KJV / Byz / TR Resources
As I bring the work of Maurice Robinson into this list, I must interact with his frequently stated views concerning those “Providential Preservationists” he lavishes withering scorn upon. See below for a response to his remarks on the KJV folks and other “Providential Preservationists”.
The first materials here are Byzantine / Majority Text works; I consider the Byz/MT advocates to have done great groundwork of value to us in the defense of the KJV/TR. Yet, as I shall show after the list, the King James Bible and TR advocates are disdained by some in the Byz/MT camp because of our “theological” rather than “scientific” method.
Regarding this, I will not be subject to “the tyranny of experts” (to use Machen’s memorable phrase) if I do not concur entirely with the methods they use; I may use their work as I see fit, but am not bound by either it or their theoretical constructs. The MT labors are immense and of precious value; we stand on their shoulders – or to perfect the metaphor, we leap from their shoulders to a high rock, upon which we take our stand.
If you find here some online books or articles you greatly value, I would suggest you download them and file them ASAP, for some sites / web pages do not live long. Many I would have posted here are already defunct, particularly those from Way of Life Literature, which are of great value. They may be obtained by purchase, whereas they once were free. I may also add to this list as I find new items or remember old ones.
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The Identity of the New Testament Text II, by Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM PhD
The Identity of the New Testament Text -- Wilbur N. Pickering
Chapter 5 is especially good:
Chapter 5 The Ancient Text of the New Testament, By Dr. Jakob van Bruggen
Demar
Maurice Robinson and Wm. Pierpont's “Introduction” to
The New Testament in the Original Greek According to the Byzantine / Majority Textform.
Introduction to Robinson & Pierpont
THE PRESERVATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TEXT: A COMMON SENSE APPROACH,
James A. Borland, Th.D.,
http://www.tms.edu/tmsj/tmsj10d.pdf
The online versions of the three following John Burgon works can be gotten here:
Works by John William Burgon | Christian Classics Ethereal Library Causes of the Corruption of the Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels Inspiration and Interpretation: Seven Sermons Preached Before the University of Oxford: With Preliminary Remarks Last Twelve Verses of the Gospel According to S. Mark Vindicated Against Recent Critical Objectors and Established
One of the most valuable of Burgon’s writings is,
The Revision Revised, which I have not been able to find in digital downloadable format for free, though it is available commercially in e-book and hardcopy formats (perhaps someone else knows where it can be gotten free).
Codex B and Its Allies: A Study and an Indictment, Part I by Hoskier, Herman Charles
Codex B and Its Allies: Part II Search Titles & Authors: hoskier | Christian Classics Ethereal Library A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. I by Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose
A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. II
Holy Bible: Greek New Testament (Scrivener 1894)
Search Titles & Authors: scrivener | Christian Classics Ethereal Library
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The following are the more traditional KJV/TR works
Herman C. Hanko,
The Battle for the Bible:
The Battle for the Bible - Professor H. Hanko The King James Version Defended, by Dr. Edward F. Hills
The King James Verison Defended by Edward F. Hills
Dr. John Cereghin,
In Defense of Erasmus:
In Defense of Erasmus
(unfortunately linked to Riplinger material here)
The Septuagint: A Critical Analysis, by Floyd Jones (pdf)
BRUCE METZGER AND THE CURSE OF TEXTUAL CRITICISM, by Dr. Jeffrey Khoo
Far Eastern Bible College | BRUCE METZGER AND THE CURSE OF TEXTUAL CRITICISM
H.J. De Jonge, ERASMUS AND THE
COMMA JOHANNEUM (Not KJV but often quoted)
https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/ret...99/279_050.pdf
Will Kinney’s excellent King James Bible Articles:
articlespage
An article by Will Kinney about the updatings or “revisings” of the KJV:
What About Those Printing Errors in the 1611 Holy Bible?
