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{{Short description|Movement asserting superiority of the King James Bible}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
[[File:KJVGenesispg1.gif|thumb|The First Page of the [[Book of Genesis]] in the 1611 printing of the [[Authorized King James Version|KJV]].]]
{{Textus Receptus sidebar}}
The '''King James Only movement''' (also known as '''King James Onlyism''' or '''KJV Onlyism''') asserts that the [[King James Version]] (KJV) of the [[Bible]] is superior to all other English [[Bible translations|translations of the Bible]]. Adherents of the movement, mostly certain [[Conservative Anabaptism|Conservative Anabaptist]], traditionalist [[Anglo-Catholicism|Anglo-Catholic]], [[conservative holiness movement|Conservative Holiness Methodist]] and [[Independent Baptist]] churches, believe that this text has been providentially preserved as a perfect translation of the Bible into English.

Followers of the movement assert that [[modern English Bible translations]] are corrupt, based on a distrust of the [[Alexandrian text-type]] or the [[Textual criticism#Process|critical texts]] of [[Novum Testamentum Graece|Nestle-Aland]], and [[Westcott-Hort]], sources for the majority of twentieth- and twenty-first-century translations. Instead, they prefer the [[Textus Receptus]] (which is mainly based on the [[Byzantine text-type]], with some influences from other text-types).<ref name="Scrivener183">[[Frederick Henry Ambrose Scrivener|F. H. A. Scrivener]], ''[[A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament]]'', ([[George Bell & Sons]]: London 1894), vol. 2, pp. 183–184.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Heide |first=Martin |date=2023-02-07 |title=Erasmus and the Search for the Original Text of the New Testament |url=https://textandcanon.org/erasmus-and-the-search-for-the-original-text-of-the-new-testament/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Text & Canon Institute |language=en-US}}</ref> Some factions argue that the King James translation itself was [[divinely inspired]]. Others prefer the KJV simply because it is in the [[public domain]] in most countries (with the [[United Kingdom]] being a [[King James Version#Copyright status|notable exception]]), which allows them to freely copy any amount of the translation without worrying about [[Royalty payment|royalties]] or [[copyright]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

==Variations==
[[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[James White (theologian)|James White]] has divided the King James Only movement into five main classifications:{{Sfn|White|1995|pp=1–4}}

[[File:KJV 1611 Rice Baptist Church New Market Alabama 2012-06-13.jpg|thumb|right|Church sign indicating that the congregation uses the Authorized King James Version of 1611]]
* "I Like the KJV Best"&nbsp;– Although White lists this point of view as a subdivision of the KJVO group, this is disputed by some. This group simply regards the KJV as a very good translation and prefers it over other translations because the church which they attend uses it, has always used it, or prefers its style, or the individual person uses it, or has always used it, or prefers its style.
* "The Textual Argument"&nbsp;– This group believes that the KJV's Hebrew and Greek textual base is more accurate than the alternative texts used by newer translations. Many in this group might accept a modern Bible version based on the same Greek and Hebrew manuscripts which are used in the KJV. White claims that [[Zane C. Hodges]] was a member of this group.{{Sfn | White | 1995 | p = 5}} However, Hodges considered that the [[Byzantine text-type|Majority Text]] "corrects" the Received Text ([[Byzantine priority theory|Byzantine priority]]), and this view is generally distinguished from the views of the Textus Receptus advocates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Majority Text and the Original Text: Are They Identical? {{!}} Bible.org |url=https://bible.org/article/majority-text-and-original-text-are-they-identical |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=bible.org |language=en}}</ref>
* "[[Textus Receptus]] Only"/"Received Text Only"&nbsp;– This group holds the position that the traditional Greek texts represented in the Textus Receptus were [[supernatural]]ly (or [[Divine providence|providentially]]) preserved and that other Greek manuscripts not used in this compilation may be flawed. The KJV is viewed as an exemplary English translation that is based on this Greek grouping of Bible manuscripts put together by [[Desiderius Erasmus]], but it is also believed that other translations based on these texts have the potential to be of equal quality. The views of the [[Trinitarian Bible Society]] fit into this TRO division. The Trinitarian Bible Society does not believe that the Authorized Version (KJV) is a perfect translation, only that it is the best available translation in the English language.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Watts | first1 = Malcolm H. | title = The Accuracy of the Authorised Version | journal = Quarterly Record | volume = 578 | issue = 1 | page = 8 | publisher = Trinitarian Bible Society | year = 2007 | url = http://www.trinitarianbiblesociety.org/site/qr/qr578.pdf | access-date = 3 March 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110728130216/http://www.trinitarianbiblesociety.org/site/qr/qr578.pdf | archive-date = 28 July 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The Society believes this text is superior to the texts used by the [[United Bible Societies]] and other Bible publishers, which use texts that incorporate as their basis a relatively few manuscripts from the 4th century, and some going back to the early 2nd century.<ref>{{Citation | contribution = The Text of the Bible used | publisher = The Trinitarian Bible Society | title = Principles | url = http://trinitarianbiblesociety.org/site/principles.asp | access-date = 10 October 2008 | archive-date = 7 May 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100507004141/http://www.trinitarianbiblesociety.org/site/principles.asp | url-status = dead }}.</ref>
* "The Inspired KJV Group"&nbsp;– This faction believes that the KJV itself was [[Biblical inspiration|divinely inspired]]. They view the translation to be an English preservation of the very words of God and that they are as accurate as the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts found in its underlying texts. Often this group excludes other English versions based on the same manuscripts, claiming that the KJV is the only English Bible sanctioned by God and should never be changed. White believes most KJV-Onlyists would belong to this group.
* "The KJV As New Revelation"&nbsp;– This group claims that the KJV is a "new revelation" or "advanced revelation" from God, and it should be the standard from which all other translations originate. Adherents to this belief may also believe that the original languages, Hebrew and Greek, can be corrected by the KJV. This view is often called "Ruckmanism" after [[Peter Ruckman]], a staunch advocate of this view.{{Sfn|White|1995}}

