WhyIBelieveTheKingJamesBibleIstheWordofGod

Dr.PeterS.RuckmanPresident,PensacolaBibleInstitute

B.A.,B.D.,M.A.,Th.M.,Ph.D.

COPYRIGHT©1983byPeterS.RuckmanAllRightsReserved

(PRINT)ISBN1-58026-305-4

PUBLISHER’SNOTE

TheScripturequotationsfoundhereinarefromthetextoftheAuthorizedKingJamesVersionoftheBible.Anydeviationstherefromarenotintentional.

BBBOOKSTOREP.O.Box7135Pensacola,FL32534

www.kjv1611.org

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WhyIBelieveTheKingJamesBibleIstheWordofGod

SomeofyouarenotgoingtolikewhatI’mgoingtotalkabout;it’sgoingtobeover

someofyourheads;someofyouarenotgoingtounderstandwhatalltheissuesandalltheroarareabout.ButI’mgoingtotalkaboutsomethingIenjoytalkingabout,oneofmyfavoritehang-ups.IfIgethungup,Imaystayhungupalongtime,andImaysaysomeverywild, offensive things; so get ready to get offended and get hurt and get realmadbecauseit’sgonnago.

I’mgoingtotalktoyouaboutWhyIBelievetheKingJamesBibleistheWordofGod.Ifyoudon’tbelieve thatordon’tknowwhyorwonderwhy,you’llbeverymuchupsetbeforeIgetthrough,becauseinordertomagnifythewordofGod,youhavetoputalotofthingsdowntotheirproperlevel.WhenyoutakeallthesefalsegodsinthebodyofChristandputthemdowntotheirproperlevel,youalwaysgetintotroublewithsomebody.Sowe’lljustgoaheadandgetintotrouble.

ThePsalmist says:“Thyword is true from thebeginning: and everyoneof thyrighteousjudgmentsendurethforever”(Ps.119:160).Ibelievethat.IbelievethewordofGodistruefromthebeginning(Gen.1),andeveryoneofGod’srighteousjudgementsenduresforever.

WhenyougettoJeremiah23:36,youread,“ForyehavepervertedthewordsofthelivingGod.”That’sachargebroughtagainstsomebodywhoperverted thewordsof thelivingGod.So,thelivingGodgavesomelivingwords;asChristsaid,“ThewordsthatIspeak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Someone took thoselivingwordsfromthelivingGodandpervertedthosewords.

Folks say about this subject, “Well, I believe it is a hobby horse.” No, there’s no“hobby horse” about what I’m going to talk about. The subject of final authority is acrucialsubject—absolutelycrucialtoanythinggoingoninAmericaortheworldtoday.Ifthere’s one issue that’s important anywhere in the world today, it’s the issue of finalauthority—absolutetruth.

TheSupremeCourt saysall truth is relative,and they lie likedogs.When the issuecameupaboutteachingevolutionintheschools,theysaidyoucanonlyteachonetheory.Theonlytheorythatcanbetaughtintheschoolsisthetheoryofevolution,andnobodyisallowedtoteachthetheoryofCreation.First theysayall truthisrelative,andthentheysayonlyonetruthcanbetaught.Ifalltruthisrelative,there’smorethanonetruth.Andif

there’smore than one truth, then the kid ought to have access tomore than one truth.They’reabunchofcrookedliars.

We’retalkingaboutatimelesssubject,asubjectthat’smoreimportantthanalmostanyothersubjectinthisworld.ThereareonlytworeligionsbesidesChristianitythatbelieveabook is the final authority. The Roman Catholic’s final authority is the Pope and thechurchandtheBibleandanythingelsehewantstomakeuptogethimselfthrough.Butthe Jew professes to be in subjection to a book—the Old Testament. AMohammedanprofesses to be in subjection to the Koran. So the Christians, the Jews, and theMohammedansaretheonlypeoplethatprofesstobeinsubjectiontoafinalauthoritythatisawritten,printedauthoritythatamancangethishandson.AchildofGodprofessestobe in subjection to the Old Testament AND the New Testament. And Jeremiah saidsomebodytookthosewordsinthatbookandpervertedthem.

ThefirstthingIwanttosayisthis:IbelievetheKingJamesBibleisthewordofGodbecause it’s theonlybook I have inmy library thatdoesn’t have a copyright.You ask,“What about the ‘Crown Copyright’ back in 1611?” I’m not talking about 1611; I’mtalking about right now. Folks are always hung-up on the originals, but I never worryabouttheoriginalKingJames1611.IworryabouttheoneI’vegotinmyhand.Haveyougot aBible inyourhand right now? If youhave aplainKing JamesBible, youhaveaBook with no copyright on it. If you have some notes in your Bible, it may have acopyright.IfyouhaveaScofieldBible, then there isacopyrightconnectedwith it,or ifyou have a Bible that has in it somemaps, an index, and references, youmay have acopyrightonit.Butanybody,anywhereintheworld,cangodowntothedimestoreandgetaplainKingJamesBiblewithnonotes,noreferences,nomaps,nogazetteer,andnoconcordance,andthere’snocopyrightinit.That’sunexplainable.

Howdoyouexplainabooksittinghere thathasnocopy-rightonit,whentherearefifteenmillionbooks in theLibrary ofCongress, and everyoneof themprinted in thiscenturyhasacopyrightonit?That’samessofbooks,man!Andoneofthemdoesn’thaveacopyright.Howdoyouexplainthat?New“Bibles’’comeout,aprinterprintsthem,andthereisacopyrightonthem.Afellowsaid,“Oh,well,thatthingisjusttoguaranteethatno one misrepresents it.” I don’t believe that. Copyrights are for making money.Copyrightsaresothatpeoplehavetowriteandask,“CanIprintthat?”Yes,youcan—foratidysum.IbelievetheKingJamesBibleisthewordofGodbecauseithasnocopyrightonit.ItmayhavetheCrownCopyright,butyoudon’thavetoasktheCrownfortherighttoprintit.InEcclesiastes8:4itsays,“Wherethewordofakingis,thereispower.”Ifithad aCrown copyright, itwas copyrighted under a king. If itwas copyrighted under aking,ithastherightcopyright.

