This article and series was first published on John C. Richards, the author’s personal blog. You canThis is part 3 of the African-Americans and the Religious Okie-Doke series.Myth #2: You do know that the KJV was authorized by a questionable man, and it’s filled with all kinds of additions and omissions.Contrary to what some believe, when many Blacks think of the name King James, they don’t think of that plays for the Cleveland Cavs. In fact, you might find King James in many Black homes. He’s on grandma’s coffee table, right next to the couch with plastic on it that no one ever sits on. Pick up King James and you might find pieces of paper in him with significant dates, birth announcements, and other family milestones. For others, he’s the anti-theft device in the car window to deter potential thefts.
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The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James smiles during a break in action during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis. Nov 08, 2012 This is the holy book of Acts, known as 'The Acts of the Apostles'. The recording is dramatized, from the King James Bible. This is, in my opinion, the best and most beautiful recording of.
The King ReignsYes, I’m talking about the King James Version (KJV) bible. Today, the King James Version of the Bible reigns over all other translations and is still is the. And that number skews higher in Black communities. In fact, some years ago: only 14 percent of African-Americans said they hadn’t read the KJV. Here’s the truth. Black folks love us some King James. The Surprise SupportersIn the African-American community, there’s always been opposition from Black brothers and sisters who call the King James version ‘the white man’s Bible’.
We’ll get to them soon enough. For this post, I’ll start with the Hebrew Israelites. And I’m actually going to lay off them little bit. There are a few things to note here though:First, most Hebrew Israelites actually use and accept the King James Version of the Bible as they work through passages of Scripture that trace their lineage back to a tribe in Israel’s history (the tribe thing is another post for another time). But here’s the issue with them. Many of them call the KJV of the Bible the authorized version because they believe it translates the original Greek and Hebrew text of the Old and New Testament word-for-word.
Well, that’s not entirely true.Not to get too much into it, but the KJV was a translation of a Byzantine Greek manuscript (remember I told you the NT was written in Greek) that dates later than other original Greek manuscripts in what scholars call the Alexandrian family (these manuscripts were used and cited by early church fathers, which is huge). Now you may have said, “What did he just say?” In simplest terms, the KJV used a good Greek manuscript from a guy named Erasmus, but thousands of other earlier Greek manuscripts have produced some word-for-word versions that reflect some better language choices.I say all that to say there is no ONE authorized translation of the Bible. There are several English translations. Some are better than others when it comes to being closest to the original text.
If you’d like, take a look at I read in terms of their accuracy.At the end of the day, here’s the good news. Many of today’s English translations are theologically sound and communicate the gospel in a way that shows that Jesus came, was crucified, died, and rose again on the third day.Second, and this is very interesting, many of Hebrew Israelites sincerely believe King James was a Black Hebrew Israelite. This is one of those fake news items I don’t want to spend too much time on.
I think the fact that he was an English monarch in the 17th Century will tell you that England wasn’t ready for a Black king. Contrary to what Hebrew Israelites will tell you, King James was not England’s version of Obama. There are too many historical accounts for me to even address this outlier in Hebrew Israelite thought with more than a few words. The OppositionNow, let’s get to the real opposition. There’s some Black anti-Christian adherents out there who mock and shame Black Christians who read the King James Version bible. First, because they write a revisionist account of how the KJV came to be.
Let me explain.Some say, “Well King James called other dudes together so he could chop and screw the Bible like he was from Texas” (that’s me paraphrasing). While it’s true that King James called a meeting of clergy around 1604, the meeting initially had nothing to do with a new Bible translation. The question of a new translation was randomly raised at the conference, and King James then authorized a group of men to work on it. Yes, he appointed 50 or so linguistic scholars to work on the translation.The way some talk about the KJV was as if King James sat down and translated it himself. That’s hardly the case. It took these linguistic scholars seven years, sitting with biblical manuscripts they had to complete the task and it was published in 1611.Some cite King James’ personal life as reasons to mock the translation. It’s such a strange argument.
That’s like me saying I won’t buy an iPhone because Steve Jobs was a godless atheist. I’ll be dog gone. I love Apple products. Apple products are fantastic, because Jobs hired people who knew what they were doing to design them.In the same way Jobs hired people who knew what they were doing, King James recruited real linguistic scholars and theologians to translate the Hebrew and Greek text they had into English. So if some folks tell you that King James sat down and translated the Bible into English himself, let them know you’ve got some swamp land in Florida to sell them.
A Long Way From JesusThe second reason some used to mock the use of the KJV Bible is its publication date. 1611 is over 1500 years after Jesus walked this earth.