These classifications are not mutually exclusive, nor are they a comprehensive summary describing those who prefer the KJV. [[Douglas Wilson (theologian)|Douglas Wilson]], for instance, argues that the KJV (or, in his preferred terminology, the Authorized Version) is superior because of its manuscript tradition, its translational philosophy (with updates to the language being regularly necessary), and its ecclesiastical authority, having been created by the church and authorized for use in the church.<ref>{{Cite journal| journal = [[Credenda/Agenda]] |title=Hearers of the Word |last=Wilson |first=Douglas |author-link=Douglas Wilson (theologian) |url=http://credenda.org/issues/10-1thema.php |volume=10 |issue=1 |access-date=1 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223854/http://credenda.org/issues/10-1thema.php |archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref>

==History==
The exclusive use of the King James Version is recorded in a statement made by the Tennessee Association of Baptists in 1817, stating ''"We believe that any person, either in a public or private capacity who would adhere to, or propagate any alteration of the New Testament contrary to that already translated by order of King James the 1st, that is now in common use, ought not to be encouraged but agreeable to the Apostles words to mark such and have no fellowship with them".''<ref>''Tennessee Association of Baptists. Minutes of the Tennessee Association of Baptists.'' Heiskell & Brown, 1817. </ref>

The Textus Receptus and the King James Version were defended by [[John William Burgon]] (1813–1888) in his ''The Revision Revised'' (1881) and also by Edward Miller in ''A Guide to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament'' (1886). Burgon supported his arguments with the opinion that the [[Codex Alexandrinus]] and [[Codex Ephraemi]] were older than the [[Codex Sinaiticus|Sinaiticus]] and the [[Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1209|Vaticanus]]; and also that the [[Peshitta]] translation into Syriac (which supports the Byzantine Text) originated in the 2nd century. Miller's arguments in favour of readings in the Textus Receptus were of the same kind.<ref>Edward Miller, ''A Guide to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament'' (The Dean Burgon Society Press: 2003), pp. 30–37. 57–59.</ref> However, despite defending the Authorised Version and the Textus Receptus, both Burgon and Miller believed that although the Textus Receptus was to be preferred to the Alexandrian Text, it still required to be corrected in certain readings against the manuscript tradition of the Byzantine text (thus advocating the [[Byzantine priority theory]]).<ref name="pe">{{Cite journal |last=Heuer |first=Mark |date=1995 |title=An Evaluation of John W. Burgon's Use of Patristic Evidence |url=https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/38/38-4/38-4-pp519-530_JETS.pdf |journal=The Evangelical Theological Society}}</ref> In that judgement, they are criticised by [[Edward F. Hills]], who argues that the principle that God provides truth through scriptural revelation also must imply that God must ensure a preserved transmission of the correct revealed text, continuing into the Reformation era of biblical translation and printing. For Hills, the task of biblical scholarship is to identify the particular line of preserved transmission through which God is acting; a line that he sees in the specific succession of manuscript copying, textual correction and printing, which culminated in the Textus Receptus and the King James Bible. Hills argues that the principle of providentially-preserved transmission guarantees that the printed Textus Receptus must be the closest text to the Greek autographs and so he rejects readings in the Byzantine Majority Text where they are not maintained in the Textus Receptus. He goes so far as to conclude that Erasmus must have been providentially guided when he introduced Latin Vulgate readings into his Greek text;<ref>Edward F. Hills, ''King James Version Defended!'', pp. 199–200.</ref> and even argues for the authenticity of the Comma Johanneum.<ref>Edward F. Hills, ''King James Version Defended!'', pp. 209–213.</ref> As to the relationship of the King James Bible to the ''Textus Receptus'', Hills argued that the King James Version is not merely a translation of the Textus Receptus, but an independent variety of the Textus Receptus tradition.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Hills |first1=Edward F |title=The King James Version Defended |page=171 |year=1983}}</ref>