Idon’thaveanyfaithatall intheseBiblestranslatedinAmerica(RSVs,ASVs,NewASVs, Weymouth, Moffat, Living Bible, Goodspeed, and all that junk). You ask, “Whynot?”They’renottranslatedunderaking.TheBiblesays,“WherethewordofAKINGis, there ispower.” Somebodyasks, “What’s sogood about theEnglish?Whydo theyhaveacorneronthemarket?’’Theyhaveacorneronthemarketbecausethat’sthewayGodworkeditout.Whattimeisitrightnow?It’s6:39.Somepeople’swatchesmayhave

6:40, and some people’swatchesmay have 6:38.Well, “they’re all reliable; they’re allgood,”that’showpeopleare.Butthere’sonlyonecorrecttimeonthefaceofthisearth:Englishtime.Ifyou’vegotEnglishtime,you’vegottherighttime,andifyouhaven’tgotEnglishtime,you’vegotthewrongtime.AlltimeonthisearthissettledbyGreenwich,England;thezerolinerunsrightdownit.

I received a real nasty letter fromaPuertoRicanone time.He said, “WhatdoyoumeanwithallthisEnglishstuff?You’reaWhiteSupremist,”youknow,aWASP.Hesaid,“WhataboutallusfolksdowninPuertoRicohere?WehadaBiblebeforetheKingJamescameout.”IguesshethoughtIwasanEnglishman.Iwrotehimbackandtoldhim,“Ifitweren’tforEngland,wewouldn’tknowwhereyou’reat.Latitudeandlongitudearegiventoeveryairplane in theair andevery ship in the seaby theequatorandEngland.”Youcan’tevenlocatePensacolawithoutfindingEngland.Ifyouputoutadistresscallandsay,“I’mintrouble,”theyask,“What’sthelongitudeandlatitude?”AndyougiveEnglandasthemark.Howdoyouexplainthat?AbsolutelocationisEnglishlocation.AbsolutetimeisEnglishtime.Whywouldyouthinkthatabsolutetruthwasn’tEnglishtruth?

Youask,“Doyouthinkyou’retheonlypersonthatbelievestheBibleisthewordofGod?’’Idon’t.Ithinkmostcommon,ordinaryChristiansbelievethatBookisthewordofGod.Ithinkyouhavetogeteducatedoutofit.IbelieveeverymanwhoevergotsavedinthiscountrybelievedthatwasthewordofGodthefirsttimeheeversawit.Idon’tcareifyougotsavedthroughreadingtheLivingBibleorgotsavedthroughhearingBillyGrahampreachanASV;whenyoupickedupaKingJamesBible,theHolySpirittoldyou,“That’sit, right there!’’ Ifyoudon’tbelieve that rightnow, it’sbecausesomebodyhaseducatedyououtofitandtalkedyououtofit.

Iwentoff to school, and they tried that.Thoseprofessorsmajored in talkingyoungmenoutoftheirbeliefinthewordofGod,andtheyworkedatitovertime.Theydidn’tgetanywhere with me. You ask, “Why?” Just bull-headed. There are some advantages tobeingbull-headed,andthat’soneofthem.Ifyougetholdofthetruth,youdon’tletitgojustbecausethreehundredthousandsapsofferproofitisn’tthewordofGod.Theydon’timpressmeonewayor theother. If Ihada roomfilledwith the facultiesofTennesseeTemple, Hyles Anderson, Piedmont, Pillsbury, Maranatha, Northeast, Midsouth,Midwestern, Pacific Coast, Baptist Bible College, Moody, Fuller, and Wheaton, theycouldn’tdentmyfender!Youask,“Why?”I’mfixed;I’mreared!IknowwhatthewordofGodis—I’vegotit!Nojackassisgoingtotalkmeoutofit!Flauntingeducationinfrontofmedoesnotimpressme.

Iwas in ameetingwhere a guy askedme, “Didyouknow so and so tried toget adebate going between you andBob Jones Jr.?”And he toldBob Jones Jr., “If you andRuckmanarehavingsuchaproblem,whydon’tyouinviteRuckmanupheretofacethisstudentbodyatBobJonesandlethimdebateWisdomandPanosianandCustersoyou’vegothimthreetoone?Whydon’tyouinvitehimupthereandhavehimdebateupthere?”And Jones said, “My goodness, no. You couldn’t win an argument with him; he’s toosmart.”Well, that’s someconfession tomake. If I’m that smart,whydon’t theybelievewhatIbelieveabouttheBook?IfIthoughtthosefellowsweresmarterthanIwas,Iwould

believewhattheybelieve.

IbelievetheKingJamesBibleisthewordofGodbecauseofthetimeinwhichitfirstappeared on the scene of this world. When the King James Bible first showed up inhistory, therewereanumberof things thatweren’t around thatarearound today.WhenthoseKingJamestranslatorssatdowntotranslate thatBook,Frenchatheismwasnot invogue;GermanRationalismwasnot invogue;EnglishDeismwasnot invogue.All theobjections to the word of God came up AFTER theKing James Bible came out. TheFrenchRevolutionhadn’ttakenplaceyet.TheGermanRationalistshadn’ttakenoveryet.TheywerestillgoingbyMartinLuther’sHeiligeSchrift.TheEnglishDeists,LordHubert,Holmes,Hobbes,andthatbunch,hadn’tshowedupyet.TheKingJameswastranslatedata time inhistorywhenGod theHolySpiritcouldworkandgetsomemen toproduceaworkthattheybelievedin,becauseallthatstuffwasn’tgoingon.

Whenthesenewbiblesareprinted(ASV,RSV,NewASV),thefellowswhoareonthosecommitteesareliterallyINFECTEDandDISEASEDwithinfidelity!

Jack Hyles preached once up at Jerry Falwell’s school, and when he got throughpreaching up there, they talked about it back in the classroom.One student said to histeacher,“BrotherHylesimpliedthattheKingJamesBiblewasinspired,”andtheteachersaid,“YouknowwhattheBiblesays,‘Heknewnotwhereofhespoke.’”Thenhetoldthatyoungmanintheclass,“Afterall,here’sacontradiction:itsaysherethatJehoiakimwaseight years oldwhen he began to reign. There’s a contradiction right there.” There’s afellowintheclassroominafundamentalschoolcreatinganinfidelintheclassroom.Yousay,“Where’sthat?’’LibertyUniversity,thatadvertisesthegreatestBibleInstitutecourseintheworldandsaystheirBibleInstitutecourseisabsolutelyunequalledwhenitcomestolearning theword ofGod!To sit there in the classroom and tell the kid that there is acontradiction:thatisn’tcreatingaBiblebeliever;that’screatinginfidels.

You ask, “What’s the trouble?’’ The fellows that sit down on these modern Biblecommittees are shot through with infidelity. They’ve got bees in the bonnet. They’redroids,wimps.

Herecomesanewtranslation.What’sitabout?It’sabout$49.95.HaveyoureadthislatestbookaboutZodhiates’sneworiginalGreek?Youcanhardlywaittogetthroughtheintroductionbeforeyouput itdown.Well,hereon thePacificcoast, theLivingBible isselling likewildfire: they’re burning them! That’swhat they ought to do. I believe theKingJamesBibleisthewordofGodbecauseofthetimeinhistoryinwhichitappeared.

