The King James Version (KJV) 1611 preface, "The Translators to the Reader," does not promote a "KJV-only" stance or the idea of a "Perfect TR" (Textus Receptus). Instead, it indicates the translators' views align with the following:
Value of Previous Translations: The translators acknowledged and built upon "the labours... of many worthy men who went before us," seeing their work as a refinement rather than a complete replacement of existing English translations.
God's Word in Imperfect Translations: They explicitly stated that "the very meanest translation of the Bible in English... containeth the word of God, nay, is the word of God," comparing it to a king's speech that remains his speech even when translated into different languages. They also admitted that "some imperfections and blemishes may be noted" in any translation.
Authority of Original Texts: The translators regarded the "Hebrew text of the Olde Testament, the Greeke of the New" as the authoritative sources, referring to them as "the two golden pipes, or rather conduits." They affirmed that the ultimate credit for the Old Testament rests with Hebrew volumes and the New with the Greek tongue.
Benefit of Translation Diversity: The preface suggests that "diversity of Translations is profitable for the finding out of the sense of the Scriptures." They also included marginal notes for "diversity of signification and sense... where the text is no so clear."
In conclusion, the preface of the KJV 1611 demonstrates that the translators valued prior efforts, recognized the inherent imperfections in human translation, and emphasized the authority of the original Hebrew and Greek texts. They did not advocate for an exclusive use of their translation or claim its absolute perfection, but rather saw it as a continuous effort to make the Scriptures accessible and understandable.
Original KJV 1611 Preface can be found at http://www.bible-researcher.com/kjvpref.html and http://www.togetherweteach.com/TCB/kjvpreface.htm
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