Another known defender of the King James Only movement was [[Benjamin G. Wilkinson]] (1872–1968), a [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] missionary, theology professor and college president, who wrote ''[[Our Authorized Bible Vindicated]]'' (1930) in which he asserted that some of the new versions of the Bible came from manuscripts with corruptions introduced into the [[Septuagint]] by [[Origen]] and manuscripts with deletions and changes from corrupted Alexandrian text. He criticized [[Brooke Foss Westcott|Westcott]] and [[Fenton John Anthony Hort|Hort]], believing they intentionally rejected the use of the Textus Receptus and made changes to the text used in translation using their revised Greek text based mainly on the [[Codex Vaticanus]] and [[Codex Sinaiticus]].<ref>[[Brooke Foss Westcott|Westcott]] and [[Fenton John Anthony Hort|Hort]], [https://archive.org/stream/newtestamentinor00westrich#page/n5/mode/2up ''The New Testament In The Original Greek''] (New York: 1882).</ref> [[Gail Riplinger]] (born 1947) has also addressed the issue of differences in current editions of the King James Bible in some detail.<ref>{{cite web | first = Gail A | last = Riplinger | title = Settings of the King James Bible | publisher = Our KJV | author-link = G. A. Riplinger |url= http://www.ourkjv.com/KJB.pdf }}</ref> A lengthy critical review of her book ''New Age Bible Versions'', originally published in ''[[Cornerstone (magazine)|Cornerstone]]'' magazine in 1994, authored by Bob and Gretchen Passantino of Answers in Action, described the book as "erroneous, sensationalistic, misrepresentative, inaccurate, and logically indefensible".<ref>{{Citation | url = http://answers.org/bookreviews/newagevers.html | title = New age vers. | date = 9 August 2020 | publisher = Answers | type = book review | access-date = 12 July 2014 | archive-date = 20 December 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151220070652/http://www.answers.org/bookreviews/newagevers.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> King James Onlyism has been taught by many famous earlier Independent Baptists such as [[Jack Hyles]] (1926–2001), who argued that the King James Version has preserved the word of God perfectly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Logic Must Prove the King James Bible - The Jack Hyles Home Page |url=https://www.jackhyles.com/logic.htm |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=www.jackhyles.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hyles |first=Jack |title=Enemies of Soul Winning |quote=}}</ref> Another Independent Baptist, [[Jack Chick]] (1924–2016), who was best known for his [[Chick tract|comic tracts]], advocated a King James Only position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chick.com/information/bibleversions/ |title=FAQ's Concerning Bible Versions |publisher=Chick.com |access-date=2 December 2013}}</ref> His comic ''Sabotage'' portrayed a Christian whose faith was shipwrecked by the rejection of the King James Version as the Word of God, only to be rescued by another character's defense of the King James Version.<ref>"A Critique of the King James Only Movement", [[James R. White]], chapter in {{cite book | title = Translation that openeth the window: reflections on the history and legacy of the King James Bible | publisher = Society of Biblical Literature | location = Atlanta | year = 2009 | isbn = 978-1-58983-356-2 |pages=200–201}}</ref> During this time, a more radical form of King James Onlyism was also developed by the Independent Baptist minister [[Peter Ruckman]] (1921–2016), who argued that the KJV is "new revelation", superior to the original Hebrew and Greek. {{Sfn|White|1995}} However, in stark contrast, [[John R. Rice (pastor)|John R Rice]] (1895–1980), despite being an independent Baptist, in his critique of Peter Ruckman's radical form of King James Onlyism argued that the King James Version (although preferable to the [[American Standard Version]]) is not still perfect.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teis |first=Josh |date=2019-11-25 |title=The History of KJV Onlyism |url=https://joshuateis.com/2019/11/25/the-history-of-kjv-onlyism/ |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=Josh Teis |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Modern advocates ===
King James Onlyism is today most common in conservative Independent Baptist churches,<ref>{{Cite book |last=White |first=James R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q7H_2eQC91kC&dq=King+James+Only+independent+Baptist&pg=PA139 |title=The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust Modern Translations? |date=June 2009 |publisher=Baker Books |isbn=978-0-7642-0605-4 |language=en}}</ref> however, it is not exclusive to them. The ''Church Polity'' of the [[Dunkard Brethren Church]], a [[Conservative Anabaptist]] denomination in the Schwarzenau Brethren tradition, states: "To aid in Scripture memorization among our members and our children, to help avoid confusion and to promote sound doctrine in our services, the Authorized King James Version of the Bible shall be used in our Sunday School, Bible Study, and church services. Exceptions may be made where languages other than English are necessary."<ref name="DBC2021">{{cite book |title=Dunkard Brethren Church Polity |date=1 November 2021 |publisher=[[Dunkard Brethren Church]] |page=7}}</ref> The [[Apostolic Christian Church]], a Conservative Anabaptist denomination, uses the King James Version of the Bible.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement of Faith |url=https://www.apostolicchristian.org/statement-of-faith |publisher=Apostolic Christian Church |access-date=12 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> 

