The most popular and
fastest growing Bible translation is the King James Version. Over half (55
percent) of all Americans with Bibles use the King James Version most often,
outnumbering the 19 percent of Americans who read the New International
Version. The percentages are in the single digits for competitors like the New
Revised Standard Version, the New America Bible and the Living Bible. The King
James Version received almost 45 percent of the Bible translation related
searches on Google, compared to 24 percent for the New International Version.
Here are a few reasons
why the King James Bible is likely
still the most popular version of the Bible:
●Tradition.
Most Christians were brought up reading the King James Bible and love
the familiarity of that version. The language is a huge part of their spiritual
vocabulary and reminds them of the sermons and homilies they heard through the
years.
●Suspicion.
Some of the more modern Bible versions employed scholars who were more
liberal in their theology.
●Division.
Many churches have been divided by the introduction of a modern
version of the Bible. Even when the introduction is done prayerfully and
wisely, it can often drive a wedge between members and drive some away from the
Church. Some pastors and elders find that using the King James Bible is a
factor in losing some of the young people, but they fear losing the older
members or provoking the louder members by changing.
●Superstition.
There are some Church members who place the King James Bible on the
same level as the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. Some call the King
James Bible inspired and argue that it should never be updated in any way.
●Association.
There are many people out there who have no objection to a modern
Bible translation in theory, but they look at churches that have adopted modern
translations and see that they have not only given up the old version of the
Bible but have also given up the old doctrine.
●Accuracy.
Some of the popular versions, like the New International Version,
moved away from a literal word for word translation of Scripture to a more
dynamic or readable translation, which reads more like an interpretation than a
translation. While the King James Bible is often more difficult to understand,
most Christians prefer the literal rendering.
●Vision.
Some churches simply want to preserve the status quo and don’t want to
reach beyond their own community to people that have trouble understanding or
learning the King James Bible language.
Conviction.
There is no credible modern
translation that holds to the Received Text and to a literal translation of
Scripture. This is not just about preference or tradition but also about
biblical conviction about the preservation of Scripture and the nature of
Scripture. There is a third biblical principle of readability or perspicuity.
The King James Bible advocates often minimize or ignore this principle, because
they cannot find a Bible translation that holds to the Received Text and to a
literal translation of Scripture while also being readable.
