Dear brethren in Christ,
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
This appeal is not written to mock, attack, or belittle anyone who loves the King James Version. Many believers have been saved, comforted, strengthened, and discipled through it. It has had an immeasurable impact upon the English-speaking church. God has used it mightily.
But there is a grave danger that must be addressed with honesty and trembling: when devotion to a translation becomes a source of suspicion, division, bitterness, hostility, and endless contention among brethren, something spiritual has gone wrong.
The issue is not whether God preserves His Word. He absolutely does.
The issue is whether the Spirit of God leads believers into prideful exclusivism, constant railing accusations, and sectarian division over one English translation.
Scripture gives us the answer plainly.
The Holy Spirit does not bless division, strife, and bitterness among true brethren.
The apostle Paul wrote:
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
— 1 Corinthians 3:3
And again:
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:10
The fruit of the Spirit is not endless fighting over Bible editions.
The fruit of the Spirit is:
“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”
— Galatians 5:22–23
Yet many movements centered around KJV-Onlyism have produced suspicion toward other believers, denunciations of faithful Christians as corrupters of Scripture, accusations that entire churches are apostate for reading other translations, and continual internet warfare marked by anger and pride.
Brethren, this should alarm us.
For the Scripture also says:
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
— James 3:16
And:
“The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.”
— 2 Timothy 2:24
There is a profound difference between contending earnestly for the faith and becoming consumed with quarrels that destroy charity and fellowship.
The devil is subtle.
Satan does not always attack by making men hate the Bible. Sometimes he attacks by provoking men to weaponize the Bible against fellow believers in pride and hostility.
Paul warned Timothy:
“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.”
— 2 Timothy 2:23
And again:
“If any man teach otherwise… he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words.”
— 1 Timothy 6:3–4
Brethren must honestly ask themselves:
Has this movement produced greater holiness?
Greater humility?
Greater love?
Greater evangelism?
Greater Christlikeness?
Or has it often produced anger, suspicion, elitism, and bitterness?
Jesus Himself said:
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
— John 13:35
Notice: Christ did not say the world would know us by our preferred translation. He said they would know us by love.
This does not mean doctrine is unimportant. Doctrine matters deeply. Truth matters deeply. But truth without charity becomes spiritually dangerous.
Paul said:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass.”
— 1 Corinthians 13:1
Some have elevated Verbal Plenary Preservation into a doctrine that effectively teaches one perfect English Bible descended uniquely through one textual tradition while condemning nearly all other translations as satanic corruptions. Yet the historic doctrine of preservation never required belief in one flawless English translation.
God preserved His Word through the abundance of manuscripts, faithful copying, and providential transmission across centuries. The church possessed the Word of God before 1611, and believers in other languages possess the Word of God today.
To imply otherwise places unnecessary burdens upon the saints and creates fear rather than faith.
Consider what Paul told the Romans:
“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”
— Romans 14:1
And later:
“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
— Romans 14:19
There is also danger in attributing demonic influence too casually to every translation disagreement. Such rhetoric often violates the commandment against bearing false witness and destroys Christian unity.
Michael the archangel himself demonstrated restraint:
“Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil… durst not bring against him a railing accusation.”
— Jude 9
How much more should believers avoid reckless condemnations against one another?
Brethren, beware of the snare of the devil.
Paul warned:
“And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
— 2 Timothy 2:26
One of Satan’s oldest strategies is division among brethren.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
— Mark 3:25
And God explicitly says He hates:
“...he that soweth discord among brethren.”
— Proverbs 6:19
This should cause trembling in all of us.
If defending a position causes us to despise fellow Christians, constantly suspect motives, or sever fellowship unnecessarily, then even if parts of our doctrine are correct, our spirit has become corrupted.
Orthodoxy without humility becomes Phariseeism.
Jesus rebuked religious men who searched the Scriptures diligently, yet lacked the spirit of God:
“Search the scriptures… and ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
— John 5:39–40
The goal of Scripture is not merely intellectual certainty. The goal is conformity to Christ.
And Christ is meek and lowly in heart.
This appeal is therefore simple:
Love the Scriptures.
Cherish the King James Version if you wish.
Study textual history carefully.
Defend truth sincerely.
But do not devour your brethren.
Do not make one translation the center of Christian identity.
Do not mistake zeal for spirituality.
Do not confuse suspicion with discernment.
Do not let secondary issues destroy the unity Christ purchased with His blood.
Paul’s final exhortation is fitting:
“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
— Ephesians 4:3
And again:
“Let all your things be done with charity.”
— 1 Corinthians 16:14
May the Lord grant all believers wisdom, humility, discernment, and love for one another in these contentious times.
Amen.
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