Church Teaching Document

The Use of Bible Translations and Lessons from the KJV-Only Movement

1. Introduction

The Church affirms the full inspiration, authority, and trustworthiness of Holy Scripture. God has preserved His Word in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts, and the Church is responsible to translate Scripture into the languages of all peoples so that the gospel may be clearly understood.

Throughout history, many faithful translations have served the global Church. Among these, the King James Version (KJV) holds an important and honored place for its literary excellence and historical impact. However, the elevation of the KJV—or any translation—to a position of exclusive authority over other faithful translations creates confusion about the nature of Scripture and the means by which God communicates His saving truth.

This document clarifies the Church’s position on translations and highlights lessons that can be learned from the wider Christian tradition, including Roman Catholic practice.

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2. The Authority of Scripture

Scripture’s authority resides in the God-breathed original text, not in any one English translation. Translations are the Church’s effort to communicate the inspired text faithfully.

The Church confesses:

• God gave His Word in the original languages.

• No single translation perfectly captures every nuance.

• Faithful translations communicate the same gospel message.

• The Holy Spirit uses Scripture in every language to bring people to salvation.

A translation is a servant of the text, not the source of its authority.

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3. The Value of the King James Version

The KJV is a historic treasure. It shaped English-speaking Christianity for centuries. Its language, poetry, and theological clarity have strengthened believers across generations.

The Church affirms:

• The KJV is an excellent translation.

• The Church welcomes its continued use.

• Believers who prefer the KJV should be honored in their preference.

However, admiration must not become absolutism. The Church cannot claim that one translation is inspired in a way others are not. The translation process is not a second act of inspiration.

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4. The Error of KJV-Onlyism

KJV-Onlyism teaches or implies that:

• The KJV is the only faithful Bible.

• Other translations are corrupt or spiritually inferior.

• God speaks authoritatively only through 17th-century English.

Such claims contradict the testimony of Scripture and the history of the Church. They elevate one linguistic form to a place Scripture reserves for Christ alone.

This error leads to several dangers:

• It divides the Church unnecessarily.

• It shifts confidence from the gospel to a translation.

• It discourages believers from hearing God’s Word in language they understand.

• It removes the focus from Christ and places it on a human product.

KJV-Onlyism is not simply a preference—it becomes a distortion when it turns a translation into a spiritual requirement.

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5. What We Can Learn from Roman Catholic Practice

Though Protestant and Roman Catholic convictions differ in many areas, the Roman Catholic Church provides an instructive example in its approach to Bible translations.

The Catholic Church:

• Honors its historical translation (the Vulgate) without absolutizing it.

• Revises its official Latin text in light of better manuscript evidence.

• Encourages the use of multiple modern-language translations.

• Recognizes the legitimacy of Scripture in the language of the people.

• Accepts scholarly study as a tool for accuracy and clarity.

These practices reinforce several key principles valuable for all Christians:

1. No translation is perfect.

2. Translations can be revised responsibly.

3. The Word of God belongs in every language.

4. The Church is not bound to one linguistic era.

5. Unity in the gospel is more important than uniformity in translation.

These principles challenge the rigidity of KJV-Onlyism and call believers back to a mature, historically grounded understanding of Scripture.

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6. The Church’s Doctrinal Position on Translations

The Church affirms the following:

1. The inspired authority of Scripture lies in the original languages.
Faithful translations reflect this authority insofar as they accurately communicate the original meaning.

2. Many English translations are trustworthy and beneficial.
The Church supports the use of several translations—including the KJV, ESV, NIV, CSB, NASB, and others—as faithful witnesses to the biblical text.

3. No translation should be elevated to exclusive status.
To do so contradicts both Scripture and the witness of Church history.

4. The Holy Spirit works through all faithful translations.
The Spirit brings conviction, faith, and transformation through the gospel message itself, not through a particular form of English.

5. Unity must be preserved.
Christians may prefer different translations, but these preferences must not divide the body of Christ or be treated as doctrinal boundaries.

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7. Conclusion

KJV-Only defenders often accuse Catholics of elevating tradition or a particular text above Scripture—yet the Catholic Church actually demonstrates a much healthier, more realistic, and more historically grounded attitude toward Bible translation.

The King James Version remains a valued translation within the Church, but it is not the only faithful witness to God’s Word. The Church must guard against elevating a translation above Scripture itself. Our confidence must rest in the gospel, not in a linguistic tradition.

As servants of Christ, we affirm that God’s Word is living and active in every language and that the Spirit continues to speak through Scripture as it is faithfully translated and proclaimed.