The [[Southern Methodist Church]] holds the King James Version of the Bible to be a "trustworthy standard to preach from the pulpit."<ref name="KurianDay2017" /> The 2015 ''Manual'' of the [[Bible Missionary Church]], a Methodist denomination in the [[conservative holiness movement]], states: "We wholeheartedly endorse the use of the Authorized Version (King James Version) of the Bible as the final authority in our English-speaking churches and schools. We also go on record as being opposed to the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, The Living Bible, the New English Translation of the Bible, the Reader's Digest Condensed Version, the New International Version and the public use of other modern versions."<ref name="BMC2015">{{cite book |title=Manual of the Bible Missionary Church, Inc. |date=2015 |publisher=[[Bible Missionary Church]] |page=138 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Immanuel Missionary Church]] likewise enjoins use of the King James Version of the Bible.<ref name="IMC1986">{{cite book|title=Discipline of the Immanuel Missionary Church|date=1986|publisher=Immanuel Missionary Church|location=[[Shoals, Indiana|Shoals]]|page=17}}</ref><ref name="Handel2024">{{cite journal |last1=Handel |first1=Paul S. |title=Can Anger Be Justified in a Sanctified Experience? |journal=The Immanuel Missionary |date=2024 |volume=85 |issue=2 |page=3}}</ref> The King James Version of the Bible is used exclusively by the [[Apostolic Faith Church]], a [[Holiness Pentecostal]] denomination.<ref name="Lindsey2024">{{cite web |last1=Lindsey |first1=Joshua |title=Holiness Pentecostal Denominations Compared |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDInb69ky6g |publisher=Ready to Harvest |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=11 August 2024}}</ref> Agapé Boarding School in Missouri endorsed the King James Only position. One student said that when he first arrived at the school, he was strip-searched and his Bible was thrown in the trash because it was not a KJV.<ref name="agape">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/agape-school-ex-students-reveal-abuse-at-christian-torture-compound-in-missouri|title=Ex-Students Reveal Abuse at 'Christian Torture Compound'|first=Kate|last=Briquelet|newspaper=The Daily Beast |date=4 July 2022|via=www.thedailybeast.com}}</ref> Among others, the exclusive use of the King James Version is also endorsed by the Florida Bible College of Tampa (which has been a major institution to promote [[Free grace theology|Free Grace theology]]),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lazar |first=Shawn |date=10 July 2012 |title=The Restart of Florida Bible College Update – Grace Evangelical Society |url=https://faithalone.org/blog/the-restart-of-florida-bible-college-update-posted-by-scl/ |access-date=2023-04-16 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Gospel Driven Man – Grace Evangelical Society |url=https://faithalone.org/journal-articles/book-reviews/the-gospel-driven-man/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> writing on their statement: "Although we do not believe the translators of the Authorized King James Bible were inspired, we do believe that the Authorized King James Version, based upon the Textus Receptus, is the best translation. Therefore, the Authorized King James Bible shall be the Bible used by Florida Bible College of Tampa."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida Bible College of Tampa, Inc. |url=https://www.floridabiblecollege.us/what-we-believe.html |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=www.floridabiblecollege.us}}</ref> 

