* I can?t think of any significant differences in the text of the Geneva and the AV, both follow Tyndale in the main, so, your limited choices doctrine is fallacious. The Geneva included all the controversial verses that the AV has. This debate isn?t about where all Bibles agree (consensus!), but rather where they disagree and what to do when they do. Sectarian, peculiar, private and individually preferred opinion does not and cannot hold the consensus opinion of the Church of God in hostage.
* Along the lines of point one, my O.P. didn?t even mention the KJV; that was your Freudian assumption. Standard Bibles in other languages contain the controversial verses and word choices, ex. Bishop, church, baptize, agreed, hell, the root of all evil, God, manifest in the flesh, only begotten Son, Son of man which is in heaven, 1John 5:7, etc.
* The Geneva became quite popular despite political and ecclesiastical powers railing against it. This point alone debunks your lame conspiracy theory. It was named the Geneva Bible and not the London Bible for a reason. The Bishops Bible was the ecclesiastical choice in England, yet, the Geneva became popular despite it's "banning". And once again, when the Puritans came to power they did not choose the Geneva, but they did chose the KJV.
* Englishmen had a choice of the Geneva Bible, Bishops Bible, the great Bible, Coverdale?s Bible, later they could have picked up Purver?s Quaker Bible, Brown?s version, Thompson?s Version, Bagster?s Polygot, Webster?s Version, Wesley?s Version, Joseph Smith?s Version, the Apostle?s Bible (Brenton?), Forshall?s Version, Barham?s Version, Murdock?s Version, Young?s Version, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version, etc. and a host of other Old Testaments, New Testaments and portions of the Scriptures translated into English; but alas, Englishmen kept right on choosing the AV for 350+ years after the period of your conspiracy theory.
* Your own mouth testifies against you for you concede that the AV is the most printed Bible in the history of the world. Who was receiving, reading and preaching this most printed Bible if not born again Spirit filled members of the Church of God? Supposing your conspiracy theory were true for the first 40 years of the AV, what about the following 360+ years? Who was forcing the Church of God to read, believe and preach a Bible they did not believe during that time? No political or ecclesiastical power for sure.
* No congress, senate, president, king, pope, group of cardinals or bishops could make you or I read, believe or preach a Bible we do not believe. This fact is true for a consensus of born again Spirit filled Christians throughout history, unless of course you consider yourself exceptional. Born again Spirit filled Christians were dying at the stake in order to translate, print, read, believe and preach politically and ecclesiastically banned Bibles.
* Historical facts indicate that the AV became the English Bible of Baptists, Southern Baptists, Northern Baptists, National Baptists, North American Baptists, International Baptists, American Baptists, Mexican Baptists, General Baptists, Regular Baptists, Missionary Baptists, Conservative Baptists, Freewill Baptists, Hard-shell Baptists, Primitive Baptists, Landmark Baptists, Old German Baptists, 7th Day Baptists, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Baptists, Union Baptists, Independent Baptists, Particular Baptists, Bible Baptists, Bible Believing Baptists, Fundamental Baptists, and all the other Baptists, all branches of Mennonites, Lutherans, Methodists, Congregationalists, Pentecostals, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Moravian Brethren, Open Brethren, Closed Brethren, Evangelical Free, non-denominationalists, etc. That is evidence of the direct hand of God if not an outright miracle. If it happened today with any of your preferred versions you without doubt would insist that it was a miracle of God.
* All scholars including Dr. Ryken and Dr. Scofield have recognized that the AV has been the people?s Bible long after kings and ecclesiastical powers had any alleged sway in the matter.
* When the Scriptures mention the word ?Scriptures? it is NOT a reference to sectarian, peculiar, private or individually preferred versions, but rather the Canonical Scriptures recognized as such by the Church of God.
* Dr. Ryken stated, ?The AV was not an immediate sensation, but was an immediate success. In the first 3 years it went through 17 editions compared to 6 editions for the Puritan?s Geneva Bible, in the 3 decades following the AV went through 182 editions verses only 15 for the Puritan?s Geneva.? According to Dr. Ryken, a non-KJVO, the Geneva was still being printed during and after the time of your ?banned theory?.
