What, Are You
an ESV Onlyist?
By Christian McShaffrey
Introduction
“What, are you ESV only?” You have probably never heard anyone pose that question, but I might start asking it because I would really like to see how my brethren answer it.
As a regular user of the Authorized Version and convinced advocate of the Textus Receptus, I have been asked several times whether I was “KJV-only”, but why? Why do people ask that question? Why does the “___-only” formulation only apply the King James Version?
Having thought long upon these questions, I do believe I have discovered the answer and, to be completely honest, it may be intellectually embarrassing for those who have become accustomed to asking it. I will not be apologizing for that either; because we should expect a certain level of intellectual integrity amongst confessional Presbyterians and Baptists.
Proper Distinctions
Many people use the KJV and they use it for many different reasons. Dr. James White has offered a helpful summary in his 1995 paperback, “The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Versions?”
Dr. White’s categorization of KJV users seems to devolve from the most reasonable position (i.e., in his mind) to the least reasonable. Please note that while the category titles below are his, the definitions have been abbreviated. See pages 23-29 of his book for fuller definitions.
Group #1: “I Like the KJV Best” – This group of individuals believes the KJV is the best English translation available today.
Group #2: “The Textual Argument” – This group believes the underlying Hebrew and Greek (i.e., Byzantine/Majority/Received) text of the KJV is superior to other texts.
Group #3: “Textus Receptus Only” – This group believes that the underlying Greek text of the KJV has been supernaturally (note: I would use the word “providentially”) preserved over time.
Group #4: The Inspired KJV Group – They believe that the KJV itself, as an English language translation, is inspired and therefore inerrant.
Group #5: “The KJV as New Revelation” – This group basically believes God “re-inspired” the Bible in 1611, rendering it in the English language.
In the interest of full disclosure, my personal position is a combination of numbers 1-3. I use the KJV because I am convinced that it offers the best English translation of the best Greek text.
As one who has held this position for decades, and especially through my recent work as the administrator of the TR-friendly Church Directory, I have corresponded with hundreds of confessional Presbyterians and Baptists. Not one of them could honestly be placed in category 4 or 5.
Proponents of position 4 and 5 are the true “KJV-only” people and are essentially non-existent in the Reformed camp because they are typically disciples of an Arminian Pastor named Peter S. Ruckman who, besides holding strange views on the text of scripture has also been reported to teach about UFO’s, Extra-terrestrials, and government conspiracies that involve the implantation of transmitters into the brains of American citizens at the behest of the Central Intelligence Agency.
In mentioning some of the late Mr. Ruckman’s quirks, my intent is not so much to criticize him as it is to reveal the rhetorical genius behind the question, “Are you KJV-only?” Through a single inquiry, those who wish to discredit the TR/KJV position are able to associate us with the lunatic fringe of Christendom.
Responsible Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of persuasion and, as such, it seeks to employ grammar and logic in public discourse with a view toward changing people’s minds about a particular topic.
Not all rhetorical arguments are respectable and I think the question, “What, are you KJV-only?” serves as a fine example of an intellectually irresponsible inquiry.
Technically speaking, the question is a formal fallacy because it contains, in itself, an unjustified assumption in order to establish guilt. The classic example of this kind of “loaded” or “complex” question is this: “So, when did you stop beating your wife?”
Do we not owe our brothers a greater measure of intellectual integrity than that? I think we do and that is why I have written this article.
Everyone Has a Favorite
Pastors love Bibles. They love some versions more than others. The one they love the best is probably the one they read on a daily basis and carry into the pulpit. All of this is completely natural.
Furthermore, Reformed Pastors tend not to be careless in their choice of a preferred Bible version. In fact, most of them follow an extremely systematic approach.
First, they wrestle through a theological question: Has God promised to keep his originally inspired words pure in all ages and, if he has, what level of certainty may we have with regard to specific readings?
The next question is more a philosophical and historical one: Through what providential means has God kept his words pure? Through the work of editing done by the ecclesia in the 17th century or through the work done by academia at the end of the 19th century?
How a minister answers these first two questions will lead him toward one of three general text platforms: (1) The Textus Receptus, (2) The Majority Text, or (3) The Eclectic Text.
Once he settles on a text platform, the Pastor then needs to wrestle through questions related to translation philosophy. Again, he has three hypothetical options: (1) Formal Equivalence, (2) Dynamic Equivalence, and (3) Paraphrase. Thankfully, very few Reformed Pastors choose the third option.
There is, as you are hopefully beginning to see, much thought that goes into a Pastor’s choice of a preferred translation. This is both good and proper. In fact, we should expect nothing less from ordained ministers of the word.
Once a minister has completed this intellectually demanding work of discernment, it is downright rude to accuse him of being a thoughtless Ruckmanite by asking, “What, are you KJV-only?”
Turning the Tables
Another rhetorically questionable aspect of the “___-only” question is that it seems to carry with it an accusation of unwarranted exclusivity; as if it is somehow unworthy of a Reformed Pastor to prefer a single translation.
