Books on Bible Versions
Books: [Bible Version Issue] [KJV Bibles] [Other]
If you are looking for a solid presentation of the KJV believing position, please read the first two books listed here. If you have to choose just one, I would recommend Crowned With Glory, but I strongly recommend also reading Which Version is the Bible?. That being said, all of these books make for excellent study.
Lately I have noticed that more and more authors are publishing books defending the King James Bible and calling attention to the severe problems with the modern Bible plethora. What follows here is a list of books that I have personally read and consider to be excellent on the subject. If your favorite author is not represented here, please don't be offended. Besides having so many good books to choose from and not wanting to overwhelm newcomers to the subject, I have limited this list to books that should be reasonably easy to order.
In addition to the "green" books below, I also highly recommend The King James Version Defended by Edward F. Hills.
Click the book title for pricing and ordering information.
| Crowned With Glory: The Bible from Ancient Text to Authorized Version |
My first choice as a recommendation for a solid introductory reading on the Bible version issue. Crowned With Glory is an insightful look at the history of the Traditional Text and its impact on the crown jewel of English translations, the Authorized Version. Approaching the issue from a scriptural and scholarly perspective, Dr. Holland explores the science of textual criticism in light of biblical preservation. |
| Which Version is the Bible? |
Next to Crowned With Glory, this is probably the best all-around book on the subject. A scientist by trade, Dr. Jones clearly explains the problems and answers with complete documentation. Dr. Jones' focus in Which Version is the Bible? is a little different from Dr. Holland's focus in Crowned With Glory, so the two compliment each other well. |
| Archaic Words and the Authorized Version |
This book serves several useful roles in study. It is an excellent dictionary of words used in the King James Bible, and anyone wishing to overcome a public education (like myself) will benefit greatly from Dr. Vance's seemingly limitless knowledge of the English language in etymology and grammar. Also, while defining these words, Dr. Vance shows that words typically labeled archaic by critics are almost always found in modern literature (newspapers, magazines, etc), and proves it with documentation. This book includes several appendixes, including listings of archaic words both retained and added in modern Bible versions; uniformity in translation to and from English, AV archaic words in modern publications; and very helpful appendixes on archaic personal pronouns (thou, etc) and archaic verb inflections (-eth, etc). It doesn't hurt that Dr. Vance has a command of Greek and Hebrew in addition to English, and has in fact authored a book on Hebrew grammar. Dr. Vance's writing style is educational and witty, and his comparisons of some archaic words with words used in modern versions can be downright entertaining. Highly recommended. |
| One Book Stands Alone |
Dr. Stauffer's contribution to the debate is welcome and easy to read. This book is particularly useful in explaining the damage that modern Bible versions can cause to one's spiritual life. Subtitled The Key to Believing the Bible, Dr. Stauffer centers on the need for a Christian to submit to the final authority, God's word, and shows that having multiple conflicting authorities hinders a walk with Christ. |
| Final Authority |
Dr. Grady clearly drives home the point that the Bible version debate is really a debate about a believer's final authority. Included in the book is a good overview of several important topics. Grady makes one of the most compelling cases in print for rejecting the spiritually bankrupt theories and methods of Westcott and Hort that permeate modern Christian scholarship. Though it does not bother me, Dr. Grady is more abrasive than other authors. When it comes to defending the very words of God, Grady pulls no punches. Unfortunately, in our current age of ultra-sensitivity, where the Lord would be called "mean-spirited" for his comments about the Pharisees, many people will be put-off by Grady's take-no-prisonsers tone. Though I like this book and think it is a valuable contribution to the debate, I did get a little disappointed the few times when Dr. Grady would digress into tangents regarding what I think may be his "hobbiehorse doctrines." However, a discerning reader will easily look past those shortcomings and be blessed by a solid, strong defense of the King James Bible and powerful indictment of corrupt modern translations. More Bibles and study materials of interest can be found at the Think Bible bookstore. |