* Dr. Ryken stated, ?When the Puritans came to power in 1640 they did not push for their Geneva version. The AV replaced the very popular Geneva Bible and became ?THE Bible? for English speaking people. For over three centuries it was THE Bible of English speaking Christians and read regularly.? The AV became ?the Bible for English speaking people? even after the Puritans came to power and your alleged ?banned theory? was lifted. They didn?t take up the popular Geneva. Dr. Ryken is shooting down your conspiracy theory.
* Dr. Ryken stated, ?The AV was never officially authorized either by the king, nor ecclesiastical authority, but received an even greater authorization on the basis of its inherit superiority. The AV was authorized by the people, a better authorization than by a king or ecclesiastical authority.? Dr. Ryken?s statement stands in contrary to your conspiracy theory. Ouch, that must hurt.
* Dr. Ryken stated, ?The most accurate English Bible?has better words than other translations?the words are beautiful, powerful and moving beyond other translations?superior?became dominate because of its excellence and it carried an authority that compelled allegiance?? The AV carried an authority that compelled allegiance not from political or ecclesiastical, but rather from being accurate, containing better words, and being a beautiful, powerful and superior translation.
* Dr. Ryken stated, ?The AV is the bestselling book of all time, the most influential book, the most quoted book, the most important book and most widely read book in the English language; it is a book of books.? Yes, indeed, it is a book of books. The AV is one of, if not the greatest translation in the history of the Church of God.
* Dr. Scofield note in 1917, ?After mature reflection it was determined to use the Authorized Version. None of the many Revisions have commended themselves to the people at large. The Revised Version, which has now been before the people for twenty seven years , give no indication of becoming in any general sense the people's Bible of the English-speaking world" According to Dr. Scofield and early Fundamentalist and non-KJVO, the people?s Bible was NOT one of the MANY REVISIONS, but rather the AV itself. The board of editors chose the AV not because they as scholars thought it was ?the best?, but rather because they recognized that the AV was indeed ?the peoples Bible?. There?s your choice - The people chose the AV over the MANY Revisions, Revisions that included the Revised Version and the American Standard Version.
* Dr Trench stated, ??We must never leave out of sight that for a GREAT MULTITUDE of readers the English Version [AV, ed.] is not the translation of an inspired Book, but IS ITSELF THE INSPIRED BOOK ... The English Bible [AV, ed.] is to them all which the Hebrew Old Testament, which the Greek New Testament, is to the devout scholar. It receives from them the same UNDOUBTING AFFIANCE [confidence, pledge of fidelity, ed.]... ?The Roman Catholics and the Unitarians [Old time JW?s, ed.] are, I believe, the only bodies who have counted it necessary to make VERSIONS OF THEIR OWN. With the exception of these, the Authorized Version is COMMON GROUND for ALL in England who call themselves Christians...is alike the heritage of all.?, On the AUTHORIZED VERSION of the NEW TESTAMENT in Connection With Some Recent Proposals for its Revision, Richard Chenevix Trench, D.D., Dean of Westminster, 1858, pg. 174-176.
I'm pretty well convinced by past experience that none of this is going to persuade you (no intrusion on your soul liberty) to take up my position, but at least it gives you a glimpse into my perspective. That I have indeed carefully weighed the arguments on both sides and reached what I believe is a reasonable conclusion. What does this mean practically? It means that where your preferred edition of the Bible differs (really differs, not in the petty "jot & tittle" differences pounced upon by wild-eyed KJVO) from our Standardized Version we are at an impasse: I'll say, "Thus saith the Lord", and you'll respond, "No He didn't." And around and around we'll go. So, like I have to do with the JW's (no innuendo or poisoning the well-intended) I'll quote the verse, allow them to deny it, which they always do with similar arguments against the AV made by those on this board, and then move unto other verses found in their Bible to prove my point. That is where their Bible contains the same text (consensus) authority is established.