The Waldenses and the Bible, by Elder Robert L. Webb:
Waldenses and the Bible MYTHS ABOUT THE KING JAMES BIBLE: By David W. Cloud
TABLE OF CONTENTS page:
MYTHS ABOUT THE KJV
Myth # 1: Erasmus Was A Humanist
MYTH # 1 ABOUT THE KJV
Myth # 2: Reformation Editors Lacked Sufficient Manuscript Evidence
MYTH # 2 ABOUT THE KJV
Myth # 3: There Are No Doctrinal Differences Between Bible Texts & Versions
MYTH # 3 ABOUT THE KJV
Myth # 4: Inspiration Is Perfect, But Preservation Is General
MYTH # 4 ABOUT THE KJV
Myth # 5: True Scholars Reject The Received Text
MYTH # 5 ABOUT THE KJV
Myth # 6: The Issues Are Too Complex For The Average Christian To Understand
MYTH # 6 ABOUT THE KJV
At his Way of Life Literature site Cloud has a “FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST CD ROM LIBRARY”, which includes, “WAY OF LIFE’S ELECTRONIC KJV DEFENSE LIBRARY” and “WAY OF LIFE’S ELECTRONIC BAPTIST/WALDENSIAN HISTORY LIBRARY” – see here:
Bible Study Materials (at $99.95 it’s pricey, but if you’re a KJV/TR researcher it’s well worth it, due to the enormous amount of materials it has). Caveat: please be aware (if you are not already) that most IFBs are quite anti-Calvinist! This does not, however, lessen the value of their textual and historical scholarship. I find they are often despised (our brothers in Christ!), but among them are some of the very finest defenders of God’s Word.
“Textual Criticism is Drawn from the Wells of Infidelity”, by David Cloud (article on unbelieving text critics):
Textual Criticism Drawns from the Wells of Infidelity
The following e-books (for purchase) by Cloud (also in hardcopy) available here:
E-Books THE BIBLE VERSION QUESTION AND ANSWER DATABASE FAITH VS. THE MODERN BIBLE VERSIONS: A COURSE ON BIBLE TEXTS AND VERSIONS AND A 10-FOLD DEFENSE OF THE KING JAMES BIBLE THE MODERN BIBLE VERSION HALL OF SHAME
A wealth of info in Cloud’s books, from decades of his research.
The Superiority of the King James Version
The Superiority of the King James Version
Johannine Comma archives:
THE JOHANNINE COMMA ARCHIVES---1John5:7
Kinney on 1 John 5:7:
Untitled * [I have removed Robert Dabney on 1 John 5:7 as I just became aware of a strong racist statement of his, and in solidarity with my bothers & sisters won't use him; I know he has been forgiven and enlightened in Glory; for the same reason I won't use the Nazi Kittel's work.]
A History of the Debate Over 1 John 5:7-8 (ISBN: 1886971056), by Michael Maynard
John Henry, Standing for the King James Bible webpage (mixed stuff):
Standing For The King James Bible
John William Burgon
Institute for Study of Ancient
Manuscripts, Texts and Papyri:
http://www.libertyparkusafd.org/lp/Burgon/index.htm
Preservation and Psalm 12:6-7
A Look at the Controversy
Preservation and Psalm 12:6-7
Psalm 12:6-7 and Bible Preservation (Moorman):
http://www.libertyparkusafd.org/lp/B...eservation.htm
Cloud on Preservation:
Preservation Is Missing in Standard Works
Ps 12:6, 7
http://www.truthbpc.com/v2/resources/vpp_04.pdf Psalm 12 Revisited - Page 2 - BaptistBoard.com
The Authenticity of Mark 16:11-20, James Snapp
(Précis):
MarkOne
(Full version):
http://www.textexcavation.com/snapp/...inmkupdate.pdf
Jack Moorman,
Hodges/Farstad “Majority” Text Refuted By Evidence (also titled,
When the King James Departs from the “Majority Text” ):
Search Page Header (search for item #1617)
“That Rascal Erasmus—Defense Of His Greek Text”, by Dr. Daryl R. Coats (available for $2.00 at BFT)
Search Page Header (search for item # OP2456).
Inquiry Into the Integrity Of the Greek Vulgate, Or Received Text Of the New Testament; in which the Greek Manuscripts are newly classed; the Integrity of the Authorised Text vindicated; and the Various Readings traced to their Origin, by Fredrick Nolan:
An Inquiry into the Integrity of the Greek Vulgate (minus
valuable Preface)
Downloadable version of Nolan with Preface:
Internet Archive: Free Download: An inquiry into the integrity of the Greek Vulgate : or, Received text of the New Testament ; in which the Greek manuscripts are newly classed, the integrity of the authorised text vindicated, and the various readings
Books by Theodore P. Letis (an important historian of the KJV / TR text editions):
Edward Freer Hills’s Contribution to the Revival of the Ecclesiastical Text, Theodore P. Letis, Paper back, 177 pages.