A lot of stuff could have been lost in translation, right? What they fail to realize is that the KJV was not the first translation of the Bible.
Many are unaware that Jerome’s Latin Vulgate was published in 405 A.D. Martin Luther’s German translation and William Tyndall’s also predate the KJV translation. So the KJV is certainly not the first translation of the Bible. For that matter, it wasn’t the first translation of the Bible into English.Even so, today we have thousands (and I mean thousands) of manuscripts that scholars have used (using a crazy academic, dry process called textual criticism) to yield some fairly accurate word-for-word translations.
And, for those of you so inclined, the Hebrew Bible and Greek New Testament are remarkably accurate from a text critical perspective (like they are the actual words the writers wrote in Hebrew and Greek text formpretty cool, eh?)In fact, we now have more manuscripts (about 5,600 copies) of the Greek New Testament written/copied within 50 years of Jesus’ time on earth than works on the life of Caesar and Homer’s Illiad. And guess what? They all say pretty much same thing! So if we’re going to sit and read about Caesar’s life and accept those historical accounts or assign Homer’s Illiad to kids in high school English as writing attributed to their authors, then certainly we have to look at the manual evidence of the New Testament and take it seriously.
Deep BreathLet’s take a deep breath. I know we just did some heavy lifting on Bible translations, but remember, you have to be able to. You have to answer questions about footnotes that say “this verse is actually included in the original manuscript and omitted here” or “this passage does not appear in the original manuscript” in the KJV. Those footnotes don’t say that verses were removed or added from the KJV to be deceitful. In fact, it’s being honest and textually faithful. They let the reader know that manuscript evidence suggests that the manuscripts used to translate the KJV weren’t the earliest, most reliable copies.
But it’s okay! The longer ending of Mark’s gospel (see Mark 19:9–20) in the KJV does nothing to dispel the notion that Jesus came, suffered, died, and rose from the grave. Absolutely nothing.
In fact, the verses are found in other gospel accounts.So there you have it. The KJV Bible isn’t evil. It’s not the white man’s Bible.
And it certainly isn’t misleading. It’s a translation that communicates the one message this world needs to hear: we’re broken and in need of Savior. Even if it does so with a few poetic thees and thous.Up Next: Reconciling Slavery and the Black Experience. John currently serves as the Managing Director of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton College.
He also serves as Board President of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective. John calls himself a recovering lawyer and has a seminary degree from Fuller Seminary.
Because he can’t get enough of school, he is currently a Ph.D. Student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a concentration on Christian Leadership. John lives in Chicago, Illinois with his wife Sheridan, son, John III aka Scooter, and daughter, Shiloh. Gray March 28, 2019,I have one word that says it allORTHODOXY!!!! If you are Christian, you should know your beautiful Christian Church rootsStart your looking BEFORE 1053ad. Then attend ANY Orthodox Church and discover the beauty of your Christian Church roots.
HINT: It’s not the Roman Catholic Church. Just promise that you won’t get mad because you have been hoaxed in this country and all for financial gain on the back of Jesus. Instead, spend your time enjoying the beauty of Christianity. Orthodoxy is beautiful, simple, tender, welcoming, and has been the same for years and years as handed down to the Disciples (as best we know).
It teaches a concept that is a little foreign here in the US. It teaches us to only WORSHIP GOD, THE TRINITY, JESUS. What do I mean? The Holy Orthodox Church is there to teach us to worship Jesus and not ourselves. There is something very comforting in that.
Depending on only “Our Father”. I can’t just come in to the Church and change things up to suit me or alter the translation of the Holy Bible to suit my agenda. Ultimately “my changes” could result in self worship. Then for sure you won’t follow “me”wait I meant Jesus. I need God and the wisdom shared by His great knowledge. So the Holy Orthodox Church is there to help us to ONLY WORSHIP GOD. If that interest you, then attend an Orthodox Church.
You may find peace in her stability of 1000’s of years. Will you agree with everything?
Probably not. But we probably don’t agree with EVERYTHING at work, our Government, or groups and organizations in which we participate. If nothing else, know what Christians should believe as it was written in 433ad. Know that Creed like you know the pledge of allegiance to the US flag (if from the US). A lot of work went into giving us something that clearly defined what we as Christians believe. Please take time to know it in its ORIGINAL form. They worked hard to give us that guide back in 433ad.
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As you read it, know that the word “Catholic” is not talking about “the Church of Rome”. It’s another Greek word that you will enjoy knowing its real meaning. Look it up and have fun discovering. It’s gonna be your most exciting religious journey of 2019.
