The Five Solas

There are five central points around which the Protestant Reformation formed.  Termed the five "solas" from the Latin word meaning "only" or "alone", these are still as valid today as they were in Martin Luther's.  These are:

1. Sola scriptura - By Scripture alone
2. Sola fide - By Faith Alone
3. Sola gratia -By Grace Alone
4. Solus Christus-  By Christ Alone
5. Soli Deo gloria -  Glory to God, Alone

Note:  I would suggest the Bible scholar learn the Latin terms, understand that quidquid latine dictum, altum videtur or "Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound"

By Scripture Alone

By scripture alone means that we accept the Holy Scripture as the highest and final authority of our faith and practice.  While tradition and church organizations can provide the believer a framework to understand the scripture, and help to work towards edifying the body and provoking believers to good works, only the unchanging Word of the Everlasting God provides the foundation of our beliefs.  It defines what we see as right and wrong.  In a recent poll, only 22% of mainline Protestant denominations ¹ believe the Bible is the Word of God, meant to be taken literally.

By Faith Alone

We are saved when we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  It has nothing to do with how much we work, how good we are, how much we tithe, how many church services we attend, what clothes we wear, how much we sacrifice, or what we do.  True Christianity is not man reaching up to God, doing enough to merit salvation, but that a loving God reaching down to fallen humanity.  True Christianity teaches that man is depraved, completely corrupted, and unable to make up for what he's done. The wonderful news of the Gospel is that the cost of our sins were paid in full by God through the atoning work of Christ on the Cross.  God presents this expensive salvation as a free gift to all who believe. That's it.  Nothing else is required.  Every other religion teaches that man reaches up to their god, earning their own salvation by a series of rituals and duties.

By Grace Alone

Grace is unmerited favor.  My favorite description is an acronym, God's Riches At Christ's Expense, gives us the fullest understanding that we are not saved by what we do.  Further, it is not because God saw something worthwhile in us, only be God is so good.  I could repeat most of what I wrote about faith, but you get the idea.  We are saved because of what Jesus did, not because of what I've done.

By Christ Alone

We are saved by what Jesus did for us on the cross, if we accept His sacrifice and make Him Lord of our lives ².  By Christ alone, we have access to the Father.  By Christ alone, we receive salvation. We don't need a priest, a church, a pope, Mary, Peter, or anyone else.  There is no other name under which man can be saved.

Glory to God, Alone

The Bible is pretty clear.  We are to worship God and God alone.  We are not to worship saints, pastors, churches, ancestors, countries, flags, cows, frogs, chickens, sex, money or rock-and-roll.  While some quibble over the difference between 'veneration' and worship, I am a firm believer in Si suus ' sonat anatem anatem, which being translated means "If it quacks like a duck, it's a duck."  If you bow or pray to anything other than God, you're wrong.  Glory belongs to God alone.

1. http://www.evidenceunseen.com/theology/ecclesiology/understanding-american-protestant-denominations/#_ftn7

2 Romans 10:10 says to accept the "Lord" Jesus.  I am not advocating a form of Lordship salvation, that rests upon behavior, but simply pointing out that simple mental acceptance that the Gospel is fact isn't saving faith.  The devils believe but aren't saved.  The idea of true faith involves both the heart and the head.  When you honestly come to believe in and put your faith and trust in the God of Glory, whose hands hung and the the stars, your only rational reaction is to fall on your face, like Saul of Tarshish, and call Him Lord.

Deity of Jesus

Pick any Bible doctrine, and I can show you at least three vastly different interpretations.  On most of these we, as followers of Christ, can agree to disagree.  Some other teachings push the boundary of what can be called Christian, and border on heresy.  I cannot categorically say someone holding to these beliefs are not saved, on the basis these beliefs alone.

My mother was a woman of very strong beliefs.  She felt obligated to share those beliefs with  everyone around her (mostly being oblivious about the general interest of her crowd.)  Mom also loved to argue and debate.  She seemed happiest while fussing about something, a trait my wife tells me I inherited.

I distinctly remember a time that my mother and my brother-in-law got into a vigorous debate on the deity of Jesus at the kitchen table.  Well, it was actually a green booth that mom had recovered.  I must have been about eight at the time, and the only point I remember is my brother-in-law asking to whom Jesus was praying, if Jesus were God.

While I don't know why this one episode burned itself into my mind over the hundreds of other times mom hotly debated somebody over a specific doctrine, I remember thinking at the time that mom was making a rather big deal over a rather minor doctrinal point.

Once  I started to study the Bible for myself, I realized how critically important was mom's point, and how pathetically wrong I was.   

