BIBLE,
TRANSLATION OF
We affirm and avow, that the very meanest [poorest or least esteemed] translation of the Bible in English, set forth by men of our profession … contains the Word of God, nay, is the Word of God. Though it be not interpreted by every Translator with like grace, the King’s speech is still the King’s speech; no cause therefore why the word translated should be denied to be the word, or forbidden to be current [used], notwithstanding that some imperfections and blemishes may be noted in the setting forth [translating] of it. Variety of translations is profitable for finding out of the sense of the scriptures.
Translators to the Readers’ Preface of the King James Version 1611
The Holy Spirit chose as the language of the New Testament revelation the colloquial language of everyday people, not an ancient classical idea. The modern insistence upon the supremacy of the King James Version of 1611 represents a reversal of the action of the Holy Spirit by insisting that for us the best idiom for the word of God is not the modern colloquial idiom, but the ancient classical language of Shakespeare.
G.E. Ladd
To claim inerrancy for the King James Version, or even for the Revised Version, is to claim inerrancy for men who never professed it for themselves; is to clothe with the claim of verbal inspiration a company of men who would almost quit their graves to repudiate such equality with Prophet and Apostle.
W.B. Riley
I do not say that those who wrote copies of the original Hebrew and Greek Scriptures were incapable of making mistakes, and never left out or added a word. I lay no claim to the inspiration of every word in the various versions and translations of God’s Word. So far as these translations and versions are faithfully and correctly done so far they are practically, of equal authority with the original Hebrew and Greek.
J.C. Ryle
Do not needlessly amend our Authorized Version. It is faulty in many places, but still it is a grand work taking it for all in all, and it is unwise to be making every old lady distrust the only Bible she can get at, or what is more likely, mistrust you for falling out with her cherished treasure. Correct where correction must be for truth’s sake, but never for the vainglorious display of your critical ability.
C.H. Spurgeon
I do not hesitate to say that I believe that there is no mistake whatever in the original Holy Scriptures from beginning to end. There may be, and there are MISTAKES of translation – for translators are NOT INSPIRED – but even the historical facts are correct … there is not an error in the whole compass of them. These words come from him who can make no mistake, and who can have no wish to deceive his creatures.
C.H. Spurgeon