Let me finish by saying that I don’t mean that your Church is wrong. What I am saying is that even some of the best Seminary Schools don’t incorporate Orthodoxy in their studies to any great depth but instead use the Roman Catholic Church as the base. The root goes deeper than that. I dare you to look through different lenses and you will love discovering Christianity from a prospective that is as close to original as we can know it. The Bible, the teachings, all of it is as close to pure and unaltered as you can find in any organized religion.
Get ready.when you know the real meaning of some of those Greek and Hebrew words, you are gonna say.”How did I get taught this in such a bazaar way? Understanding this from the original Bible text, now makes so much more sense and is easier to put into practice”. Nowif I said something offensive, please forgive me.
My purpose was to challenge you to know more about Christ from a source that often gets overlooked or is even unknown. I just want to share.not to offend. To me “not knowing” about Orthodoxy is like telling somebody that I didn’t know that my roots are probably from Africa.AND I’M BLACKhahaha Our Christian “Church Roots” are beautifully preserved and taught in the One Holy Orthodox Church.Discover and enjoy.
Tom butler June 8, 2018,Personally I am writing this because we all (every person regardless of color) need to put away the stereotypes because not every white man is a racist and not every black man is a basketball lover. I have been looking into the Stuart dynasty of rulers in Scotland, Ireland, and England and what I have found so far leads me to believe that Europe was not so “white” as we have been lead to believe. The Stuarts appear to be black royalty and old paintings reflect this. It is a recent invention this racism but it has worked wonders for the 1% hasnt it? I am as pale as snow but was raised by a man who taught me that to judge a man by the color of his skin instead of the content of his heart was wrong!!! My father loved Dr. Kendall March 5, 2018,This article is horrible and the writer has no idea what he is talking about he sounds racist a little bit.
With diligent research you will see without a shadow a doubt that King James Stuart VI,1567-1625, From the lineage of the Scottish Stewart Kings who ruled in Scotland,France,Spain,Ireland,England/Britian,Wales. These Stewart’s had 343 years of rulership in Scotland and Europe and No they were not white!!! These Kings and Queens, tribes and inhabitants of Western Europe we’re Black!!! The Constitution of America as we know it hasn’t been around for as long as these Hebrew/Stewart’s ruled Europe! You could destroy whitewash,keep hidden alot of this history,but not all of it. Do your due diligence in studies first writer of this column before posting complete nonsense and false teachings. San Miguel October 1, 2019,King James chartered the Virginia company which transported slaves.
To believe that king James is “black” is ignoring actual history. I have seen the blurred and darkened hatch drawing images floating around the Internet that is suppose to be the irrefutable evidence that KJ was a black man. These images are colorless in the first place, this is not sufficient evidence. The black Hebrew Israelite movement is filled with so much ignorance and pseudo history. These are YouTube scholars who ignore anything that would contradict their already established beliefs.
Philippians 4:13 ContextBut I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Sedalia, you have touched on one of my pet subjects: govts. Legislating laws & judiciary performance of them.
This is for me very devastating. We need to understand that our Western govts. Are largely based on Judaeo-Christian beliefs & laws, & they are not Christian govts. & will legislate according to what they believe is correct for society & according to public opinion (after all they are in power because of our votes). So, they will never be perfect, nor can we expect them to be, until the coming of the Holy & Just Judge, our Saviour. With that in mind, govts.
Have deemed that divorce, re-marriage, gay marriage, abortion, etc. How will they stand before God in that Day. Mike, to add to Kay's great comment: any crisis in one's life or in the family can get one despondent & sometimes irrational or lose control. If you have a loving family, you're blessed - many have to go it alone. If you belong to a Church Fellowship (or, at least seek to join one), the Church leader or Pastor can be of much help in counselling or directing you to others for help.
When one in dire straits senses the love & support within his family & Church, the road becomes a lot easier. Peter, the apostle of Jesus, writing to some Churches in Asia (Turkey) encouraged them in 1 Pet 5:5-10, but especially with this: 'Cast all your care (troubles/worries) upon God, for He careth for you'. You have done the first step of reaching out!
Pray pray pray for Jesus to show you how to trust Him to lead you. He gave us the 10 commandments, in Exodus 20, to guide your life. He gave His life for you.
There are lots of people that are helping people through this time. Free food at churches, banks are giving temporary low interest loans, delivery jobs need fulfilled, etc.
Love your family and pray with them.Philippians 4:13 New King James Version (NKJV)13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.Praying for you.
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