 233, 248, 249 and of using “double standards” p 107, 162, 170, 173, 232, 236, 244 (The King James Only Controversy). Those who oppose the purity of the King James Bible use some very bad language. Dr. Samuel Gipp and Dr. Peter Ruckman have both exposed Bob L. Ross's "four letter words" that he uses when writing letters to King James Only believers. By the way, I have read a lot of Dr. Ruckman's books on the King James Bible and I have never seen him attack anyone personally. In fact, I have seen quite the opposite. When Dr. Ruckman refutes people like Doug Kutilek, Gary Hudson, Stewart Custer, Robert Sumner, and James White he always refutes them based on their own statements and their faulty knowledge of the Scriptures and manuscript evidence, never does he attack them personally. However, I have seen plenty of people attack Dr. Ruckman personally accusing him of being racist, unsaved, and a fool. The truth is, there are believers on both sides of the Bible issue that use bad language when pressed beyond their patience.
- James White is always complaining about King James Bible believers calling him a "liar" or a "deceiver", but by definition that is what we must classify him as. He sometimes professes to believe that the Bible is (present tense) inspired, but what he really means is that the 'originals' were inspired and that we have 'accurate' and inaccurate copies. He finds so called evidence that persuades him as to which readings belong in the Bible text and which ones do not, however that is only in most places. There are some readings that James White is not sure about and that he never will be 100% sure about. Which means that he will never be a true worshiper of God "believing all things which are written" (Acts 24:14). Notice that Paul said "which ARE written", not 'which WERE written'. Paul believed every word of the Bible he had. He believed that it was "holy" and "given by inspiration of God" (2 Tim. 3:15-16)....and we were told to follow Paul (1 Cor. 4:16, 11:1, Phil. 3:17). James White is also often referred to as a "liar", not because KJB believers hate him, but because he has told a lot of mis-truths in his career. Dr. Peter S. Ruckman's book The Scholarship Only Controversy shows 70 lies that are found in James White's book. A particular lie he has told is found in the interview that Pastor Steven L. Anderson had with him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJrptikLjq8), Mr. White told Anderson that he did not support the reading "God was manifest in the flesh" in 1 Timothy 3:16 and that he has never supported it. Yet in his book, The King James Only Controversy, he says on page 207 "There is much to be said in defense of the KJV rendering of 1 Timothy 3:16 as "God was manifest in the flesh." In fact, I prefer this reading, and feel that it has more than sufficient support from the Greek manuscripts. I can agree with the majority of the comments made on the topic long ago by Dean Burgon." James White completely contradicts himself in his interview with Pastor Anderson! Watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJrptikLjq8
James White wrote a 286 page book against "King James Onlyism" saying that it is wrong, inconsistent, and ignorant to use either a Textus Receptus or a King James Bible as "all authority" (Titus 1:9, 2:15) and the Holy Scriptures. He states very plainly that he is not against the King James Bible itself, what he is against is King James Onlyism. It is the "ON LYISM" that he disagrees with, that is, "all authority". White does not believe that anyone has "all authority" in ONE volume. White recommends that you use a New King James Version, New American Standard Version, and a New International Version in order to get an accurate grasp of the original meaning of Scripture. But what does the Bible say? Is it Scriptural to have more than ONE authority? Can you keep and obey more than ONE authority? Certainly not. The Scriptures say 'Can two walk together, except they be agreed?' (Amos 3:3). Matthew 6:24 says very bluntly "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other." In 1 Corinthians 14 verses 31 and 33, speaking of receiving multiple revelations from God, it says "For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted....For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." Using more than one revelation from God at a time would be confusion! In Titus 2:15 Paul says that we have "all authority" to rebuke with, why would we need multiple versions if the Bible is suppose to be ALL authority "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority." What was that "all authority" that Titus had? "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Titus 1:9). The Bible is always spoken of as ONE Book, "THE word of God", "THE holy scriptures", and other singular titles. Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read (Isa. 34:16). This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein (Joshua 1:8). And he took THE BOOK of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people (Exod. 24:7). To recommend that Christians read the NKJV, with the NASB, and with the NIV, is contrary to what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches ONE Book One Authority. The NKJV differs from the KJV in hundreds of places, some places in which the Deity of Christ is under discussion (1 John 3:16). The NKJV and the NASB differ in thousands of places. The NIV has 64,000 less words and almost 20 whole verses removed. How could any honest person recommend that you read and believe more than one version? Hundreds and thousands of differences with different meanings cannot be ignored. James White pretends like you can trust and rely on both the NKJV and the NIV, but that is simply contrary to logic. Those two books contradict and differ from each other in thousands of places.