The Majority Text: Essays & Reviews in the Continuing Debate, Theodore P. Letis, Paper back, 210 pages
The Ecclesiastical Text: Text Criticism, Biblical Authority and the Popular Mind, Theodore P. Letis
Paper back, 232 pages.
Dr. Jack Moorman,
Forever Settled:
A Survey of the Documents and History of the Bible:
Forever Settled- A Survey of the Documents and History of the Bible-Introduction and Table of Contents (online version missing some good charts and tables).
Dr. Thomas Holland,
Crowned With Glory: The Bible from Ancient Text to Authorized Version; some of the material from the book can be found here:
Bible Versions F. A. Q., and Answers to Criticisms of the KJV – scroll down a little to find Holland’s stuff. This is an excellent book, and well worth acquiring, especially for folks new to this study.
Holland, Manuscript Evidence:
CSBBC Manuscript Evidence
or:
Index for Dr. Holland's Manuscript Evidence Classes Miscellaneous Books (Caveat: many of these authors are IFBs – Independent Fundamentalist Baptists – and are often anti-Calvinism. This does not detract from the value of their textual research. Some, like, Gipp, are associated with Ruckman, but, again, the work listed here is alright).
Very many of the books listed here (especially those marked BFT), are available at:
The Bible for Today
900 Park Avenue
Collingwood, NJ 08108 USA
Phone: 1800 JOHN 10:9, 609 854 4452
Web site:
The Bible For Today HomePage
David Clouds books may be purchased through your bookstore or at Way of Life Literature
Web Site:
Home
Way of Life Literature
P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061–0368 USA
1-866-295-4143 (toll free: USA & Canada),
519-652-2619 (voice),
fbns@wayoflife.org (email)
Defending the King James Bible, by Dr. D.A. Waite (BFT)
Forever Settled: A Survey of the Documents And History of the Bible, Compiled by Jack Moorman (BFT)
When The KJV Departs From The “Majority Text” , by Jack Moorman (BFT)
Missing In Modern Bibles: Is The Full Story Being Told? , by Jack Moorman (BFT)
Conies, Brass, and Easter: Answers To “Problem” Passages In The Authorized Version, by Jack Moorman (BFT
Early Manuscripts And The Authorized Version, Jack Moorman (BFT)
Early Church Fathers And The Authorized Version, by Jack Moorman (BFT)
Where the King James Bible Leaves the Greek Text of Theodore Beza 1598, by Kirk DiVietro (BFT)
The Septuagint: A Critical Analysis, by Floyd Jones (BFT)
Did Jesus and the Apostles Quote from the Septuagint (LXX)? , Kirk DiVietro (BFT)
The Real Truth About the Waldenses Bible And The Old Latin Version: A Refutation Of Kutilek…, by Ken Johnson (BFT)
Rome And The Bible: Tracing the History of the Roman Catholic Church and Its Persecution of the Bible and of Bible Believers, by David Cloud
Examining “The King James Only Controversy” , by David Cloud
Unholy Hands on God’s Holy Book: Report on the United Bible Societies, by David Cloud
Modern Versions Founded Upon Apostasy, by David Cloud
For Love Of The Bible: The Battle for the King James Version and the Received Text from 1800 to Present, by David Cloud
Believing Bible Study, by Edward Hills
Final Authority, by William P. Grady (this entire book is available online in audio at Dr. Grady’s site)
An Understandable History of the Bible, by Samuel C. Gipp [An Earlier version available online:
An Understandable History]
The Authenticity And Inspiration Of The Holy Scriptures, by Robert Haldane
Unholy Hands On the Bible (all volumes), by Jay P. Green, Sr.
If The Foundations Be Destroyed, by Chick Salliby
Translators Revived: Biographical Notes Of The KJV Bible Translators, by Alexander McClure (BFT)
The Doctrine Of Scripture, by Homer C. Hoeksema
The Corruption Of The Word: The Failure Of Modern New Testament Scholarship, by Kevin James (Microload Press)
Which Bible?, by David Otis Fuller (BFT)
Counterfeit Or Genuine?, by David Otis Fuller (BFT)
True Or False?, by David Otis Fuller (BFT)
BFT also has the sons of Westcott and Hort each publishing their father’s memoirs.
I'm also including my own
"Jerusalem Blade's posts (a partial compilation)" as there is a lot of material in them.
