The Subjective Aspect of KJV-Onlyism

“Sometimes KJV Only adherents use subjective arguments to vouch for the superiority of the KJV. Mark Ward lists some of these in his helpful book, Authorized: the Use and Misuse of the King James Bible. For example, some KJV-Only adherents say that translating Scripture into regular modern language is dumbing down the Bible. They also argue that the KJV sounds like the Word of God, which is why it is the best translation. Or they argue that the men who translated the KJV used timeless language, so abandoning it is foolish.”

“And the only document they’ve left us that details their intentions is the preface to the KJV, “The Translators to the Reader.” In it the KJV translators specifically contradict the idea that choosing old-fashioned language was their goal. As I quoted earlier, “We desire that the Scripture may speak like itself, as in the language of Canaan, that it may be understood even of the very vulgar.” If you don’t know who they’re talking about, let me assure you that we have met the “very vulgar,” and it is us. It’s the common people, the ones without the Cambridge and Oxford educations the KJV translators had. The “very vulgar” is the plough boy—the least of these—to whom William Tyndale was so eager to give the Scriptures.”