Were the King James Version Translators Biased Toward the “Faith-Only” Doctrine?

The King James Version is an old and respected translation of the Holy Scriptures. We have a very high regard for this popular version. Its translators attempted to reproduce the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek original text into the English tongue in a faithful way.

In evaluating any version, however, it must be acknowledged that a translator brings some of his theological background into his work. Such was no less true of the King James Version scholars.

Here are some tell-tale facts regarding the King James Version.

"Should Be" Versus "Are Being"

When the King James translators rendered Acts 2:47 with the words "such as should be saved," they ignored the Greek present tense form, "are being saved." The King James Version thus yields a sense that accommodates the denominational notion of predestination.

Professor E. H. Plumptre of Kings College in London, one of the translators of the Revision (1881) of the King James Version, noted:

This verse takes its place among the few passages in which the translators have, perhaps, been influenced by Calvinistic bias (16).

Plumptre also cited Hebrews 10:38 as a similar example.

"Baptize" or "Immerse"?

Another example. Instead of granting a pure translation to the Greek verb baptizo which means "immerse," the King James translators (and most others since) have concealed the original meaning of the term, placating those who believe that "sprinkling" and "pouring" are acceptable substitutes for immersion. There is simply no question that there was bias this decision.

"Believe Not" or "Disobey"?

The Greek term for "believe" is pisteuo. To assert the opposite idea, the Greeks simply added an "a" (a negative prefix) to the front of the word. Hence, apistia is "unbelief" (Heb. 3:12), and apistos is rendered "unbelievers" (1 Corinthians 6:6) or "faithless" (Matthew 17:17).

On the other hand, there is another Greek word, apeitheo that is found sixteen times in the New Testament. It literally means to "not obey." Or, to say the same thing in another way, to "disobey." In spite of this clear difference in meaning, the King James translators rendered apeitheo by "believe not" (or a similar equivalent) some nine times out of the sixteen.

Compare the King James Version with the American Standard Version in John 3:36. The former renders apeitheo by "believeth not," while the American Standard translators correctly render the term as "obeyeth not." The King James Version obscures the truth that belief is more than a mere mental process; rather, it entails obedience.

Professor J. Carl Laney has written: "This text indicates clearly that belief is not a matter of passive opinion, but decisive and obedient action" (87).

But such a rendition is not consistent with the "faith-only" position. Hence, some scholars believe that the King James translators revealed something of their "faith-only" bias by translating apeitheo as "believeth not," instead of "obeyeth not."

Arndt and Gingrich exposed their own bias by preferring "disbelieve" as a translation of apeitheo, though they concede that this rendition is "greatly disputed" and "is not found outside our lit[erature]" (82).

We show no disrespect to the overall integrity of the King James Version when we concede that it has its weaknesses, just as any translation may.

For a more detailed – yet balanced – discussion of this theme, see our booklet, The Bible Translation Controversy.