IbelievetheKingJamesBibleisthewordofGodbecauseofthepromiseGodmadeofpreservingHisword.Hesaid,“Thewordsof theLORDarepurewords:assilvertried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.Thou shalt keep them,OLORD,thoushaltpreservethemfromthisgenerationforever”(Psalm12:6-7).GodAlmightysaidHe’dpreservethatBook,andHe’dpreservethatBookforever.Idon’tthinkabunchofinfidelsaregoingtotakeitawayfromme.IfIwanttofindit,theremustbesomeplacethatIcanfindit.

The fellows at Bob Jones University say, “God Almighty couldn’t inspire atranslation.”I’veneversaidthattheKingJamesBiblewasinspired,althoughI’vebroadlyintimated it sometimes. At Bob Jones they say, “Why, Ruckman teaches the heresy ofdoubleinspiration.Atranslationcan’tbeinspired.”Why,intheNewTestamenttherearemore than forty quotations from theOld Testament. TheOld Testamentwaswritten inHebrew; theNewTestamentwaswritten inGreek.WhenMatthew,Mark, Luke, John,Peter,James,Jude,andPaulsatdowntowriteandquotedtheOldTestament,theyhadtotranslatefromHebrewtoGreekandwritedownthetranslation.WhenMatthewsaid,“Itmight be fulfilled which was spoken” (Matt. 2:15), he’s quoting Hebrew, and he’swriting the Hebrew down in Greek. If no translation is inspired, then the original ofMatthewwasn’tinspiredbecausewhathewrotedownwasatranslationofHebrew.

Matthewsaid,“Nowallthiswasdone,thatitmightbefulfilledwhichwasspokenof theLordby the prophet, saying,Behold, a virgin shall bewith child, and shallbring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel” (Matt. 1:22-23). He’squotingIsaiah.What’sIsaiahwrittenin?Hebrew.What’sMatthewwrittenin?Greek.He’stranslating.Ifyoucan’tinspireatranslation,youcan’tevencountontheNewTestamentinGreekbecauseit’satranslationfromtheOldTestamentinHebrew.

Youask,“Wheredoesthatstuffcomefrom?”BobJonesUniversity.My,whatabunchofbrains!Whatabunchofbrilliantpeople!Oh,they’resmarterthanIam?Whodotheythinktheyare?Igetsickandtiredoffolksgoingaround,saying,“Ruckmanthinkshe’sright and everybody else iswrong; Ruckman’s so critical; Ruckman’s always down onthis.” Shut yourmouth, you hypocrite!Why haven’t I heard you complain about themdowningthewordofGod?TheytearupthatBookandkickthatBookandthinktheyaresmartenoughtomesswiththatBook,andthenyougetupsetwithmebecauseIcorrectthem?Thatshowswhosesideyou’reon.Yousay,“Well,Ijustdon’tbelievethatBookisthatrealandthattrueandthatgood.”Well,youandthedevilagreeonthatpoint.Youmaydisagreeonsomeotherthings,butyou’retogetherthere.

I believe theBible is thewordofGodbecauseof it’s promiseof preservation.ThescholarstellmethatIcan’tgetaholdofthewordofGod.TheytellmeIcan’tgetaholdofthewordsofGod.IfIcan’tgetaholdofthewordandthewordsofGod,I’msureinoneflat-footedmess,aren’tI?Christsaid,“Ifamanloveme,hewillkeepmywords”(John14:23).Doyou lovehim?HowdoyoukeepHiswords if youdon’thave them?Christsaid,“Ifyeabideinme,andmywordsabideinyou,yeshallaskwhatyewill,anditshallbedoneuntoyou”(John15:7).Howdoyougetaprayerpromiseifyoudon’tkeepHiswords?Christ said,“He that is ofGodhearethGod’swords: ye therefore hearthemnot,becauseyearenotofGod”(John8:47).Howdoyouhearthem,ifyoudon’thave them? The Bible says to the preacher, “Preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2). What?Preachsomethingyoudon’thave?TheLordsaidpreachtheword,andifyou’reofGodyou’lllistentoit.AndthenHelostit?Rathercareless,don’tyouthink,forGodtoverballyinspirethisBookandthenforgetthethingandloseit?It’sagoodthingHedoesn’ttreatyoursalvationlikethat,isn’tit?DidHegiveyouthenewbirth?Areyoustillbornagain?Howdoyouknow?Maybeitgotlostsomewhere;whoknows?IfGodcanpreserveyou,

thenHecanpreservewhatHewrote.

Ibelieve theKingJamesBible is thewordofGodbecauseof the instrumentsof itspreservation.Youask,“Who’sthat?Thatsillyvassal,KingJames?’’KingJamesmayhavebeen“God’ssillyvassal,”buthehadbettersensethantohavesomebodybowdownandcall him “Holy Father;” and that’smore than you can say for some pot-bellied liquor-heads.Maybe he fell off horseback and played tennis onSunday, but at least he didn’thavesomebodycallhimtheVicarofChrist.You’vegottoadmithehadmoresensethanthat.

The translators might have been silly vassals, but at least they used the rightmanuscripts.When theysawabunchofmanuscripts thathad theApocrypha in theOldTestament,theysaid,“That’swrong:putitbetweentheTestaments.TheyarenotsupposedtobepartoftheOldTestament.”TheyhadmoresensethanthefacultyatBobJones,whorecommend theWestcott andHortGreek text in their literature.TheWestcott andHortGreektextisSinaiticusandVaticanus,andSinaiticusandVaticanushavetheApocryphaaspartoftheOldTestament.Somebodysaid,“Ijustdon’tlikethewaytheybraggedaboutKingJamesandthatBible.”Whynot?Doesn’tthatBibletellyoutobeinsubjectiontothepowersthatbe?Doesn’ttheBiblesaythatthepowersthatbeareordainedofGod(Rom.13:1)? Little articles written by Moody magazine, Faith Magazine, and TheFundamentalistJournal say that theKingJames translatorsboot-lickedKingJamesandmadeafussoverhimwhenhewassuchasorrycharacter.Theysaythetranslatorswereafraidofhimandbutteredhimupandcalledhimall thesehighandmighty titles.Well,thatBiblesays,“FearGod.Honourtheking”(1Pet.2:17).WhenPetersaidthat,hewastalking aboutNero, a half-madmurderer!There’s nothingwrongwhen theKing Jamestranslatorshonortheirking;they’reobeyingGodbecausethepowersthatbeareordainedofGod.