You see, out of the many doctrines taught in the Bible, there are only a very few crucial teachings that define Christianity.  A short list of them are:

• Deity of Christ
• The resurrection of Jesus
• Virgin birth
• Salvation by Grace alone, by faith alone, through Christ alone
• Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross
• Monotheism

(Most apologists put the Trinity in the list above.  While I see denial of the trinity as a serious heresy, I am not convinced that this error alone would in every circumstances prevent salvation.  For example, Modalism, the belief that God was at times the Father, then the Son, then the Holy Spirit, may allow the person holding to this to accept Christ. )

As much as it pains me to say so, if a person denies one of these bedrock beliefs, then that person cannot be a born-again Christian. 

Recently, I was involved in another conversation on this topic.  The person to whom I was talking denied that Jesus is God incarnate, and sincerely asked me where the Bible calls Jesus God.

Since I remember having similar questions myself when I started my Christian walk, I thought I'd write down a few of the many, many references.

Note:  The Bible only needs to say Jesus is God once for it to be true.

Clear Statements

Heb 1:8   But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

This is a quote of Psalms 45:6-7, but the writer of Hebrews says this refers to Jesus (the Son.)  Jesus is called God.

John 1:1-3; 14-18  1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Here, John specifically identifies the Word as God.  Further, he states that the Word created all things (vs 3).  He goes on in vs 14 to say the Word was made flesh (birth of Jesus), that John the Baptist came before the Word(Jesus), and if that is not plain enough, John tells us that grace and truth came by Jesus, who is the Word.

Col. 2:8-9 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

For in Jesus the Christ dwells all of the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form.  Basically, this is saying the all of the attributes of God were in Christ Jesus.  That's pretty plain.

Phil 2:5-6 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

In the form of God?  In other words, Jesus was the same form (or nature or substance) as God.  To be equal to God, Jesus would have to be be God himself, since God is unique.  There is none like God.   

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Great God and Savior Jesus Christ.  Pretty plain.

John 20:28-29 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

I can't see why Jesus would not have corrected Thomas if he got it wrong, and Jesus was not God.  Instead of correcting him, he congratulates him for his belief.

Col 1:12-17 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Here, Paul says Jesus created everything (even angels), and is the image of God.

Comparison Verses

Sometimes the Bible writers makes statements that are best understood when we see the Old Testament verse to they were referring.  Please note that Lord in the Old Testament is used as a reference of God, specifically Yahweh, Jehovah or Adonai,

Old Testament	New Testament
Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.	Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.	John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.	Romans 10;9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; Nehemiah 9:6  Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee	1 Cor 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Col 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.	Matthew 1:21-23 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.	Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The Jews of Jesus Day Understood
The claims Jesus made were quite plain to the Jews of his day.  On several occasions, they took up stones to kill him, because he claimed to be God.

John 5: 16-18 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

John 10:30-33 I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

John 8:56-59  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.  Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.  Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Worship
We are not to Worship of Anything but God alone.

Psalm 81:9  There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Matt 4:9-10 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

In the Bible, men and angles refuse worship, since it is due to God alone.

Acts 10:25-26 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man

Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Rev 22-8-9 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.


Yet Jesus received worship...

Matthew 2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Matthew 8:2-3 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matt 9:18-19 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.  And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

Matthew 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Matthew 15:25  Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

Matthew 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

Luke 24:51-52 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

Hebrews 1:6-8  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Revelation 4:10-11 he four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Hebrews 1:6 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Attributes
Jesus has the incommunicable attributes that only God posses.

• Sinless 1 Peter 2:21-22 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
• Knows all John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him,
• Is eternal  (John 8:58)
• Everywhere at once  Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.   Matthew 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 
• All Powerful John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. John Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

Resources

https://carm.org/responding-jehovah%E2%80%99s-witness-attacks-deity-christ
http://www.gotquestions.org/deity-of-Christ.html
http://thecripplegate.com/did-the-early-church-affirm-jesus-deity/
https://carm.org/jesus-god
https://carm.org/bible-verses-show-jesus-divine
http://bugman123.com/Bible/JesusIsGod.html
http://www.gotquestions.org/is-Jesus-God.html
http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/churchandministry/evangelism/rodgers_deity.aspx
http://www.everystudent.com/features/faith.html

The Love of God

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

This verse has been going through my mind. Think about this. While we were sinners, while we were enemies of God, standing in full rebellion, shaking our fists in His face, refusing to submit to God's authority, God showed us His loved for us by sending His only son to die for us.

That is love, my friend.  We can do nothing for God.  His love is unconditional and  unimaginable.