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As I bring the work of Maurice Robinson into this list, I must interact with his frequently stated views concerning those “Providential Preservationists” he lavishes withering scorn upon. I have quoted (#2 below) a representative passage from his essay,
The Byzantine Priority Hypothesis, and I shall now (in #1) quote from his article,
Theology and Textual Criticism (link given in #2):
#1) One group of textual workers (I hesitate to call them scholars) base their whole method on theology. These are the Providential Preservationists. So, for instance, Wilbur N. Pickering, "I believe that God has providentially preserved the original wording of the text down to our day... I see in the Traditional Text ('Byzantine') both the result and the proof of that preservation" ([i]The Identity of the New Testament Text]/i], First Edition, 1977, pp. 143-144.)....
Since I cannot understand the viewpoint of the theological critics, I will not attempt to take this point further. I will simply make the observation that a scientific criticism must necessarily reject any theological approach.
#2) One must be careful in assessing people who prefer the Byzantine text. Most such are not textual critics, and do not engage in textual criticism. Anyone who favours the King James Version or the Textus Receptus, or who claims providential preservation or some kind of divine sanction for a particular text, is not and cannot be a textual critic. It is unfortunate that these non-critics have infected the arguments about the Byzantine text, as their irrational, unreasonable, and uncritical arguments serve only to muddy what should be a reasonable and fruitful debate. It is even more unfortunate that some legitimate critics who support the Byzantine text have accepted their rhetoric. This argument, like all critical arguments, must be decided based on evidence and logic, not faith or claims of what "must" be so. The typical argument is "providential preservation" -- the claim that God must have preserved the original text in all its purity. But as Harry A. Sturz (who is about as sympathetic to the Byzantine text as anyone can be while not being a pure Byzantine-prioritist) notes, "Hills [the leading exponent of this sort of preservation] fails to show why the sovereign God must act in a particular way." [Harry A. Sturz, The Byzantine Text-Type & New Testament Textual Criticism (1984), p. 42. Italics added.] (For more on this subject, see the article on Theology and Textual Criticism: Theology and Textual Criticism) (from, The Byzantine Priority Hypothesis: The Byzantine Priority Hypothesis )
I have respect for Dr. Robinson and his work; it is quite valuable. I am not a textual critic; rather, a student of God’s Word and the history of its transmission. I do not have to be a mechanic to understand the principles of quality control in the production history of a Mercedes Benz, and be able to drive it well. What we have in Dr. Robinson is the attitude that only mechanics are allowed to legitimately theorize on the process and end product of God’s vehicle of communication. His presupposition is that only a “scientific criticism” is able to adequately sort through and assess the data and come up with an acceptable theoretical construct. In his view a
theological presupposition is not scholarly, i.e., not
scientific.
Science deals with evidences, with facts, with hard data. Things pertaining to
faith, or theological factors, have no place in assessing matters pertaining to the product of God’s Word. So Robinson says. But is this so? Science deals with things of the world, but not the things of Heaven. What in the spiritual realm can be apprehended by scientific method?
The Word of God was spoken by prophets as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; likewise with the apostles of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Himself had the Spirit without measure, and always spoke those things His Father gave Him to speak. Jesus told His apostles that the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance all things that He had said. The LORD said through David He would preserve His Word through all generations, and through Isaiah that the words He had put in the mouths of His people would not depart from them for ever. Jesus said that man must live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, and that Heaven and earth would pass away but His words would not. Through Peter He said that through [Scriptural] knowledge of Him and by His divine power He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, those words we
must live by one of these things.
So the Lord has said He would preserve His word for us. May we not factor in the promises of God as we seek to discern the production of that He preserved? What right – warrant – has science to say we may not do so? Is this not in fact the above-mentioned “tyranny of experts” seeking to bring us into bondage to their views? Can science discern the malign hand of Satan in its attempt to destroy the integrity of Scripture, or the providence of God in gathering and preserving it? Such things are beyond its purview.
“...the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God...” 1 Cor 2:11, 12.
It seems to me spiritual discernment – exercised through faith in His Word and by His Spirit – is an essential element in arriving at an understanding of how God worked in preserving His Word. What, science based on a secular methodology shall figure out how and where God did this?
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Cor 1:27-29
From some, however, we get this:
WE are the scholars, WE are the wise, WE determine the truths of the Bible in this scientific discipline of text criticism, of which WE are the masters! You who proceed in this area by measly faith, we disdain and despise! Get you from this house!