IhavefaithintheinstrumentsofpreservationbecauseIknowtheirattitude.I’vereadtheprefacetotheirBook.Yououghttoreadtheprefaceifyoueverhavetime.Aprefaceiswhatafellowsaysbeforehebeginstowrite.Thetranslatorssay,“WearepoorinstrumentstomakeGod’sholytruthtobeyetmoreandmoreknown.”DidyoueverreadtheprefacetotheASVortotheLivingBible?Ihave.HaveyoueverreadtheprefacetotheNewKingJamesBible?I’vereadthatpreface,whereitsays,“BuytheNewKingJamesBible.Now,forthefirsttimein370years,thewordofGodisclear.”Thosedirty,God-forsaken,lyingreprobates!Ask fourmillion convertsofMoodyhowunclear theKing Jameswas.AskfourmillionconvertsofGeorgeWhitefieldandJohnWesleyhowunclear itwas.AskamillionconvertsofBobJonesSr.andJ.FrankNorrishowunclear itwasuntil theNewKingJamescamealong.Ithasalwaysbeenperfectlyclear.Godsays,“Theyareallplainto him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge” (Prov. 8:9).There’snoprobleminit.Yourproblemisthatyoulackunderstanding.Hedidn’tsayyoulackeducation.Hedidn’tsayyoulackintelligence.Hesaidyoulackunderstanding.Youcan have understandingwithout intelligence or training, and you can have intelligence,training,andeducationandnothavealickofunderstanding.ThatBiblesays,“ThefearoftheLORDisthebeginningofwisdom”(Prov.9:10),andtheBiblesays,“Todepart

fromevil is understanding” (Job 28:28). I’ve studied the instruments of preservation.I’vecomparedthemtowhattheotherfellowshavetosay.

IhaveonmydeskalittlemagazinecalledTheProjectorwhichgives threequalitiesessentialforChristianleadership.NotoneofthosequalitiesisbelievingANYBibleistheword of God. One of those things is perseverance, and one is loyalty, and another ishonesty.WhentheytrytotrainChristianleadersofmenandwomen,theydon’tevengivebelief in the word of God as an essential for a Christian leader. They will produceChristianleadersthatdon’tbelievetheBibleisthewordofGod.

I believe theKing James Bible is the word of God because of the honesty of itspreservation.When theKing James translators came to aword thatwasn’t inGreek orHebrew and they had to add an English word to make sense, they put it in italics.Somebody says, “What do you think about the italics in theKing James Bible?” Theitalics in theKing James Bible aremarks that themanwho did the translatingwas anhonestman.Whenheknewhehadtoaddsomethingtomakesense,heputitinitalicssoyou could know it wasn’t in the Hebrew or the Greek. That means it’s an honesttranslation,andthebiblesthatdon’thaveitalicsinthemarefromfellowswhohaveaddedtothewordofGodwithoutlettingyouknowwhere.TheKingJamesBible isanhonesttranslation.

Sometimesyouhavetoaddwords—anybodyknowsthat.YoucanpickupANYBibleonthisearthandlookthroughit,andyou’llfindplaceswhereifyoudidn’taddaworditwouldn’t make any sense at all. The idioms change in translation. You ask, “Do youbelieveGodledthemandguidedtheminthat?’’Yes,Isuredo.Asamatteroffact,IknowHedid.Youask.“Howdoyouknowthat?’’Read1John2:23,“WhosoeverdenieththeSon, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath theFather also.” Notice that half the verse is in italics.When theKing James translatorscame to thatverse, they couldn’t findhalf theverse in theGreekmanuscripts, but theysaid, “It seems like it belongs there,” so they wrote it in italics. Do you know whathappenedtwohundredyearsafterwards?Greekmanuscriptswerefoundthathadthehalfoftheversethatwasputinitalics.YouhadbetterwatchthatBook!

That Book speaks about talking in an “unknown” tongue (1 Cor. 14:2), andsomebodysays,“Theword‘unknown’isn’tintheoriginal.”Youmeanyouhaven’tfoundacopythat’sgotityet?Youhadbetterwatchit.IbelievetheKingJamesBiblebecauseofthehonestyofitspreservation.

AfellownamedProvanwroteabookcalledTheKingJamesTranslatorsVersusDr.Peter S. Ruckman. He said, “The King James translators refute Dr. Ruckman. Dr.RuckmansaysthereisnoB.C.Septuagint;theKingJamestranslatorssaidthereISaB.C.Septuagint.ThereforetheKingJamestranslatorsrefuteDr.Ruckman.”Well,Dr.Ruckmanrepudiatesthemtoo.I’mnotababysprinkler;someofthemwere.Doyoubelieveinbabysprinkling?Someofthemdid.I’mnotPostmillennial;someofthemwere.ThesefellowsthinkifyoubelievetheKingJamesBible isthewordofGod,thenyou’vegottoaccepteverythingtheKingJamestranslatorsaccepted.Godusedtheminspiteoftheirsins.

WasDavidamanafterGod’sownheart?Well,hecom-mittedadulteryandmurder.Areyougoingtofollowthesameexample?WasNoahapreacherofrighteousness?Areyougoing to goout andget drunk likehedid?TheKing James translators believed inbabysprinkling.Areyougoingtogooutandsprinklebabies?DavidwroteoverhalfthePsalms. You can believe what he wrote, but you can’t practice what he did. I’m notinterestedinwhattheKingJamestranslatorsthoughtabouttheirproduct;I’minterestedintheproduct,andI’vegottheproduct.

“Well, the King James translators didn’t say they were inspired.” Neither didMatthew. Why, there’s only one place in the New Testament where it speaks aboutinspiration,andwhenitdoesitisn’tareferencetoanythingthatanyonewroterightthen.It says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16). Where doesMatthewsayhiswritingisScripture?Showittome.Jamesneveroncesayshe’swritingScripture.SimonPeterneversaysoncehe’swritingScripture.Hesays,“Noprophecyofthescriptureisofanyprivateinterpretation”(2Pet.1:20),buthedoesn’ttellyouwhatthe Scripture is. Just because theKing James translators didn’t profess to be infalliblemeansnothing.WhoeverwroteLeviticusdidn’tprofesstobeinfallible.

Youask,“Ruckman,doyouprofesstohavethewordandthewordsofGod?”Yes,thewordandthewords.Youask,“DocsthebookcontainthewordofGod?”Yes.“AnditISthewordofGod,too?”Yes.“DoesithavethewordsofGod?”Yes.“Doesithaveallofthem?”Yes,that’stheBook.

