What do I personally mean by this? The general consensus within this group is that the KJV preserves the meaning and sense of the original manuscripts perfectly and purely, without error. Yet when one carefully examines its professors, they are often found at odds or divided with others who hold to the same or similar profession. It must be noted that the word conviction does not appear in the KJV. Yet it has often been repeated to me personally by many KJV-only professors: “Brother, you’ve got to stand for your convictions.” The next question I ask myself is this: How did I arrive at my conclusions concerning these convictions? How much of what has shaped and influenced my conviction was inspired by the spirit of men, and how much by the Spirit of God? It is clear to any honest heart that KJV-only groups are divided among themselves, often because of their so-called “convictions,” while on the other hand still holding fast to the KJV. Anyone can read the KJV Scriptures and learn truth, but how they interpret those Scriptures is the dividing factor among its readers. And I often ponder: How much of their method of interpretation has been influenced by the spirit of men rather than the Spirit of God?
Thus far, here’s where I am on this topic: I am KJV-only for doctrine and teaching, but Christ-honoring for unity.
What I mean by this is that the KJV is a translation of the biblical manuscripts from a certain textual tradition that, I believe, perfectly encapsulates them in English. The issue is not with the words themselves or the manuscripts from which they were derived, but with the hearts of its readers. Suppose my conviction is true—that the KJV is indeed the purest and most perfect translation of the original manuscripts and their preserved copies. Shouldn’t that truth transform its readers to express that divine utterance through their life, character, and manner of living? If the words of Christ are at their purest in the KJV, then why do many of its possessors fail to exhibit the Spirit of Christ in their treatment, care, and dealings with one another as He commanded? As for me, after reading the KJV multiple times, I have concluded that charity is what Jesus expects from me in my dealings with His servants, whether they are informed or ignorant of my convictions.
“Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.” — 1 Corinthians 8:1 (KJB)
The only expression of my conversation (general conduct, way of life, or manner of living in a particular place or among a particular group of people) that will offer edification to my hearers is charity. That is what my Bible requires from me. I will gladly demonstrate this attribute to fellow Christians, regardless of whether they agree with my convictions, because that is what my Bible expects of me. I must admit, I have had to distance myself from certain brethren in the KJV-only movement—not because they disagree with my preferred standard Bible, but because their human spirit does not reflect the spirit of charity that Christ commands them to show from that Bible. They possess knowledge, but knowledge is not charity. Knowledge is simply facts or information that resides in the mind; charity is the God-stirred love that seeks to serve, forbear, and bless others. Their “knowledge” may hinder unity in many places where the Scriptures call for charity, and it is in those very places that I choose charity over knowledge for the sake of my relationship with those believers. At the end of the day, the only Person I will give account to for my treatment of God’s servants is my Lord Jesus Christ. I will not stand before a committee of men or women. I will not stand before a pastor or teacher. Scripture says that I will give an account to God alone (Romans 14).
It is for this reason that I choose charity over knowledge—for the good of my neighbor, and so they will know I have compassion toward them just as Christ has compassion toward me. Where my Lord permits me to distance myself from dividers, scoffers, rebels, and the like, I do so with grief—because my heart breaks for their carnality and for the way it hinders both their souls and the benefit they could be to others. I wish we all could serve alongside one another as the disciples did during Christ’s first advent. Never were men so close to God as then. And yet, if the Bible is true, we have received His presence in our hearts at the moment of conversion, and His presence through the authority of His Words. Yet I still find myself in arguments, just as they did, about “who would be the greatest in the kingdom”—us (KJV-only) or them (non-KJV). I do not want to find myself fighting against God when He saves any poor soul crying out to Him for salvation, even if they are ignorant of the historical facts of every law and precept delivered to His people, written down, and preserved through the ages in the manuscripts.
Read Acts 11:17!
Why is charity superior to knowledge, prophecy, or even learning other tongues? Because in this life we will face moments where knowledge will not be enough, when we are hurt, offended, or broken by life’s circumstances. Knowledge can process the information, but charity enables me to endure all things. Knowledge presents the facts, while charity strengthens my heart to act upon them in love. When knowledge lays before me the options of bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger, and even the scripturally correct processes by which I could respond, charity moves me instead to cover the sins of those who hurt me, to forbear them, to forgive them, and to love them both before and after the facts have divided us. This is why I believe the Lord dispensed this virtue to be exercised alongside the truth, so that I might choose the path that best preserves my heart’s emotions from the grief that the facts could otherwise produce in my relationships. Knowledge can prove why others are undeserving of friendship, expose their faults, reveal their theological discrepancies, and compel my convictions to separate from them. Yet deep down in my bowels, the Spirit gently reminds me that I can also choose to love, endure, and forbear others. The Lord saved and healed the blind who had never seen before. The Lord saved and healed adulterers, drunkards, the demon-possessed, and all manner of sinners who were ignorant of God’s Word in His day. Can I not show that same divine love of God, as incarnated in my Lord, to others who are ignorant of my convictions? I can—and I must. Lastly, if Christ still sought the fellowship of His people, even knocking on the door of the church in Laodicea, who are we not to exhibit the same love and fellowship toward His people?
With love, Brother Carlos
♦And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 (KJV)
♦Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 1 Corinthians 13:8 (KJV)
- A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34 (KJB)
- By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35 (KJB)
- 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:22-23 (KJB)
- 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Romans 12:9-10 (KJB)
- I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 (KJB)
- 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Colossians 3:12-13 (KJB)
- 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Galatians 5:13-14 (KJB)
- To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. Titus 3:2 (KJB)
- And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 2 Timothy 2:24 (KJB)
- Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. James 3:13 (KJB)
- 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:17-18 (KJB)
- But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1 Peter 3:15 (KJB)
