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Origin of the TERM King James Only

Logos1560

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In his introduction entitled "The King James Only Doctrine is a New Idea," James D. Price wrote: "In 1972, I began teaching in the seminary of Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, Tennessee" (King James Onlyism: A New Sect, p. 3).

James D. Price wrote: "It was not until the early 1970's, after I began to teach, that I first heard of the King James Only Idea" (p.4).

James D. Price wrote: "The first mention of this new doctrine came from some students of Peter Ruckman, and then from his own writings. Investigation revealed that this idea could be traced to the works of Edward F. Hills and Jasper James Ray, publications written in the 1950's. However, these authors do not seem to have had much influence until their torch was picked up by Peter Ruckman and David Otis Fuller" (p. 4).
 

rlvaughn

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Not helping close in on origins, but the following quote by a UK pastor (Alan J. Macgregor, Reformed Baptist, Glasgow) might help along the road of current American and English terminology.
However, we must also say that believing the AV itself to be infallible and above improvement (commonly called “KJV-onlyism” in the USA and “AV-onlyism” in the UK) is an untenable position that only backs its advocates into a corner. (Three Modern Versions: A Critical Assessment of the NIV, ESV, and NKJV, Bible League Trust, 2004, p. 100).
 

robycop3

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Seems the term evolved from some who said, "I use the King James Version ONLY!", & it may well have begun as a term of derision, as it's so-obviously false. From that, the acronym "KJVO" evolved. And, depending on the context of a given usage, it can still be a term of derision or ridicule.

What I coined, & have often used are the terms "the KJVO myth", as the doctrine fits the definition of a myth, that is, a widely-held, but false, idea-and the term "Freedom Reader" for those such as myself who feel free to use ANY legitimate Bible translation, old or new.

Logos, you earlier mentioned a dude I had many a heated discussion with-Dr. Herb "Hreb" Evans. (He spread more "stuff' than a vegetable farmer!) I don't know if he's still living or not; I've not seen any hooey from him for awhile.
 

Yeshua1

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I do not think that is any confusion with the term when it is clearly defined and explained.

I find some KJV-only authors such as D. A. Waite and David Cloud seem to try to create confusion about the term because they do not seem to want their view accurately and clearly defined as being a form of KJV-only view. Some seem to try to be KJV-only and not KJV-only at the same time as they deny being KJV-only, but yet they make exclusive only claims for only one English translation.

I have not recommended nor advocated the Critical Text nor English translations made from it. My 2003 book was written on the basis of the Textus Receptus, the pre-1611 English Bibles, and the KJV, and yet it is clear that I am not part of the KJV-only mindset. Because I accept the truth that the NKJV belong in the same stream or line of Bible translations with the Geneva Bible and the KJV, KJV-only advocates still try to lump me with those who advocate the Critical Text.

Which specific people who do not hold a form of KJV-only view have been lumped together with KJV-only?
That is why the KJVO really dislike you, as they can always just accuse us who do advocate for the CT and modern versions as being biased and ignorant, yet they cannot use that against you!
 

Yeshua1

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In his 2001 book, Lloyd L. Streeter does not explain why he chose the date of 1967. He claimed that "in 1967 no one used the term 'King James Only'", but he does not say why he picked that date.

Perhaps he did indicate why he chose that date since he indicated a preacher in California turned him on to a book that he read that year. Lloyd Streeter evidently read some KJV-only book in 1967.

Lloyd Streeter claimed that "the alternative to being 'King James only' is to be 'Critical Text only'" (p. 19). Since those are not the only two choices, he seems to use the fallacy of false dilemma in making that assertion.
JoJ would be surprised to hear that those are only 2 choices, as he is Bzt text!
 

Yeshua1

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In his introduction entitled "The King James Only Doctrine is a New Idea," James D. Price wrote: "In 1972, I began teaching in the seminary of Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, Tennessee" (King James Onlyism: A New Sect, p. 3).

James D. Price wrote: "It was not until the early 1970's, after I began to teach, that I first heard of the King James Only Idea" (p.4).

James D. Price wrote: "The first mention of this new doctrine came from some students of Peter Ruckman, and then from his own writings. Investigation revealed that this idea could be traced to the works of Edward F. Hills and Jasper James Ray, publications written in the 1950's. However, these authors do not seem to have had much influence until their torch was picked up by Peter Ruckman and David Otis Fuller" (p. 4).
think that while the KJVO seed was from the Sda pastor, they real roll out was with Ruckman and Fuller themselves.
 

John of Japan

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King James Onlyism: A New Sect, hy James D. Price. The earlist he hear of it was the early 1970's.
Dr. Price taught at Temple Baptist Seminary in the 1970's, and was my Hebrew prof there in the fall of 1976. Sometime during my undergrad years (graduated in 1976), Dr. Roberson, the pastor of Highland Park Baptist church) and president of the schools there, said from the chapel pulpit that we would tolerate no more discussions about Bible versions in the dorms. However, neither then nor at any time in the 1970's did I ever hear the term "King James Only." After seeing your post, I looked in his book (copyright 2006), but couldn't find any place where he talked about when the term was first used.
 