IbelievethatBible is thewordofGodbecauseof thedis-honestyof itscritics.I’vemadealife-longhabitofstudyingitscritics,whichhasprobablysouredmypreachingagood bit. I would probably bemore practical and spiritual inmy preaching if I hadn’tspentsomuch timestudying thesefellows.Whenyoustudy them,yougetaburrunderyoursaddlethatmakesthehorsebuck.OnereasonIbelievetheKingJamesBibleis thewordofGodistheprideandinconsistencyofitscritics.InstudyingtheMafia,theCosaNostra, and the Syndicate, I have never in my life studied a more crooked bunch ofdishonest,unethicalpeoplethanthepeoplewhoputoutandrecommendnewtranslations.They’rethebiggestcrooksonthefaceofthisearth.

IhavealetterfromTrumanDollar.“DearBrotherRuckman,AnytimeIcanhelpyou,pleaseletmeknow.Irealizeyou’reoffonthewrongtrack,andIhonestlybelieveyou’redoingmoreharmtothecauseofChristthananyotherpreacherinAmericatoday.IfyoucomebysometimehereinKansasCity,I’llbegladtotalkwithyouaboutthesematters.BrotherDollar.”

Wewrotehimbackaletter,andtheBoardofTrusteessignedit.Itsaid,“DearBrotherDollar,Anytimeyouwanttocomebyhere,we’llputyouintheHolidayInn,giveyouanhonorarium,andgiveyoufiftyminutesinthepulpitSundaymorningtotellwhyRuckmanis doingmore damage to the cause of Christ than any other preacher in America.Mypeoplewill behave like gentlemen.Nobodywill arguebackwith you; nobodywill talkwithyou.We’llletyouhavefiftyminutestostateyourcase.”Doyouthinkheanswered?

Notapeep!

IfIthoughtafellowwasdoingmoredamagetothecauseofChristthananymaninAmericaandheinvitedmefiftyminutesinhispulpit,doyouthinkIwouldn’ttakeit?I’dpaymyownhotelbill,man! I’dbuymyownround-trip ticketandbuymyownmeals!You say, “What’s the difference between you and those people?” I’m straight forward,overtheplate,waist-high.That’sthedifference.

IwenttoBaptistFundamentalismin1983,andIwasgoingaroundshakinghandswithBob Gray, Monroe, Harold Rawlings, and some of my friends, and at an unguardedmomentwhenIwaswalkingbyaplatform,aguysuddenlystuckhishandoutinfrontofmystomachwhereIcouldn’tavoiditandshookmyhand.ItwasTrumanDollar.Hesaid,“Gladtohaveyouhere,BrotherRuckman;goodtoseeyouhere.”Imaginetellingafellowyou’redoingmoreharmforthecauseofChristthananymaninAmericaandthentakinghishandandsaying,“Verygladtohaveyouhere.”Whythatwretched,lying,dirty,low-down, miserable, two-faced, split-tongued, double-tongued, two-headed rascal! Do youknowwhy he did that? A bunch of my buddies were standing around there, and theywould think I’m a friendwith good ol’Dollar.What a character! If I lived like that, Icouldn’tlookmyselfinthemirrorwhenIgotupinthemorning.Idon’tseehowmenlikethatshavewithoutcuttingtheirthroats.Youask,“Whatmenarethey?”ThosearecriticsoftheKingJamesBible.TrumanDollarwasontheNewKingJamescommittee.

Iprintedanarticle in thepaperabouta fellowone time,andhephonedup thenextweek.Iwastotallyunpreparedforit;I’mnotusedtopeoplewhohatemygutstryingtomakecontact.Itrytokicktheminthebritcheshardenoughsotheydon’tcomearoundforeightornineyears.Butthisonephonedmeandsaid,“BrotherRuckman,Iwasupalllastnight,andIwasprayingaboutsomething,andtheLordjustdealtwithmeaboutit,andI,andI,Iwantedtoapologizetoyou.”Isaid,“It’sOK,don’tworryaboutit.It’snoskinoffmynose.”Hesaid,“Well,Isaidsomeverybadthingsaboutyou.”Isaid,“Itdoesn’tmakeanydifferencetome;Icantakeitorleaveit.”Hesaid,“ButtheLordjustdealtwithmeaboutit.Iwroteyouaverynastyletter,anditsayssomeveryhardthingsaboutyou.”Isaid,“Itdoesn’tmakeanydifferencetome;forgetit!”Andhesaid,“Well,theLordjusttoldmetoapologizeforwritingthesethings.AndIknowyou’reverystrong.”Ithoughttomyself,“Oh,puke!”Icouldn’t figureout if Iwas talkingtoawomanorwhat!“Iknowyou’reverystrong,”man!Itoldmywifewhenthatlettercametothrowitout.Soshedid;she threw it out. I asked her, “What in theworld do you suppose that guy phoned upabout?” She said, “Can’t you guess?” And I said, “No.” I’m a plain fellow. I’ve gotfriends, and Iknowwho theyare. I’vegot enemies, and Iknowwho theyare. I’vegotenoughfriendstobehappy,andenoughenemiestokeepmeawake.

I said, “What is all this stuff about a letter?” She said, “Don’t you know?” I said,“What?”Andshesaid,“Hedidn’twantyou toprint it.”Well, I shouldhave thoughtofthat,yousee.Ididn’tthinkofthat.HethoughtthatphonecallwouldgetmesoIwouldn’tprintit.Ididn’tprintit,andI’mnotgoingtoprintit.I’mnotgoingtoignoreitbecauseI’mworriedabouthim;I’mgoing to ignore itbecauseI’msodisgusted.Mystomachisturning,andI’vegotastrongstomach. Ifaguyhatesmyguts, fine. I’vegotanenemy,

good.Iliketohavethemmarked:friendshere,enemiesthere.Butwiththis,“Sogladtomeet you,” “I’m sorry,” “TheLord….” Shut your cotton pickin’mouth! The guy is nofriendofthatBook,andI’mnotafriendofhis.WhenIgiveafellowachancetocomedowntoPensacolaandtalk,ImeanwhatIsay;I’mnotpoliticking.Comeondown.

WegaveCusterthesamething.CusterputoutalittlearticlesayingRuckmanranoffandlefthiswifeandsoforthandsoon.Wewrotehimaletterandsigneditsaying,“Comeondown;we’llgiveyoufiftyminutesinthepulpitSundaymorning.”Wesentaregisteredletterwithacertificate.They’vegottosigniftheygetit,andwegettheslipbacksayingtheysignedit.Theygotit!Youask,“Dotheyshowup?”No;theynevershow.Yousay,“Why?” Because they’re just as crooked as a two-headed rattlesnake, that’s why. Andthey’resaved. Ididn’t say theywere lost; I said theywere fine,good,godly,dedicated,crookedthievesandliars.

