A sermon preached to the false teachers of KJV-Only, Verbal Plenary Preservation and Perfect Textus Receptus

Sermon title: The Enemy Within — Do not be a "Satan" 

Scripture Base: Matthew 16:21–23; 2 Timothy 2:14–26; Titus 1:10–11

Objective: To call to repentance those who cause division by elevating a 16th-century translation (KJV) and a specific printed text (TR) to the level of absolute, "perfect" divinity, thereby fracturing the Body of Christ.

I. The "Satan" in the Sanctuary (The Warning)

In Matthew 16, Peter—a leader and lover of Christ—became an adversary. Jesus turned to him and said, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (KJV)

To the "KJV-Only" advocate who claims a 1611 translation is "more perfect" than the original Greek and Hebrew: You have become the stone of stumbling. When you prioritize the traditions of 17th-century Anglican translators over the truth of the ancient manuscripts, you "savour the things of men."

• The Sin of Pride: Claiming "Verbal Plenary Preservation" for the Textus Receptus is a claim the Reformers themselves never made. To say God "re-inspired" the Bible in 1611 is to add to the Word of God, a dangerous venture (Proverbs 30:6).

• The Spirit of Division: Romans 16:17 warns us: "Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

II. The Idol of the "Perfect TR" (The Refutation)

You claim the Textus Receptus is a "perfect" stream. Yet, as we have seen, the TR contains:

1. Back-translations from Latin (Rev 22:19), where "Tree of Life" became "Book of Life."

2. Unique readings found in no ancient Greek manuscripts (Acts 9:5-6).

3. Human errors acknowledged by Erasmus himself.

By insisting on a "Perfect TR," you are building your faith on the shaky ground of a 16th-century printing press, not the eternal Rock of the Living Word. You are placing a "yoke upon the neck of the disciples" (Acts 15:10) that neither our fathers nor we were able to bear—the yoke of linguistic perfection in a translation.

III. Detailed Application: How to Refute the False Teacher

When the enemy within attempts to split your congregation over "Verbal Plenary Preservation" of the KJV, respond with the following biblical and historical truths:

1. Expose the "Different Gospel" of Manuscript Bibliolatry

If a teacher says you cannot be saved or grow unless you use the KJV, they are preaching a "different gospel."

• Scripture: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9).

• Application: Ask them: "Was the Church without a 'Perfect Word' for the 1,500 years before Erasmus? Was the Gospel powerless in the hands of the early martyrs who never saw a King James Bible?"

2. Challenge the "Correction" of the Original Languages

False teachers often claim the KJV "corrects" the Greek. This is the height of "Satanic" pride—placing the daughter (the translation) above the mother (the original inspiration).

• Scripture: “Every word of God is pure...” (Proverbs 30:5).

• Application: Use the "Tree of Life" vs. "Book of Life" example. Show that by clinging to the TR in Revelation 22:19, they are actually defending a Latin error rather than the pure Greek word given to John.

3. Call Out the Fruit of Contention

The Holy Spirit produces peace; the spirit of KJV-Onlyism produces "strifes of words."

• Scripture: “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.” (2 Timothy 2:23).

• Application: If a teacher spends more time attacking other Bibles than attacking sin, or more time defending a translation than defending the poor, they have lost the heart of Christ.

Conclusion: A Call to Repentance

To the one splitting the church: You are not a "defender of the faith"; you are an architect of animosity. You have taken a beautiful, historic translation and turned it into an idol.

Repent of your "perfectionism." Return to the God who preserved His Message through thousands of manuscripts, not just one printing of the 1600s. Stop being a "Satan"—an adversary—to the unity of the church.

"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3).