Yeshua1

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Dr. Price taught at Temple Baptist Seminary in the 1970's, and was my Hebrew prof there in the fall of 1976. Sometime during my undergrad years (graduated in 1976), Dr. Roberson, the pastor of Highland Park Baptist church) and president of the schools there, said from the chapel pulpit that we would tolerate no more discussions about Bible versions in the dorms. However, neither then nor at any time in the 1970's did I ever hear the term "King James Only." After seeing your post, I looked in his book (copyright 2006), but couldn't find any place where he talked about when the term was first used.
Before our time, but thought that when the Rsv first came out. certain baptists and other pastors were burning them?
 

37818

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Dr. Price taught at Temple Baptist Seminary in the 1970's, and was my Hebrew prof there in the fall of 1976. Sometime during my undergrad years (graduated in 1976), Dr. Roberson, the pastor of Highland Park Baptist church) and president of the schools there, said from the chapel pulpit that we would tolerate no more discussions about Bible versions in the dorms. However, neither then nor at any time in the 1970's did I ever hear the term "King James Only." After seeing your post, I looked in his book (copyright 2006), but couldn't find any place where he talked about when the term was first used.
In the Preface of his book, "The King James Only controversy has been raging now for over three decades. I first heard of it in the early 1970s, shortly after I came to Chattanooga, TN, . . .
 

Yeshua1

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Dr. Price taught at Temple Baptist Seminary in the 1970's, and was my Hebrew prof there in the fall of 1976. Sometime during my undergrad years (graduated in 1976), Dr. Roberson, the pastor of Highland Park Baptist church) and president of the schools there, said from the chapel pulpit that we would tolerate no more discussions about Bible versions in the dorms. However, neither then nor at any time in the 1970's did I ever hear the term "King James Only." After seeing your post, I looked in his book (copyright 2006), but couldn't find any place where he talked about when the term was first used.
was the KJVO ever outside IFB churches that much at all?
 

rlvaughn

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Before our time, but thought that when the Rsv first came out. certain baptists and other pastors were burning them?
Before my time, but I had read about it in my research. In November 1952, Martin Luther Hux, pastor of Temple Baptist Church of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, shocked many by announcing his intentions to burn a copy of the Revised Standard Bible. (“Rocky Mount Bible-Burning Set Tonight,” Asheville Citizen-Times, Sunday, November 30, 1952, p. 1) Others followed suit, and “One straw in the wind of public reaction was the adoption by the city council of Crestview, Fla., of an ordinance prohibiting the burning of the Revised Standard Version...which prescribed a $500 fine or 90 days in jail...” (“Fundamentalists in Bitter Attack Upon Revised Standard Version of the Bible,” Decatur Sunday Herald and Review, Sunday, February 1, 1953, p. 39)

In North Carolina, the Rocky Mount Ministerial Association declared that none of their members had any sympathy for and part in the Bible burning episode of Hux. (“Ministers Deplore Burning Of New Bible By Local Pastor,” Rocky Mount Telegram, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Wednesday, December 3, 1952, p. 1B). According to a history of Temple Baptist Church published in The (Nashville/Rocky Mount) Graphic October 16, 1987, Hux actually only burned “…a page from Isaiah, chapter 7, verse 14…” There likely many more threats of burning the RSV than actual burning.
1611 or 1769 edition though?
Immaterial to the question of the origin of the term “King James Only.”
 

John of Japan

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In the Preface of his book, "The King James Only controversy has been raging now for over three decades. I first heard of it in the early 1970s, shortly after I came to Chattanooga, TN, . . .
The controversy, yes; the term "King James Only," no.
 

rlvaughn

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In continuing my search, I found the following attribution of the origin of the term -- the academic staff of Bob Jones University.
King James Only*
* A term of abuse coined by the academic staff of Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina, USA about fifty years ago to describe anyone like this writer who believes that the 1611 Authorized King James Holy Bible in any edition is “all scripture” that “is given by inspiration of God” 2 Timothy 3:16...
This is in The 1611 Holy Bible versus Malcolm Bowden. At the moment, I do not know how reliable this is, or even who is the writer. He does not cite any writing, unfortunately.
 

John of Japan

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In continuing my search, I found the following attribution of the origin of the term -- the academic staff of Bob Jones University.

This is in The 1611 Holy Bible versus Malcolm Bowden. At the moment, I do not know how reliable this is, or even who is the writer. He does not cite any writing, unfortunately.
I doubt this one, especially since he didn't cite a source. I was at BJU 50 years ago, 1970-1972, and never heard the term. Nobody was arguing about the KJV at that time. As I said on my timeline thread, I think the movement started in 1970. So there wasn't a name for it at that time.
 
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