Gentlemen, your house is left unto you
desolate.
The day is dying, sun low in the sky, night drawing on. It appears the governments even of the “civilized” West are slowly turning against the church of Christ, many seeking to enact legislation silencing and restricting the church by criminal law. The devil has come down to the earth, having great wrath, knowing his time is short. Nations rattle nuclear sabers against other nations, and those with eyes to see know that hearts moved by the devil know no restraint or sanity. And in days such as these we still do not have the settled Bible God promised to give us, His beloved children? Shall we have to wait till after the resurrection to get it? Or has He already given it to us? And if He has, which is it?
Our forebears of the Reformation asserted that God indeed had given us His settled Word, an intact Bible faithfully translated from original-language manuscripts, the readings of which originally “...being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical” (WCF 1:8).
As with other prophetic utterances, here we may look back and discern how God fulfilled His promises of preservation. I know it is replied, “But nowhere Scripture says
how God will keep those (prophetic) promises of preservation.” We often discern the fulfillment of prophecy with
hindsight. I believe the view of His fulfilling His promises in the Reformation texts has
far greater merit and credence than all other alternate views.
It has been asked, “If only the Greek Byzantine and its Textus Receptus editions were the providentially preserved text, what about the other locations in the world that had neither a Byzantine nor a refined TR – did they not have a preserved and adequate Bible?” And I would answer:
There is a preserving of the text, and there is a preserving of the text — the latter where its integrity is held even to minute readings not granted the former. That the former was nonetheless efficacious is analogous to the Bibles based upon the CT and MT being efficacious to save and edify God’s people today, as witnessed by the multitudes regenerated and brought to maturity through those who use the NIV, NASB, ESV, NKJV etc. The
minute preservation occurred in the primary edition (the Ben Chayyim Masoretic Hebrew and the Greek TR and their King James translation) which was to serve the English-speaking people and the translations created for the vast missionary work they undertook, which impacted the entire world. There was a progression in the purifying of the text, so as to almost (and some say completely) perfectly reconstitute the original manuscripts of the apostles, even as there has been, in the area of theology, a restoration of apostolic doctrine, which also went through phases of deterioration and eventual renewal.
Thus, even those areas of the church which were non-Greek-speaking also had a “preserved text”—as do multitudes in this present day—though their texts were not “minutely preserved.” The texts they had were efficacious unto the salvation of souls and the sustaining of the churches. The distinction is between an
adequate preservation as distinguished from preservation in the
minutiae.
As regarding the Lord’s promise to preserve His Scripture (Matt 24:35; Psalm 12:6, 7; Isaiah 59:21; etc), many times the people of God have not understood how a prophecy was to be fulfilled until it was a done thing, and then they looked backward to see how He had worked. It is thus in observing how He fulfilled His promise to preserve His word. When the Lord prophesies, does it have to come about instantly? Is there not sometimes progression? We see it is so in the events leading to the formation of the finished product of the editions of the TR from which the KJ translators produced their English masterpiece in God’s providence.
I see no other view of a preserved Bible that makes such sense. Of course others will not agree, but I can defend my view. My stand is by faith, confirmed by reason. It was the faith of the Reformation; we who believe as they did are in good company, despite the views of the moderns.
I’d like to close this with a pertinent quote from an essay by Dr. Theodore Letis:
Both schools [the Critical Text and the Ecclesiastical Text –SMR] interpret the data of NT textual criticism and modern translations differently, and both groups fill in the gaps in the data with assumptions which favor their given position. I hope some are beginning to see that this is not an argument between scholarship (the established school represented by Carson) and non-scholarship (the challenging school which has traditionally been treated as non-scholarly and completely uncritical). To the contrary, the best representatives of both schools display genuine scholarship. Why is it, then, that these two schools co-exist on this all-important issue of the very wording of the NT text?
He closes the essay with these words,
Some will fault me for not answering every objection of Carson’s, but it was only our intention to raise the old issue of presuppositions and to underscore the fact that this debate is not one between experts with data and non-experts with dogma, but rather one between experts with the same data, but different dogma—the dogma of neutrality versus the dogma of providence… (pp. 201-204). [From, The Majority Text: Essays And Reviews In The Continuing Debate, the essay, “In Reply to D.A. Carson’s ‘The King James Version Debate’ ”.]
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