Oh, thepride,oh, theinconsistency.“Ruckmanthinkshe’sright.Ruckmancriticizeseverybody.Ruckmanthinksheissosmart.Ruckmanisanegomaniac.”IneverthoughtIwassmartenoughtocorrectthatBook!Ifthey’resmartenoughtocorrectthatBook,theythink they’re smarter than I am. Somebody said, “Egotism is the hypodermic thatGodallowsafooltouseonhimselftodeadenthepain.”Ibelievethat.

DoyouknowwhattheyhaveatBobJonesUniversity?Theyhavealittlesignbehindthepulpitthatsays,“PleaseusenothingbutaKingJamesVersionfromthispulpit.”Whenaspeakercomesin,liketheydoataBibleconference,heseesthissign;andhemayhavebeen using anASV all his life or recommending aNewASV, but when he gets in thatpulpit,hepullsoutaKingJames.Whenhefinishes,fourthousandyoungmenandwomenin thatbuildingaredeceived into thinkinghebelieves thatBookbecausehewas told touseit.Thatisjustascrookedasadog’shindleg!

Youdon’tseeanysignatBibleBaptistChurchsaying“UseaKingJames.”Yousay,“Well, you wouldn’t let anybody in the pulpit that doesn’t use aKing James.” Sure Iwould—we’ve done it, accidentally.We’ve had guys use other versions. I don’t run upintothepulpitandsay,“Getdown;that’sheresy.Getdown,youcan’tusethat.”Isitthere.Why, if a guy uses some other version, I don’t have to say anything. The people startlaughing.He’llknowhe’sinthewrongchurchrealquick,andIwon’thavetoworryaboutit.

“Ruckmansays that ifyoudon’tbelieve theKingJamesBible is thewordofGod,you’regoingtohell.”That’sasayingupanddownthiscountry,butIhaveneverthoughtsuchathingadayinmylife.I’venevereventoldanyonetheyhadtouseaKingJamesBible. If you want to buy the other translations, buy them. It’s a free country; helpyourself.Ifyouwanttocutyourownthroat,that’syourproblem.

“AtTennesseeTemple,weusenothingbuttheKingJamesBible.”That’sagoodonerightthere;isn’tthatabeauty?That’sfromtheSwordoftheLord.Thisiswhatyoumissby not attending Hyles-Anderson College. Youmiss, “recreation at a six-lane bowlingcenteranindoorminiaturegolfcourse,ourthreethousandseatgymnasium,andattending

classes on a beautiful ninety-acre wooded campus,” where you wouldn’t have to gooutside from the dormitory to the chapel or dining hall because all the buildings areconnectedby lighted andheatedhallways.Thinkofwhat youmissed!Youwouldhavebeen“TaughttheBiblewhereonlytheKingJamesBibleisusedintheclassroom.”Why,he’saRuckmanite;we’renotthatfanatical.WeusemorethanaKingJamesBibleintheclassroom.

Doyouknowwhat’swrongwiththatbunchofhypocrites?TheyUSEwhattheydon’tBELIEVE.DownhereweUSEanything,butweBELIEVEonlyone.Upthere,theyuseONEandbelieveANYTHING.They’reinconsistenttouseabooktheydon’tbelieve.

Afellowsaid,“WebelievetheKingJamesBibleisgood,buttheASVisbetter.”Ifit’sbetter,whydon’t youuse it?Whygiveyour people secondbest? If I thought theKingJamesBiblewasnotasgoodassomeotherone,I’dgiveyoutheoneIthoughtwasbest.Iwouldn’tlietoyou.DoyouknowwhatI’vegotagainstthesefellows?They’reliars.I’venothingagainstthemexcepttheirlying.Iknowwhypeoplelie:theyliebecausetheyareafraid.Everytimeyou’veeverliedinyourlife,itwasbecauseyouwerescared.Nowletmeaskyousomething.Amanthatisinapulpit,calledtopreach,whobelievestheBookandhasacongregationofpeoplewhobelievethebook—whatishescaredabout?

At Baptist Fundamentalism, the first fellow that spoke was Wendell Zimmerman.Theygavetohimasubject,theauthorityofthewordofGod,andhegotupthereandflewaround the landing strip three hours and never landed. Later BobGray got up, and hewasn’tevensupposedtospeakaboutthat:hewassupposedtospeakaboutsomethingelse.ButthatwordofGodinhimwasjustburninginhimuntilhewasjustabouttoexplode.Hehadn’topenedhismouthfiveminuteswhenhesaid,“YoutalkaboutaBaptistheritage,ourBaptistheritageinthisKingJamesBible.”Hehelditup,andwhenhedid,thatcrowdroared,“Amen!”Well,thenZimmermanhadnothingtobeafraidabouttostartwith.

Doyouknowwhattheyadvertisethemselvesas?“MilitantFundamentalists.”Doyouknowwhat“militant”is?Thatmeansfighting.

AfterBobGraywavedthatBookaroundintheair,everyotherfellowthatgotupafterthat would wave his Book around in the air. They had to wait for some little Floridapreachertoshowthemhowtobehave.Whatadisgustingperformance!

IbelievetheKingJamesBibleisthewordofGod,iffornootherreasonthantheprideand inconsistency of its critics.You can tell asmuch by its enemies as you can by itsfriends.IfIwanttofindoutwhatafellowislike,Ifindoutwhohisfriendsare;thenIfindoutwhohisenemiesare.WhenIknowtheman’sfriendsandIknowhisenemies,Iknowtheman.Amanthatdoesn’thaveanyenemiesisnotaman.Yououghttohavefriends,andyououghttohaveenemies.Peopleoughttobeabletotellyoubyyourfriends,andpeopleoughttobeabletotellyoubyyourenemies.

Dr. JohnR.Rice,whenwriting to a dear soul inMyrtle,Mississippi, said, “As forActs8:37,youmayprefertoleaveitin,oryoumayprefertotakeitout.ItneverseemedtomelikepartofthewordofGod.”ImagineJohnR.RicewritingtothatsaintintheLord

after putting out the Sword of the Lord attacking the Southern Baptist Convention forinfidelsintheseminaries.Whatahypocriticalthing.Whatdesperatewickedness.AfellowwritesagainsttheSouthernBaptistscompromisingandthentellsadearsaintintheLord,“Youmayprefertoleaveitin,oryoumayprefertotakeitout.”ShehadwrittenalettertoRicecriticizinghimforrecommendingtheASV,andshepointedouttohimthemistakesintheASV.Hewroteherbackandsaid,“Youwouldn’thaveknownthereweremistakesintheASVunlessyouhadbeenhangingoutwithbadcompany.YourtroubleisthatyoulistentoomuchtoPeterRuckman,andifyoudon’tquitreadinghisbooks,thenyou’llgettalkingbadandusingbadlanguagelikehedoes,too.”Thatdearoldsaintwrotehimbackandsaid,“DearBrotherRice,I’veneverreadPeterRuckmananddon’tknowwhoPeterRuckmanis.Iwrotetoyoubecausemyfatherwasapreacher,andyouremindedmesomuchofhim.”