Some readers prefer the KJV because it is in the [[public domain]] in most countries (with the [[United Kingdom]] being a [[King James Version#Copyright status|notable exception]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Rights and Permissions: KJV |url=https://www.cambridge.org/gb/bibles/about/rights-and-permissions/rights-and-permissions-kjv |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Cambridge University Press |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Why do modern translations of the Bible have a copyright? {{!}} GotQuestions.org |url=https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-copyright.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324195102/https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-copyright.html |archive-date=24 March 2025 |access-date=2025-05-25 |work=GotQuestions.org |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> This allows them to freely copy any amount of the translation without worrying about [[Royalty payment|royalties]] or [[copyright]]. 

Other promoters of the KJV Only movement include the following organizations and individuals:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

* [[Alamo Christian Foundation]]<ref name=LewisEncyc2nd>{{cite book |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |title=The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions |edition=2nd |year=2001 |publisher=[[Prometheus Books]] |location=[[Amherst, New York]] |isbn= 978-1-57392-888-5|pages=42–43}}</ref>
* Andersonville Theological Seminary<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://andersonvilleseminary.com/about/doctrinal-statement/ |title=Doctrinal Statement of Andersonville Theological Seminary |website=Andersonville Theological Seminary}}</ref>
* [[Bible Missionary Church]]<ref name="BMC2015"/>
* [[Immanuel Missionary Church]]<ref name="IMC1986"/><ref name="Handel2024"/>
* Dial-the-Truth Ministries<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.av1611.org |title=Believing Witnessing Resource Tracts |website=Dial-the-Truth Ministries}}</ref>
* [[Steven Anderson (pastor)|Steven Anderson]], the founder and the pastor of [[Faithful Word Baptist Church]] and the founder of the [[New Independent Fundamentalist Baptist]] movement<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkbI651WHl8 |title=What it Means to be King James Only - Pastor Steven Anderson |work=Strong Hold Baptist Church |date=24 October 2019 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
*
* [[David Otis Fuller]]<ref>{{Cite book|title=Which Bible?|publisher=Grand Rapids International Publications|year=1970|edition=3rd |isbn= 0-944355-24-2}}</ref>
* [[Kent Hovind]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QCB7BXKDTM |title=Kent Hovind - Why KJV ONLY ??? Why not other versions? |work=Jeff The Watchman |date=25 March 2011 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
* [[Dave Hunt (Christian apologist)]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebereancall.org/content/september-1992-q-and-a-3 |title=QUESTION: YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO USE THE KJV BIBLE. WHY NOT USE THE MODERN TRANSLATIONS THAT ARE SO MUCH ... |website=The Berean Call}}</ref>
* [[Jack Hyles]]<ref>''Enemies of Soulwinning'' by Jack Hyles, pp. 46–47.</ref>
* [[Hyles-Anderson College]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hylesanderson.edu/about/what-we-believe/ |title=What We Believe |website=Hyles-Anderson College}}</ref>
* [[Texe Marrs]]<ref>{{Cite book|title= Unholy Bible Versions of the New Age}}{{full citation needed|date=May 2022}}</ref>
* [[Michael Pearl]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ1mAFHpRkg |title=Why King James Bible Only? Bible Questions with Michael Pearl - Episode 027 |website=No Greater Joy Ministries |date=22 February 2010 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
* [[Peter Ruckman]]<ref name="Handbook">{{
Cite book
| first=Peter
| last=Ruckman
| publication-place=Pensacola
| publisher=Pensacola Bible Press
| title=The Christian's Handbook of Manuscript Evidence
| url={{Google Books URL|G9zznQEACAAJ}}
| year=1990
}}</ref>
* [[Shelton Smith]]<ref name="sotl">Sword of the Lord, issue from Dec 27, 2019</ref>
* [[Southern Methodist Church]]<ref name="KurianDay2017">{{cite book |last1=Kurian |first1=George Thomas |last2=Day |first2=Sarah Claudine |title=The Essential Handbook of Denominations and Ministries |date=14 March 2017 |publisher=Baker Books |isbn=978-1-4934-0640-1 |language=en |quote=...and the KJV as a trustworthy standard to preach from the pulpit.}}</ref>
* [[The Shepherd's Chapel]]. It adheres to [[Christian Identity]] and it is also KJV only.<!-- Do not delete them, we just need a source that either is or isn't KJV only -->
* [[Brother Stair]]
* [[Jimmy Swaggart]]
* ''[[The Sword of the Lord]]''<ref name="sotl"/>
* [[Trinitarian Bible Society]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160811201316/http://www.tbsbibles.org:80/pdf_reports/66-1.pdf ''Quarterly Record'' no. 578, p. 8.]</ref>
* [[Westboro Baptist Church]]<ref>{{Cite book|title=Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church}}</ref>{{page needed|date=February 2023}}
* [[West Coast Baptist College]]<ref name="WCBC Doctrinal Statement">{{cite web|title=WCBC Doctrinal Statement|url=https://wcbc.edu/about#doctrines|work=wcbc website}}</ref>
* [[WGCR]]
* Some [[Conservative Laestadianism|Conservative Laestadians]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Suominen |first=Edwin A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uI1FY2xOL-QC&dq=KJV+Lestadian&pg=PA19 |title=An Examination of the Pearl |date=2012-01-26 |publisher=Ed Suominen |isbn=978-0-9851362-1-5 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Primitive Baptists]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Primitive Baptist Library: Why We Use the Authorized King James Version of the Bible |url=http://pblib.org/Bible.html |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=pblib.org}}</ref>
* [[Lester Roloff]]
* [[Gerardus D. Bouw]]
* [[Paul Chappell]]
* [[Jack Chick]]
* [[David W. Cloud]]
* Much of the [[Independent Baptist]] movement{{div col end}}