James White sounds like a Bible believer (see his statements below), but when it comes down to it he does not believe in ONE Book and ONE Authority. (Like a polytheist)
"I still, l own the small brown-leather, red-lettered King James Bible my parents gave me on my seventh birthday. I remember proudly taking it to church the next Sunday; unlike the one I had before, with a zipper and pictures on the cover, this one looked like and adult's Bible. How serious I must have seemed that day in Sunday school." (Scripture Alone Copyright 2004 Bethany House Publishers page 21)
"We
didn't just sit around and entertain ourselves--we really learned the
Word, including the Old Testament (which doesn't happen so often
today)." (Scripture Alone Copyright 2004 Bethany House Publishers page 21, context referring to the King James Bible)
"When
I first began responding to attacks made upon Scripture by various
religious groups, I did so out of instinctual respect for the Bible and a
strong sense of loyalty to the Word." (Scripture Alone page 11)
"The first alleged "contradiction" that was ever shown to me was based upon the KJV translation. Two young LDS missionaries, Elders Reed and Reese, were sitting in my sister-in-law's home, explaining to me that I could not really trust the Bible because it had been "translated so many times." I was a young person at the time (I was the same as the missionaries), and had not encountered too many real strong challenges to my faith so I asked them for examples of the "errors" they were talking about. They took me to the KJV at Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9." (The King James Only Controversy pg. 28-29 Bethany House Publishing Copyright 1995)
"The first alleged "contradiction" that was ever shown to me was based upon the KJV translation. Two young LDS missionaries, Elders Reed and Reese, were sitting in my sister-in-law's home, explaining to me that I could not really trust the Bible because it had been "translated so many times." I was a young person at the time (I was the same as the missionaries), and had not encountered too many real strong challenges to my faith so I asked them for examples of the "errors" they were talking about. They took me to the KJV at Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9." (The King James Only Controversy pg. 28-29 Bethany House Publishing Copyright 1995)
"The task is the same in every generation: If God's Word is to be heard, we who love it must stand in its defense." (Scripture Alone Copyright 2004 Bethany House Publishers page 14, his emphasis)
"And my love of the Bible as God's Word became over powering." (Scripture Alone Copyright 2004 Bethany House Publishers page 22, context is referring to a New Scofield Reference Bible)
"As I was reading God's living words there was almost an insatiable passion to make to make them a part of my innermost being. I was not satisfied to have these precious words external to me, in a book--I wanted them within me, wherever I went." (Scripture Alone Copyright 2004 Bethany House Publishers page 23)
"We cannot pick and choose what we will and will not believe. If it is the infallible rule of faith, it must be believed." (Scripture Alone Copyright 2004 Bethany House Publishers page 28)
"The Bible claims to be the sole and sufficient infallible rule of faith for the Christian church. The Scriptures are not in need of any supplement; their authority comes from their nature as God-breathed revelation, their authority is not dependent upon man, church, or council. The Scriptures are self-consistent, self-interpreting, and self-authenticating. The Christian church looks to the Scriptures as the only infallible and sufficient rule of faith, and the church is always subject to the Word, and is constantly reformed thereby." (Scripture Alone Copyright 2004 Bethany House Publishers page 28)
"The Word is divine, and the Spirit who gave it does not will to be separated from His masterpiece." (Scripture Alone Copyright 2004 Bethany House Publishers page 29)
--Eli Caldwell
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