Therewas a fellowup atTennesseeTemplewhowas called in and told, “You’re aRuckmanite.”Hesaid,“What’sthat?”Faulkner,Jennings,Afman,andMartinsaid,“Youbelieve theKingJamesBible is thewordofGod.”He said, “Yes, I believe that.”Thentheysaid,“So,you’vebeenfollowingRuckman.”Hesaid,“Idon’tknowwhoRuckmanis;I’veneverheardofRuckman.”TheyhauledoutaclippingtheytookoutoftheBibleBelievers’Bulletincalled“TheCreedof theAlexandrianCult,”andtheywavedit inhisfaceandsaid,“Youseethis?Thisisaboutus!”Thankyouforthatwordoftestimony.Iintendedforthedogtoyellwhenhegothit.

Thereisabridgethatgoestoabsolutetruth.Christsays,“Thywordistruth.”(John17:17).NotAtruth,notTRUTHS;but“Thywordistruth.”Butyouhave tocross thebridge, and if you don’t go over the bridge, you break your neck and fall down in thegully.Thisbridge isbeingcondemned;peopledon’twantyouwalkingover thisbridge,butthat’stheway.

DoyouknowwhatRobertSumnersaidaboutthetranslationofLuke1?HesaidtheKingJamestranslators“madeanunpardonableblunder.”Isn’tthataproud,conceitedass?

Here’sKennethWuestsayingthattheKingJamestranslatorsmadeallthesemistakesin their translation,and theirpunctuation is in thewrongplace. I’vepickedupKennethWuest’stranslationoftheNewTestament,calledTheExpandedTranslation.IfoundthatwhenhegottoJohn5,hechangedtheversenumberingsoyouwouldthinkhehadeightversesinthefirsteightverses,whenhehadonlySIXversesinthefirsteightverses.Thefellow took twoverses andknocked themcleanout and then renumbered theverses soyou’d think he hadn’t left any out. I’ve got more respect for John Dillinger than thatbunch. A fellow out there who’s a crook has an alibi, but saved people in charge ofteaching and preaching theword ofGod,what alibi have they got for carrying on likethat?Whatpride!Whatstuffedshirts!

IhaveadspiledupfromtheSwordoftheLord:“LearntheoriginalGreektext…Seewhat the Original Greek text says”! There isn’t a man on this earth that ever saw theoriginalGreektext.AndifyousawtheoriginalGreektext,youcouldn’ttellwhatitsaidanyway.Ifyoucan’tgetit inyourownlanguage,howareyougoingtogetit inGreek?

Tellmewhatthismeans,“IcandoallthingsthroughChristwhichstrengthenethme”(Phil.4:13).That’sinyourlanguage.Doyoubelievethat?Canyouexplainit?Doyoustillsin?WhydoyousinifyoucandoallthingsthroughChrist?DoyouthinktheGreekcanhelpyouout?

Thereareversesinthereyou’llneverunderstanduntilyoulivethroughthem,andnoamountofeducation inGreekcan tellyouanything.ManyChristiansareoutofmoneyandabouttodeclarebankruptcy,“ButmyGodshallsupplyallyourneedaccordingtohisrichesinglorybyChristJesus”(Phil.4:19).YouthinktheGreekwillhelp?IbelievetheKing JamesBible is theword ofGod because of the pride and inconsistency of itscritics.

RichardTaylorwasthenameofafellowwhogotsavedatBrentBaptistChurchandgotcalled topreach.Wesenthimoff toBobJonesUniversity; in thosedays,wedidn’thaveaBibleInstitute,andifayoungfellowgotcalledtopreach,IwouldjustsendhimofftoBobJonesorTennesseeTemple.Whentheyallcamebackinfidels,theLordgotmeinacorneronedayandsaid,“Aren’tyoukindofstupid?”Isaid,“Whatdoyoumean?”Hesaid,“EverytimeIcallayoungmantopreachunderyou,yousendhimofftoschool,andhecomesbackdenyingthewordofGod.”WesentRickTaylorofftoBobJones,andhebecameaprofessoratBobJones.OnedayhecamebacktoPensacola,andhewentdownto the street corner on aSaturday afternoon and saw someof ourmenpreachingdownthere,and itgothimall shookupbecausehehadn’tbeenpreachingon the street.He’dquit.Hewasn’twinningsouls;he’dquit.Hecamealongsideoneofouryoungmenandsaid, “You’re a Ruckmanite.” Our young man said, “What’s a Ruckmanite?” He said,“YoubelievetheKingJamesBibleisthewordofGod.”Andhesaid,“Isuredo!”Taylorsaid, “That isn’t all, you don’t believe it has anymistakes in it.” The kid said, “That’sright,Idon’t.”Andhesaid,“Ruckmantaughtyouthat.You’refollowingaman.”Thiskidsaidtohim,“Youbelieveitdoeshavemistakes?”RickTaylorsaid,“Yes,Ido.”Andhesaid,“Whatmanareyoufollowing?Whotaughtyouthat?”Iknowwhotaughthimthat.ThefacultyatBobJonestaughthimthat.

What is the inspired word of God? Faith for the Family magazine: “Neither theReceivedText nor theWestcott andHort text are right orwrong; both are theword ofGod.TheWestcottandHorttextisnearertotheoriginal,andthereforeisolderandbetter,butbotharethewordofGod.Noversionisinspired,excepttothedegreethatitconformsto theoriginalmeaningof thewordsof theoriginalmanuscripts.TheASVand theNewASV areeffortsbyConservative scholars at faithful translation.Theyare the resultof acontinualdesireoffaithful, textualscholarsdevotedtotheinerrant, infallible,preserved,and divinely transitive word of God to make use of the results of newest manuscriptdiscoveriesandtheincreasingartofthemeaningoftheKoineGreek.”

World Congress of Fundamentalism, Bob Jones University (advertisement for thesuckers): “The themeof theCongresswill be the authority ofScripture.”You just saidWestcott andHortwas thebestoneandclosest to theoriginals.You just recommendedtwoversionsthatdenythedeityofChristinfiveplaces.Nowyou’regoingtotalkaboutthe authority of Scripture?” The theme of the international gathering of Bible

believers….” What? That’s the first time that phrase ever occurred in Bob JonesUniversity literature for thirty-five years! Now they’re calling themselves “Biblebelievers”?

