Is King James Only-ism Heresy? Part 2

What is Heresy?

(Note: this blog was originally entitled, "Is King James Only-ism a Cult?" but since the word, "cult" does not appear in the Bible, and since the word-grouping surrounding the word, "heresy" does, the decision was made to adjust the title and focus on biblical terms.)

In order to answer the question of whether or not King James Only-ism is heresy, we must first formulate a functional definition for what heresy is.

The Problem of Perspective

The idea of what is or is not heresy is often found in the eye of the beholder. For example, a Protestant Christian might seek to rescue an individual from the heresy of Catholicism, but once this occurs, those still in their former Catholic congregation might describe the individual's defection by saying they had been drawn away to one of the sundry heresies.

This problem of perspective is even shown in the New Testament itself:

“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:” (Acts 24:14).

This was, "...the way which they call heresy..." (emphasis mine). But "believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets" can hardly be called heresy! Notice when Paul gave his defense before the Roman governor, Felix, he even acknowledged that the Jews accused him of heresy. However, as this account shows, simply labeling a different view as heresy, does not an heretick make.

This maxim often applies to the Bible version issue. Many try to paint all those in the King-James-Only camp as heretical, but this does not make it so. Granted, there are certainly those who do hold heretical positions. There are also those who may be right in doctrine, but whose demeanor and attitude are wrong, as they often come across as angry, arrogant, or condescending. This represents someone who is instead, "King James Ugly."

But even Noah Webster, in his 1828 Dictionary, recognized this 'problem of perspective,' at least in his peripheral definition of the word, "heresy."

“...but as men differ in the interpretation of Scripture, an opinion deemed heretical by one body of christians, may be deemed orthodox by another.”

Defining Heresy

Webster's primary definition of the word is, “A fundamental error in religion, or an error of opinion respecting some fundamental doctrine of religion...”

Observe from the definition above that heresy involves a fundamental error, either in religion as a whole, or in a fundamental doctrine.

Christianity is without doubt the true and only religion, because it is the only one of the world's religions whose founder, Jesus Christ, rose bodily from the dead as He said He would do. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6).

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Within Christianity, however, there is a standard text by which to judge truth or error.

“The Scriptures being the standard of faith, any opinion that is repugnant to its doctrines, is heresy;” (Webster's 1828 Dictionary).

Scripture truly is the standard of faith, as Webster just claimed. But there is also, in lesser matters, an exhortation for believers not to dispute with one another, but to, "...Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."  (Romans 14:5). For this reason,  doctrines have historically been divided between fundamental doctrines and secondary/tertiary (etc.) issues in order to help discern when separation becomes necessary.

But historically and practically even today, those who are often on the front lines, "...earnestly contend[ing] for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 1:3 c) have been those who held in their hands the Bible and believed that every word of it was inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative, and providentially preserved by God.

In fact, those who defend these Bible doctrines are often those who fight to defend the other fundamentals of the faith as well.

Can it truly be said against King James Bible Believers, that they are the enemy to orthodoxy, when they have been it's staunchest defenders?

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While Webster's 1828 definition may be a good starting point, it does not represent the full biblical scope; and as good as it is at defining biblical words (often including the scriptural reference within the dictionary entry itself), the New Testament presents us with a more descriptive and authoritative definition.

Examining New Testament Usage

The cluster of words which comprise this topic include the word, "sect," (as in sectarian) along with the conjugations of the word, "heresy" (heresy, heresies, and heretick).

Of the ten uses of this root word in the New Testament (Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5, 14; 26:5; 28:22; 1Cor. 11:19; Gal. 5:20; Titus 3:10; 2 Pet. 2:1), the six from the book of Acts simply refer to a belief system or theological distinction. The Jews living during the New Testament era had their denominations, just like we do today.

Acts records three such Jewish sects: the Sadducees (Acts 5:17), the Pharisees (Acts 15:5 & 26:5), and believing Jews also called Nazarenes, a scornful term for Christians as followers of Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 24:5 & 28:22). In the texts which mention these sects, the actual points of disagreement between these groups are only mentioned insofar as they distinguish the people who espouse them. (Although, this distinction is clearly made when the circumstances required it, see Acts 23:6-9.)

Characteristics of Heresies

A different connotation emerges, however, when we examine the words translated around the term, heresy. Although this is the same Greek word as "sect" above, the context in the epistles is decidedly more negative, than how Luke employs it in the Acts of the Apostles.

“For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (1 Corinthians 11:18-19).

In these verses, the word, "heresies" from verse 19 finds the parallel word, "divisions" in verse 18. These near-kinsman words allow the Bible to define other similar words in context and provide safeguards for interpretation. Therefore,

1. Heresies are Divisive.

The first characteristic of heresy according to this passage is that it is divisive.

Paul is writing this rebuke to the church at Corinth because of the divisions that had arisen there ( See 1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Cor. 3:3-4 etc.).

But as it applies to our present discussion, who are the ones really being divisive about this issue? Afterall, the King James Bible was established as the standard Bible throughout English-speaking countries and churches around the globe long before any of the modern versions.

As we saw from the previous article, the King James Bible was translated from the vast majority of Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, which were received by God's people throughout the centuries. This collection became the standard received text, the Textus Receptus, and since it's translation into English, the King James Bible is the "English Received Text" (Verschuur, Matthew, Guide to the Pure Cambridge Edition of the King James Bible) and the, "final form of the Received Text of history" (Savige, Ps. Craig, The Authorized King James Bible Connection).

Since the King James Bible was here first, and represents the long line of textual witness which traces its roots back to the founding of our faith, the modern versions are the imposters, and those peddling them and drawing believers away from the standard English Received Text are the real dividers and hereticks.

2. Heresies are Works of the Flesh.

The second characteristic of heresy lists it as a work of the flesh in opposition to the fruit of the Spirit.

“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies” (Galatians 5:20).

It is interesting that "heresies" here are listed alongside "emulations" which express, "...attempting to equal or excel in qualities or actions; rivalry; desire of superiority." Modern versions are advertised as rivaling the King James Bible and, as we also saw from the prior blog, often introduce heresies in the text where there were none before.

In Part 3, we will conclude our response in answer to the question, "Is King James Only-ism Heresy?"

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”— John 17:17