Having worked through the questions listed above (i.e., theological, philosophical, textual-critical, and translation philosophy), why would we not expect an intelligent minister to come to an educated conclusion?
They do… inevitably and always! Again, Pastors love Bibles and they will also love some versions more than others. They might even love one version the best.
Most of my ministerial peers in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church use the English Standard Version in their public preaching and teaching. Some of them have asked me, “Are you KJV-only?”
I have experimented with my retort, “Are you ESV-only?” only a couple times, and realized that it carries very little rhetorical force because there has never been a Ruckmanite movement in the ESV camp. There probably never will be, by the way, since the ESV has been marketed to academic-minded Christians.
Nevertheless, and as I said in my introduction, I may very well begin asking the question more so that my brothers can, perhaps, see how utterly unhelpful it is.
Better Questions to Ask
Rather than immediately dismissing a KJV user with an accusatory question, why not rather seek to understand his position? Personally speaking, I love talking about the Bible almost as much as I love the Bible itself, so here are a few questions I would be delighted to answer:
– Which scripture passages convinced you that God has promised to preserve the text of scripture on a “jot and tittle” level?
– Will you admit that there are some readings in the TR that are supported by weak manuscript evidence?
– Are there any Reformed theologians and dogmaticians that agree with your position?
– What are some books I could read to learn more about your position?
These kinds of questions would enable us to discuss the matter on a more intellectual level. Feel free to ask me any or all of these questions; I have been waiting for a very long time.
At the same time, I will be honest enough to warn my readers that I have a few questions of my own for ESV-onlyists. You may wish to ponder them prior to our conversation:
– Did God inspire specific words and letters or just general ideas and doctrines? If the latter, how is that different from the view of Karl Barth?
– Do you only apply the attributes of inspiration, infallibility, and inerrancy to the permanently lost autographa?
– If you believe God is providentially preserving scripture through the agency of textual critics today, when may we expect that work to be completed? Do the critics themselves believe that their work will ever be completed?
– Are you aware of the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method and the changes that will be appearing in the Greek New Testament when it is applied?
– Have you read what Francis Turretin, John Owen, Richard A. Muller, etc. have written about the authentic text of scripture?
– Were the Westminster Divines mistaken in their view that they were in possession of the “authentical” text of scripture in A.D. 1646 [WCF I.8]?
– What did the Divines mean by the phrase concerning God’s “singular care and providence” or “kept pure in all ages” [WCF I.8]?
– Do you know the difference between the autographa and apographa and, if so, are you aware that the WCF I.8 refers to the latter?
– What level of certainty do you have that the Bible you read daily and preach weekly is indeed the inspired and infallible word of God?
An Odd Anectode
I am concerned that many ministers have simply not thought through these questions very carefully. In fact, as I was sifting through the responses to my invitation to join the TR-friendly Church Directory, one Reformed Pastor actually asked me whether I thought the Textus Receptus was “inspired in some way”.
My response was this: “I suppose that every protestant minister believes his preferred edition of the Greek NT is inspired. If you are asking if I believe in some kind of “second work” of inspiration like the Ruckmanites, I do not.”
Do you see the problem? In a suspected effort to sniff out an anti-intellectual advocate of some second work of inspiration, this minister actually asked whether I viewed the Greek NT as being inspired by God.
We really need to elevate this discussion to a more academic level. That, of course, is the aim of this article. Again, it is also why I might ask you someday, “What, are you ESV-only?”
ESV-Onlyists Categorized
Following the noble example of Dr. White, I would never lay the “___-only” charge without making proper prior distinctions, so here are the categories I will keep in mind as I begin my “ESV-only” inquisition:
Group #1: “I Like the ESV” – This group of individuals believes the ESV is the best English translation available today.
Group #2: “The Textual Argument” – This group believes the underlying Hebrew and Greek (i.e., the Eclectic Text) text of the ESV is superior to the Byzantine/Majority/Received text.
Group #3: “Critical Text Only” – This group has tentative certainty that the Hebrew and Greek text from which the ESV was translated is in the process of being providentially preserved.
Group #4: The Formal Equivalence Convert – After using the near-paraphrase NIV, individuals in this group have realized that it is better to translate scripture on more thought-for-thought basis.
Group #5: The Good Customer – Individuals in this group simply responded as good American consumers to the greatest Bible marketing campaign ever seen in the evangelical world: ESV.ORG
Notice once again that there is no equivalent of a Ruckmanite movement included in the above options. Again, the well-educated demographic of ESV users seems to preclude the very possibility.
At the same time, and especially in regard to 1 and 5, let me suggest that some ESV readers might be as intellectually lazy as the Ruckmanites.
Do You Know the Issues?
This short article has hopefully demonstrated some of the complex considerations that are involved in choosing a Bible version. If, therefore, you do fit into category 1 or 5 above, then it would seem you have some serious homework to do.
