Book Review: The King James Only Controversy

The King James Only Controversy (2nd Edition) by Dr. James White is a book that I have been eager to read for quite a while now.  Having gone through Bible college and seminary, I was aware of the basic issues of textual criticism and translation debates, but I never thought to burn the information into my mind because I never imagined how heated an issue this was within the Church.  However, over the past couple of years, I have encountered quite a few militant members of the KJV Only movement.  In my attempts to have a rational conversation with KJV advocates (which can often be asking too much), my research kept pointing me back to this book by James White. 

In The King James Only Controversy, Dr. White seeks to bring a calm examination of the FACTS behind why there are so many differences between the KJV translation and modern translations such as the NIV, NKJV, NASB, and ESV.  This is important because there are an abundance of sources in the KJV Only movement filled in abundance with name-calling, distortions, and incomplete information. 

White gives an in-depth, but still readable, overview of the background of the KJV Only movement, the background of how ancient manuscripts were passed down over the years and how that impacts the translation debate.  He also devotes significant portions of the book to serve as an "encyclopedia" which examines Biblical passage after Biblical passage and detailing why translations differ from one another. 

Despite what many bloggers and YouTubers claim (most admit to never having read the book), White is not seeking to bash the KJV translation.  Rather, he seeks to restore confidence in the Word of God and a solid basis of understanding the complex issues involved in examining manuscripts.  OK, it doesn't sound exciting, but it is very important for all Christians to understand and appreciate how the Bible has been handed down to us.  He does such a masterful job that your love for God's Word will increase.  Not only that, he helps us understand that the way God chose to pass His Word down through the generations, while creating complex issues, was a genius plan that results in the assurance of the certainty that we do, in fact, have God's Word today. 

At times you may need to put on your thinking cap, but it is well worth it.  In fact, I believe that every Christian should read this book, if not to be equipped for your unexpected encounter with a KJV Only advocate, but to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the process that the Bible has gone through to get to us.

Grade: A (I truly believe every Christian should read this book)