==Criticism==
{{blockquote|James White has thoroughly researched the background and sources of the Bible as we have it today, and he points out the serious weaknesses of the KJV Only position, a view seemingly based more on faulty, unprovable assumptions than on solid evidence.{{sfn|White|1995}}|[[Gleason Archer Jr.|Gleason Archer]]}}

{{blockquote|One of the saddest signs of legalistic Christianity is the tenacious defense of the KJV as the only legitimate English-language translation. Almost as sad is that countless hours of scholars' and pastors' time must be diverted from the larger priorities of God's kingdom to point out the numerous historical, logical, and factual errors of KJV Onlyism — even though these errors have been repeatedly exposed in the past. Nevertheless, the job must be done, and James White does it masterfully in this book.{{sfn|White|1995}}|[[Craig Blomberg]]}}

{{blockquote|The King James Only controversy is essentially a conspiracy theory that claims that all modern translations of Scripture are based on tainted manuscripts and that their translators are driven by a liberal Protestant or Roman Catholic (or even one-world government) agenda.<ref name="Wax 2007">{{cite web | last=Wax | first=Trevin | title=The King James Only Controversy | website=The Gospel Coalition | date=7 August 2007 | url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/the-king-james-only-controversy/ | access-date=30 November 2022}}</ref>|Trevin Wax}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Bible|Christianity}}
* [[Bible translations]]
* [[Bible version debate]]
* [[Biblical canon]]
* [[Biblical criticism]]
* [[Biblical infallibility]]
* [[Biblical inerrancy]]
* [[Biblical literalism]]
* [[Douay-Rheims Bible#Douay-Rheims Only movement|Douay-Rheims Only movement]]
* [[Historicity of the Bible]]
* [[List of English Bible translations]]
* [[Textual variants in the New Testament]]
* [[List of New Testament verses not included in modern English translations]]
* [[Modern English Bible translations]]
* [[Sola scriptura]]
* [[Textual criticism]]
* [[Verbal plenary preservation]]
* [[Byzantine Priority Theory]]

