A conclusion and highlight the issues with KJV-only and Perfect TR

30.7.25

A conclusion and highlight the issues with KJV-only and Perfect TR

Let’s carefully examine both the preface to the 1611 KJV and the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) to determine whether they support KJV-onlyism or the doctrine of a Perfect Textus Receptus (TR). We’ll then draw a conclusion and highlight the issues with KJV-only and Perfect TR proponents.

The KJV translators did not teach or support KJV-onlyism or the idea of a Perfect TR. They embraced translation as a process and valued multiple versions and manuscripts. They believed all faithful translations convey the Word of God.

The Westminster Confession affirms that God preserved His Word in the original Hebrew and Greek, not in any one printed edition or translation. It explicitly promotes the use of translations, but does not elevate the KJV or any TR edition as perfect or exclusive.

What’s wrong with KJV-Only and Perfect TR teachings?

These modern teachings misrepresent both history and theology.

🔻 a. KJV-Onlyism problems:

Elevates one English translation above the original languages.
Claims the KJV is perfect, final, and inspired, which the KJV translators explicitly denied.
Leads to division in the church, rejecting good modern translations like ESV, NASB, NIV.

🔻 b. Perfect TR problems:

The TR has multiple editions (Erasmus, Stephanus, Beza, Elzevir), and they differ in hundreds of places.
The KJV itself sometimes departs from all TR editions (e.g., Acts 13:33, Revelation 16:5).
The TR is not based on the earliest or most complete manuscripts (e.g., no early Alexandrian evidence).

🔻 c. Doctrinally flawed:

No Scripture teaches that God would preserve His Word in one specific printed Greek edition or in one English translation.
The biblical doctrine of preservation is corporate and providential, not mechanical or perfectly frozen in one version.

🧠 Final Conclusion

Source	View on KJV-only	View on Perfect TR
KJV Preface (1611)	❌ Rejected	❌ Rejected
Westminster Confession (1646)	❌ Rejected	❌ Rejected
KJV-only/Perfect TR Proponents	✅ Promote it	✅ Promote it

The original KJV translators and the Westminster divines both reject the ideas of KJV-onlyism and a Perfect TR. They believed in the authority of Scripture in the original languages, the legitimacy of translation, and the continual refinement of biblical scholarship. Modern KJV-only and Perfect TR teachings are historically unfaithful, theologically misguided, and unnecessarily divisive.

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The Purpose in writing this blog

The authors are full-time ordained ministers and preachers in the Bible Presbyterian Church in Singapore. The goal of this blog is to encourage all Bible Presbyterian pastors, elders, and leaders, as well as the flocks they serve, to turn to the Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ. To unite under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the Bible. Accepting our minor differences while focusing on the cross. Being described as one family under God the Father. We are called to be together in our diversity. Pride is the fault of all Bible Presbyterian Churches worldwide. Lust has blinded theologians at Far Eastern Bible College. It is at this heavy, serious, and gloomy moment in our Christian walk, rebuking these pastors and theologians, the remarks in this blog are heavy and severe in order to prompt them to repentance. May God help and bless us.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead; I believe in the Holy Ghost; I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.

LUTHER'S MORNING PRAYER

Errors in King James Version

Read Romans 8:26...the KJV has "the Spirit itself..." This is an error; the Holy Spirit is our God, and we must address Him correctly! How may "itself" be used to approach God, the Holy Spirit? "It" is used to address an item or an animal, not a person or God! The KJV translators had insulted the Holy Spirit! However, in another verse, the KJV translators used the term "him" to designate Satan. What an insult to KJV readers! Read Luke 11:18: "...if Satan also be divided against himself..." The KJV uses the phrase "himself..." when addressing Satan! The KJV translator used "it" for the Holy Spirit, but "him" for Satan!!! Mark 3:28 "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, Mark 3:29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"

One Another

Unity In Diversity for Bible Presbyterian Churches in Singapore

Like a peal of bells the word allelon-'one another'-rings through the pages of the New Testament.

'Accept one another' allelon

'Serve one another' allelon

'Wash one another's feet'

'Confess your sins one to another'

'Pray one for another'

'Forbearing one another and forgiving each other'

'Teaching and admonishing one another'

'Comfort one another and build each other up'

'Bear one another's burdens'

'Love one another as I have loved you'

Those who have the flow of mutuality in their relationship with each other need not be vocal or exuberant in expressing it.

John Calvin's consent

To new readers, I greet you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, may God grant us good theologians, humble servants of the Lord, and faithful believers in these last days, may God use this blog to call some one for self searching and repentance, and here we are blogging in theological debates. In 1547, Jacques Gruet, he was arrested by Calvin, tortured for a month and beheaded on July 26, 1547.. The civil court condemned him to death and, with Calvin's consent, he was beheaded. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin) John Calvin consented to kill a man for his theological stand, but I rather use strong words to achieve that!

Statement

1. The authors of this blog do not believe that the KJV Bible is the perfect Bible. The KJV has problems and inaccuracies because it is a man-made translation. 2. The inerrant Bible is in the autograph. All subsequent copies of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts have God's Written Word. We have God's written Word preserved in the NIV, KJV, and ESV. 3. There is no such notion as Verbal Plenary Preservation on a single TR Greek Text underlying the KJV, and the authors do not believe that the entire Greek text underlying the KJV Bible, or the TR, is error-free. 4. The authors believe that the Bible was inspired verbally and plenarily preserved in NIV, KJV, ESV, NESB….other faithful Bible versions. 5. The authors recommend NKJV, NIV, ESV, and NLT New Living Translation. 6. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the living Word.

Far Eastern Bible College vs Bible-Presbyterian Church - FEBC vs BPC

30.7.25