For ordinary people, ignorance of issues involving textual criticism and translation philosophy may be somewhat excusable, but not for church leaders. If you are a Pastor and use the ESV simply because it is in the pews or because John Piper loves it, then I would challenge you to find some better reasons.
Furthermore, as you perhaps revisit some of the things you learned in your “New Testament Text” class back in seminary, I need to alert you to the fact that what many of us were taught back at the turn of the century is now outdated.
A new age of textual criticism has dawned and it is no longer based upon the old text families or the classic canons of Westcott and Hort. If you have not begun to read articles and books about the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method or the forthcoming Editio Critica Maior, then you are behind the curve.
Pastors love Bibles. They love some versions more than others. The one they love the most is probably the one they read on a daily basis and carry into the pulpit. So far, so good, but here is the question that has been nagging my soul for many years now: Do they have good reasons?
If so, then well done thou good and faithful servant of the word. If not, you can expect to be asked, “What, are you ESV-only?” the next time we chat.
Perhaps one could ask the doubters: If God saw fit to see that what He wanted written was so to the jot and tittle, breathed out by him and not by private interpretation, profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works, would He not also see fit that He would preserve those pure words through a stream of copies down to the centuries leading up to, during and after the reformation culminating in the KJV for English speakers? If one cannot rest their faith on the belief that God has done just that very thing, then you really can’t rest your faith on anything regarding the text for it’s always in a state of flux clouded by doubt and uncertainty. It’s not a faith-based pursuit at all.
Personally I still use the RSV due in part to familiarity. It has its weaknesses in places, as do all translations. The pastor of the church I attend used the NKJV and there is rarely any difference in the text, the meaning is the same. The number of times there is a difference due to the differening underlying Greek text are very rare, and to date I don’t think any doctrinal differences are discernable.
The church is shooting itself in the foot all too often in these arguments about the text in the sense that whatever version of the bible you use you will have no excuse for not knowing, and therefore doing the will of God, for which you will give an account at the end of the age. Although I greatly respect the KJV, the goal is to communicate God’s truth, and the KJV can make this unnecessarily harder. English has significantly changed. Indeed the language of the RSV is sometimes somewhat archaic, and I still remember going through Romans in a bible study decades ago (!) combining the RSV and Good News Bible. The latter was particularly good as back then most of us had not leant the ‘technical vocabulary’ that the more literal versions use.
So would you say that the KJV is perfect (and will remain “perfect” even if the English language continues to change)?
I think one reason the “Are you ESV only?” would be a more ridiculous question is that people who use the ESV tend also to respect those who use the NKJV and NASB, and most probably would say all three are fairly equivalent in terms of being good translations. Those who use the KJV often use ONLY the KJV and don’t see room for a difference of opinion.
BTW, I have interacted with at least one person who saw the KJV as the only real Bible and would probably have been in camp 4. I have several brothers who use only the KJV (two in full-time ministry), and they basically elevate KJV to a creed. One of my brothers stopped selling my book on his book table when someone pointed out to him that I didn’t use the KJV in it. (I used the NKJV with one verse each in KJV, NASB, and maybe NIV.) Nobody holds to any other version so strongly, and the passion with which some KJV-more-or-less-only supporters hold to their preference is actually divisive. It’s seen as a first-order theological division–very close to the Orthodox Church’s insistence that when Jesus promised to preserve His church, He meant ONLY their branch of it.
Greetings friend,
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
While I can appreciate your frustration with those who elevate the KJV to a creed, your comment actually proves the point of my article.
People in camp four or five are not even part of the “reformed” world, so how does the discussion always end up coming back to them?
As for your question, yes, I affirm “perfection” as one of the attributes of scripture, but I would apply it most directly to the Hebrew and Greek text which is immediately inspired by God.
While I recognize that “King James only” can be a pejorative, it is an accurate term for those who believe that the King James Version is the only English translation that may rightly be considered the word of God. There are a few extremists who would go father and say that it is the only word of God in any language, but they hardly represent the views of most who would label themselves “KJB only.” I’m not sure “TR only” is an accurate term, but it does acknowledge that the primary issue for many believers is the Greek and Hebrew text behind the translations. This is why I prefer to use the term “TR advocate” for people such as yourself and reserve “King James only” for the groups White labels as numbers 3 and 4.
I am not “ESV Only” because I do not read, preach, or teach exclusively from the ESV, nor do I treat other translations only as commentaries and the ESV as God’s word. I do not consider myself “critical text only” because I regard the Textus Receptus and the Byzantine text as the word of God and am more than happy for people to use them. I suppose I fit in categories 1-2 of “ESV onlyism,” but I do not confidently affirm that the ESV is better than, say, the NASB or the LSB – it is certainly not better in every instance.
“Intellectually lazy as the Ruckmanites”
Or we just don’t accept the modern Greek philosophical interpretation of inspiration of “original only”, and hold to the Jewish view of inspiration where edits, copies, and translations were considered to be inspired.
As Calvin would say, “Good luck” with that theory.