==References==
{{Reflist|32em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Citation | first1 = Gary | last1 = Hudson | last2 = Kutilek | first2 = Doug |date=Summer 1990 | title = The Great 'Which Bible?' Fraud | journal = Baptist Biblical Heritage | volume = I | number = 2 | url = http://www.kjvonly.org/doug/kutilek_great_which_bible.htm |pages = 1, 3–6| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180104041338/http://www.kjvonly.org/doug/kutilek_great_which_bible.htm | archive-date = 4 January 2018 }}.
* {{Citation | last1 = White | first1 = James | year = 1995 | author1-link = James White (theologian) | title = The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations? | publisher = Bethany House | location = Minneapolis | page = [https://archive.org/details/kingjamesonlycon00whit/page/248 248] | isbn = 1-55661-575-2 | oclc = 32051411 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/kingjamesonlycon00whit/page/248 }}.

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book | last = Anderson |first=Robert |title= The Bible and Modern Criticism |year= 1903}}
* {{Cite book | last1 = Ankerberg |first1 =John |author1-link= John Ankerberg | first2 = John | last2 = Weldon | title = The Facts on the King James Only Debate |year=2003 |isbn=0-7369-1111-1 |publisher= Harvest House | location = Eugene, OR }}
* {{Cite book | last1 = Beacham |first1 =Roy E. | first2 =Kevin T | last2 = Bauder |title=One Bible Only? Examining Exclusive Claims for the King James Bible |year=2001 |isbn= 0-8254-2048-2 |publisher= Kregel Publications |location= Grand Rapids, MI }}
* {{Cite book | last = Carson |first=D.A. |author-link= D. A. Carson |title= The King James Version Debate: A Plea for Realism |year= 1978 |isbn= 0-8010-2427-7 |publisher= Baker Book House |location= Grand Rapids, MI }}
* {{Cite book | last = Comfort |first=Phillip W. |title=Essential Guide to Bible Versions |year=2000 |isbn = 0-8423-3484-X |publisher=Tyndale House Publishers |location=Wheaton, IL }}
* {{Cite book | last = Dewey |first=David |title=A User's Guide to Bible Translations: Making the Most of Different Versions |year=2005 |isbn=0-8308-3273-4 |publisher= InterVarsity Press |location= Downers Grove, IL }}
* Hillis, Edward F. (1973). ''The King James Version Defended''. Des Moines, IA: Christian Research Press.
* {{Cite book | last = Macgregor | first= Alan J | title = Three Modern Versions: A Critical Assessment of the NIV, ESV and NKJV |year=2004 |isbn=0-904435-87-3 |publisher=Bible League |location= Salisbury, Wiltshire, [[England|ENG]], UK }}
* {{Cite book | last = Mauro | first = Philip | title = Which version?: Authorized or revised? | year = 1924 | publisher = Hamilton Brothers | location = Boston | url = http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1924_mauro_which-version.html | access-date = 23 July 2008 | archive-date = 17 September 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080917121023/http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1924_mauro_which-version.html | url-status = dead }}
* {{Cite book | last = Paisley |first= Ian RK |author-link= Ian Paisley | title= My Plea for the Old Sword | publisher = Emerald House Group |year=1997 |url=http://www.ianpaisley.org/plea.asp |isbn= 1-84030-015-9 }}
* {{Cite book | last = Riplinger |first=G. A. |title=New Age Bible Versions |year=1993 |isbn=0963584502 |publisher=AV Publications |location=Ararat, VA}}
* {{Cite book | last = Ryken |first=Leland |title=The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation |year=2002 |isbn=1-58134-464-3 |publisher=Crossway Books |location=Wheaton, IL }}

==External links==
* ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=SF1CAQAAMAAJ The Holy Bible: An Exact Reprint Page for Page of the Authorized Version Published in the Year MDCXI]''. Oxford: The University Press, 1833, "a scrupulous original-spelling, page-for-page, and line-for-line reprint of the 1611 edition (including all chapter headings, marginalia, and original italicization, but with Roman type substituted for the black letter of the original)". Complete PDF of the original book.

{{King James Version}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:King James Only Movement}}
[[Category:King James Only movement| ]]
[[Category:Bible-related controversies]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]