November 2- December 8, 2002

The Editor of Way of Life
C/o Hebron
Hyderabad - 500 020

Dear Brother,

QUESTION: Why use the KJV-- an archaic translation?

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

We pride ourselves, even boast sometimes, of the personal and intimate relationship we have with our God who talks to us everyday in our own language. On the other hand, we hang on to the tradition of men--the KJV--a Bible that does not speak to today's generation. Have we indeed misunderstood Matthew 19:14 with the KJV saying, "Suffer little children" and thereby heaped burdens upon this generation? When rather, we should not be putting any hindrances for them even as the verse says we should not, in contrast.

The most common explanation given is that of accuracy. But again, accuracy for whom? Notwithstanding, the Telugu Bible and the New American Standard Bible are more accurate even if one knew the archaic English of the KJV.

We have exchanged wishful thinking and preconceived ideas with the plain truth of God. Let us examine whether the word is returning void or not? Whether it is accomplishing what God pleases? Is it prospering in the thing for which He sent it? (Isaiah 55:11). For this to happen, are we to rely on the logos or the poetic effect that the KJV takes? Jesus said the words (logos) that He spoke is spirit, and they are life (John 6:63) not the poetic rendition of the KJV. Truth does not need a prop for it to stand!

Or has the church leadership decided that we are old wineskins and we should not have new wine poured into us? Bruce H. Wilkinson in his book, "The Vision of the Leader" writes, "a changing world calls for a new paradigm and new methods." Since the old would be ruined and the new would trickle away if the new were poured into the old wineskins, the only course of action is to rethink and reinvent everything we do and everything we are about.

Even as the walls of Jerusalem are under siege, God has greater plans for His people and will protect them with a firewall.

In Christ,

Caleb S. Motupalli (John 3:19 NASB)