Pet peeve

2 Corinthians 12:2-5
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. [3] And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) [4] How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. [5] Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

Some maintain that the apostle Paul was speaking of himself, but out of a great humility, refers to himself in the third person. 

While this may be true, it is only a unfounded supposition, bearing no weight or authority. The Bible doesn't say abt more than this.   A casual mention in a sermon our lesson is fine, however that's all you can honestly do.

Yet whole doctrines are built in much less a foundation by those who read into the Bible all kind of things that it doesn't say. 

Don't impose onto the scriptures your opinions, biases, and prejudices.  That is known as isogesis, and leads to hearsies.

Santa Claus Neatly Encapsulates Modern Theology

You better watch out You better not cry
Better not pout I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list And checking it twice;
He's gonna find outWho's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you're sleeping He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good So be good for goodness sake!

This little ditty sums up modern thoughts of theology.  You better be good because Santa, um, I mean God is watching you , and is making a list.  If you do good, you get treats, er eternal life.  If you do bad, you get coal, um OK hell.

Is that what the Bible says?

Romans 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:22-25 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no  difference: [23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

None of us are without sin.  None of us can do anything to save ourselves.  We are saved by faith through grace.  We can't work out way there 

Faint Not

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Recently, I've been feeling rather despondent about the bus ministry.  I know God has called me to this.  I know it is His will for me, but I was to the point I didn't want to do it anymore.  This past Sunday, the kids in Junior Church were wound up.  Vacation Bible School was just around the bend, and they were excited.  While I preached, I felt as though none were listening.

Later, as we took the children home, and I had to remind the same kids over and over to stay in their seat, I felt as though I was wasting my time.  I got home and told my wife that I was done.  I just didn't want to do it anymore.

I didn't want to sacrifice every Saturday to go on visitation.  I didn't want to have to get up early to make the bus on Sunday.  I didn't want to miss the preaching and I didn't want to have to stay late. 

She told me that the pastor's sermon (which I missed to be in Children's Church) was "Faint not."

"That sermon, babe, was for you.", she said. 

You see, I had taken my eyes off of the big picture and have lost hope.  I haven't seen God changing lives, or showing up in a big way for awhile now and just got drained.  I have forgotten that the bus ministry is not a microwave, it's a Crockpot.  I felt frustrated because I didn't see results, but I believe that the lack of results are partially my fault.

You see, while I need to pray God's anointing down every Saturday before I go visiting,  I haven't been.  While I need to beg the Lord for each of those precious bus kids who I have a chance to influence, I haven't.  When I needed to be in the Word, letting God set my mind right, I wasn't.  When I should have been firm and dealt consequences for bad behavior from the kids, I resisted dispensing consequences which they took as weak.

Tonight, I  was totally out of gas, and wanting, again, to just quit.  I wanted to walk away and say "This is too hard.  This costs too much."

But God...

Ever notice how many times the bible says "But God"?  Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life..."  It appears 43 times.  There is a reason.  God is the contrast

But God broke my heart tonight through this video and reminded me, yet again, why I do what I do.  It's not for the praise and recognition of man or of  earthly rewards.  I do it for Him.  I do it to reach a lost and dying world with the message of hope and it is God who is responsible for the results I have.

All ministry is difficult.  It breaks your heart.  You give and give, and sacrifice and sacrifice and it seems there is only heartache in return.   Sometimes, the best we  imperfect humans can do is just not to give up, and trust God, and, as our verse tells us, faint not.

Bus ministry Video

KJV Only

GotQuestions.org is a wonderful resource. The brother who runs the site attempts to answer people's questions about the faith and usually does a great job. Each week, he answers a new question. 

I unfortunately take issue with the a question answered some time ago. This one was on King James Only-ism. Some statements made are either logically weak, unsound, or just plain wrong.

So here's the statements which which I have problem:

GotQuestions Point One

1.  The KJV Only movement claims its loyalty to be to the Textus Receptus, a Greek New Testament manuscript compilation completed in the 1500s. To varying degrees, KJV Only advocates argue that God guided Erasmus (the compiler of the Textus Receptus) to come up with a Greek text that is perfectly identical to what was originally written by the biblical authors

 Uh, no.  Talk about missing the boat!  The Textus Receptus is also known as the "Majority Text."  It is called thus because the majority of the existent copies (like 95% of them) read the same.  It is not about picking a collection of manuscripts to venerate!  Erasmus doesn't even enter into the discussion.

Until the late 1800's, there wasn't much debate as to which manuscripts to use.  If 95% of the 5,000+ manuscripts supported one reading, that was the reading that was used.

