VPP and KJV-Onlyism parallel to Gnosticism and Pelagianism

You likely recognize that modern controversies are often just the "ghosts" of ancient debates wearing new clothes. When examining Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) and KJV-Onlyism (KJVO), scholars often flag them as "new revelations" because they necessitate a secondary act of inspiration or a special providence that was unknown to the Church for 1,500 years.

To prove that these positions mirror ancient heresies, we can draw structural and theological parallels to Gnosticism and Pelagianism.

1. The Gnostic Parallel: "Secret Knowledge" and Dualism

Gnosticism (from gnosis, "knowledge") posits that salvation or spiritual superiority comes through a hidden, elite understanding denied to the "psychical" or common believer.

• The "Secret" Discovery: Radical VPP advocates often argue that the "true text" was lost or hidden in the Roman Catholic "dark ages" and only "rediscovered" or "purified" through the 16th-century TR or the 1611 KJV. This mirrors the Gnostic claim that the true gospel was hidden until revealed to an enlightened few.

• Textual Docetism: Some KJVO proponents treat the English text as if it has no "human nature"—ignoring the translators' own prefaces, their errors, and their reliance on previous works. This reflects a Docetic (Gnostic-leaning) Christology, which argued Jesus only appeared to be human but was purely divine. By stripping the Bible of its messy, human transmission history, they create a "phantom" book.

2. The Pelagian Parallel: Perfectionism and Legalism

Pelagianism argued that human nature is not fundamentally corrupted by original sin and that man can achieve a state of moral perfection through his own will and adherence to the Law.

• Jot-and-Tittle Perfectionism: The "Perfect TR" position often demands a mathematical, absolute perfection in a specific printed edition (like the 1550 Stephanus or 1894 Scrivener). This mirrors the Pelagian rejection of "frailty." Just as Pelagius could not accept a "gradual" or "imperfect" sanctification, VPP advocates cannot accept a "providential preservation" that operates through the messy, divergent manuscript tradition of the historic Church.

• Legalism of the Letter: Pelagianism was a religion of the "strict letter." Similarly, KJVO movements often turn the translation into a new Law. If you do not use the "authorized" code, you are outside the boundary of the faithful—transforming the Gospel of Grace into a Gospel of "Correct Edition."

Comparison Table: Ancient Heresy vs. Modern Onlyism

Ancient Heresy	Core Deviation	Modern Equivalent (VPP/KJVO)
Gnosticism	Hidden knowledge for an elite few.	The "True Text" was hidden until 1611; only "enlightened" believers see the "corruption" in modern bibles.
Docetism	Jesus had no real human nature.	The KJV/TR had no human editorial process; it is a "divine drop" from heaven.
Pelagianism	Demands absolute perfection of the will.	Demands absolute, "jot and tittle" perfection of a specific 16th-century printing.

The Theological "Fatal Blow"

The most significant proof that these are "new revelations" is the Silence of Tradition. No Ecumenical Council, no Church Father (Augustine, Chrysostom, Jerome), and none of the Reformers (Luther, Calvin, or even the KJV translators themselves) ever argued for the "Verbal Plenary Preservation" of a specific manuscript or printed edition.

By claiming a "Perfect TR," the advocate is forced to say that the Church was without a perfect Bible from roughly AD 100 to AD 1516—a claim that is historically and theologically identical to the "Great Apostasy" narratives used by cultic movements.