Then two fellows named Wescott and Hort decided that the 95% wasn't good enough.  They were convinced that all manuscripts were corrupted, and that they had to become detectives in order to determine what the originals really said.  They came up with several guidelines for wading through all copies and piecing together a version that they felt was closest to the original readings.  Their guidelines were as follows:

1. Older is better.
2. Shorter is better.
3. More confusing is better

The truth is that there never was a manuscript that read like modern versions.  They were constructed out of whole-cloth from various manuscripts like a patch-work quilt.  There are, however, two manuscripts which modern translators hold with deep veneration.  They are the Sinaiticus and the Vaticanus.  Both are old and both are corrupt.

The old lie is that since these manuscripts where found after the KJV translators did their work, their readings couldn't be considered and thus the KJV is less accurate.  While the manuscripts were discovered after the KJV translation in 1611, the readings contained therein were available and discounted.

GotQuestions Point Two

2.  Our loyalties are to the original manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments, written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Only the original languages are the Word of God as He inspired it.

Be loyal to the original manuscript?  What are they talking about?  This line is both illogical and dishonest.  The "original manuscripts" have turned to dust, along with the first copies of them.  All we have left are copies of copies. How can we be loyal to what doesn't exist?  We can't, and that's the point.

By that same logic, since only the original manuscripts were inspired, and since those manuscripts do not exist, then none of the Word of God today is inspired, and thus the logical conclusion is that the Word of God doesn't exist.

If they believed that the Word of God exists only in the original languages, then why support any translation?  Isn't that just encouraging people to replace the scriptures with a second-rate commentary?

Furthermore,  implied in their comment is the supposition that God, who was powerful enough to create the universe, took the time to inspire his word,  was somehow  too weak to preserve it.

GotQuestions Point Three

3.  The New Testament of the New King James Version is based on the Textus Receptus, just as the KJV is. Yet, KJV Only advocates label the NKJV just as heretical as they do the NIV, NAS, etc.

First, I've already discussed the Textus Receptus line above.  So what about the NKJV?  After all, it is only a updating of the obsolete language of the  KJV, right?  Plain and simple, the NKJV it is NOT an updating of language. It is a complete retranslation of the Textus Receptus, informed by the Wescott and Hort Greek.

Here are my problems with the New Kings James:

1. Despite the glowing praise of the accuracy of the KJV, the New Kings James translators felt the need to retranslate the Bible instead of just updating the existing translation.  If the translation was as accurate as they stated in the preface, then why bother?  Simple answer is that they must feel that the former translation was lacking somehow.  
2. The NKJV is markerted as an "updated"  KJV with the "thee's and thou's" and other archaic words replaced.  This is quite false.  Here are three examples with refute that proposition.  Note that none of these words are archaic, obsolete, or hard to understand.
1. John 1:3 (KJV) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
   
   John 1:3 (NKJV) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
2. Acts 17:22(KJV)  Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
   
   Acts 17:22(NKJV)  Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;
3. 2 Cor 2:17 (KJV) For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
   
   2 Cor 2:17 (NKJV) For we are not, as so many,[a] peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
   

These are but a few of the thousands of such changes in the NKJV.  Oh, and by the way, several of the translators of the NKJV worked on the NIV, and it shows.


I admit that I have read other versions. I am so familiar with the KJV that reading a different version can sometimes reveal something that's right there in the text that I've glossed a hundred times.  I read several, but I trust only one, and that's the King James. Why?


The King James is a literal translation.  
This means that the translators translated word for word, as closely as they could to the original. Most, if not all, modern translations are dynamic translations (meaning 'thought for thought'). While this results in an easier-to-read text, I find it the highest form of arrogance for the translators to assume that they can possibly know the mind of God with enough clarity to do a 'thought per thought' translation. All this means is that the text is being filtered through the fallible translators mind.


The King James translation is an honest translation.
The translators made it plain whenever the translators added words (which the modern versions don't even attempt.) Even the sentence structure of the original languages wormed its way into the English translation. The goal of the translators was to convey the Word of God from source languages to English, and they did so with a careful hand, full of respect for the Word of God.

The King James is translated from a reliable source.
The modern versions are based upon different source material. Some opponents would have you to believe that there is only one original manuscript in the original languages. In all actuality, there are several families of manuscripts. The newer versions are based upon, what I believe, are less pure manuscripts than the King James. The same readings were available to the translators in 1611, and rejected.


The King James translators believed in God's Word.
Most newer translations rely upon the work of textual criticism, which is itself predicated on the fact that God's Word (His true Word) cannot be known. The logic is that since God's Word was only perfect and inspired in the original manuscript, and such manuscripts are now dust, then everything is a matter of opinion. The King James translators believed they had the very words of God in their hands and acted accordingly.