InternationalCommitteeforthePropagationandDefenseofBiblicalFundamentalism,writtentoBobJonesfromoneofhisgraduatesinCalifornia:“DearBob,ItwasshockingtoreadyourletterofDecember15thtoMr.BobElliot,adeaconinmychurch.Itwasevenmoreshockingtolearnthatyousentcopiesofyourlettertoanotherdeaconofourchurchand to a student atBJUwho is a fiancé of another one of our churchmembers. In theopinion of two attorneys who have examined your letter, you are guilty of havingpublishedseverallibellousstatementsaboutme.Infact,theyareoftheopinionthatyourletterconstituteslibel,perse.AttorneyJohnB.Furey,inhisMarch11,1983letter,wrote,‘ItismyopinionthattheDecember15,1982letterfromBobJonesIII,president,toBobElliot, constitutes actionable and recoverable libel. per se.’Youwrote, ‘Rasmussen hasslanderedandvilifiedhisAlmaMater.’This isafalsehood.Youwrote,‘Hehassaidweareapprovingapostasy.’That’sthelieofthecentury.Youwrote,‘He,thepastor,haslosthisreason.’Youwrote,‘Hismeanstreakhaserupted.’Youwrote,‘Hehasnoregardforthetruth.’Youwrote,‘YourpastorhasaskedtheunreasonableandtheimpossibleofDr.Custer and this institution.’ You wrote to my church members, ‘It was terriblyinconsiderateofyourpastortobringupthematterofWestcottandHort.’Oneofthefewstatements in your letter which I consider to be correctwas the statement that StewartCusteristryingtosettherecordstraightandclearhisreputationofbeingadefendantofheretics.Itismyjudgment,inviewofallthisdocumentationwhichIhavesenttoyouandStewartprovingDr.WestcottandHortwereheretics,Custerhasamonumentaltaskaheadofhim.Bob,IstillregretthatyourefusetomeetwithmeasIrequestedwhenyouwereintheimmediatevicinityofourchurchforaweeklastsummer.Idesiretodiscussthewholeissuewithyouandfaceyouinabrotherlyway.”There’sBobJonescuttingdownapastortohismembersby sending letters to themembers, turning themagainst thepastor, andlibelinghim.Whenhe’sinthetownwheretheguyis,hewon’tmeetandtalkwithhim.Andyou’regoingtohaveaCongressontheauthorityofScripture?Youdirty,two-faced,lying, tricky, fork-tongued rascal!And thatgoes for allyour friendsand supporters andsomeofyourrelatives.

“DearBrotherinChrist:onMarch17th,IwrotetoBobJonesIIIandsaid,‘Bob,Istillregret that you refuse tomeetwithme as I requestedwhenyouwere in the immediatevicinityofourchurch.’InhisletterofMarch23rd,BobJonesreplied,‘Ifyouwillrepent,Iwillforgiveyou,andthenI’lltalkwithyou.’ItisperfectlyclearthatDr.StewartCuster,whoisnowwidelyknownasatheologicalvoiceatBobJonesUniversity,refusedtoadmitthat Drs. Westcott and Hort were heretics. Dr. Custer, in the opinion of an increasingnumberofBible-believingtheologians,ismistaken,asisDr.BobJonesIIIinhisassertionthatDr.Rasmussen, in insisting thatDr.Custer andBob JonesUniversity callWestcottandHortheretics,isaskingtheunreasonableandtheimpossible.”

Thatcorrespondencegoesintomanysheetsofpaper,mailedtothousandsofpastors.Yousay,“WhatdidBobJonesIIIdoaboutthechargesthatpastorbroughtagainsthim?”

Nothing.Doyouknowwhyhecouldn’t?Becausethatoldboyliedaboutthepastorfromthefirstlettertothelastletter,andwhenhesaid,“WebelieveintheabsoluteauthorityoftheBible,”hebelievednothingofthekind.Idon’tthinkthatVitoGenovese,AlCapone,Pretty-Boy Floyd, Alvin Carpis, Homer Vanmeter, Nick Pacetti, and Valachi were anyworsecharacters.AsfarasI’mconcerned,that’sjustimmoral,unethicalslop.Icouldgetjustasmuchoutofanightclubatfouro’clockinthemorning, listeningtoarockbandplay,withthedrinksonthetable.Youcantolerateitonlyifyoudon’tknowthedamageit’sdoing.

ManyayoungmanwhobelievestheKingJamesBibleisthewordofGodhasalmostbeentalkedoutofhisbeliefinit,causedtobackslide.Whatdoyouwantmetodo,talknice about the fellows that did it?Tell you that I’mgiven to overstatementwhen I saythey’reasbadastheMafiaandtheSyndicate?They’reworse.Thecrooksrobyouofyourmoneyandyour life,but theywouldn’t takeyourLord fromyouoryourBookoryourtestimony.Theywouldn’ttakeyourconsciencefromyouorwreckyouspirituallyforfiftyyears.IfIdidn’thaveaburdenforyoungmen,Iwouldn’tcare,butI’mconcernedaboutyoungmen.Youask,“Why?”IsentenoughtohellbeforeIwassaved;soI’mnotgoingtostandaroundandseesomeoneelsedoitifI’vegotaclawIcanputin.I’malittlefellow,butI’vegotbigfeet.IfIkick,it’llhurt.

Lastbutnotleast,IbelievetheKingJamesBible isthewordofGodbecauseofthepreeminentplaceitgivestheLordJesusChrist.I’vehadplentyoftimetostudyallkindsoftranslations,andIneversawanewtranslationofanykindthatdidn’tattackthedeityofJesusChrist somewhere. TheASV attacks the deity of Christ in Luke 2:33, 1 Timothy3:16, andActs4:27.Sodo theNewASV, theRSV, and theNewRSV.You ask, ‘“WhatabouttheNewKingJamesBible?”TheNewKingJamesBibleattacksthedeityofChristinActs4:27.ItsaysthatJesusChristwasnotGod’s“child;”HewasjustGod’s“servant.”Idon’tbelievethat.IbelievehewasGod’schild.

Thebridgetoabsolutetruthisacondemnedbridge.Doyouknowwhocondemnsit?It’scondemnedbyatheistsandCatholics.Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.It’scondemnedby Fundamentalists. That’s why they wanted a new translation. It’s condemned byagnosticsandCommunists.Asamatteroffact,it’scondemnedbyjustabouteverybody,but I find if you open that oldBook and pray over that oldBook, you get the answeryou’relookingfor.It’sthebridgetoabsolutetruth!

ThethingIhaveagainstthesefellowsistheylie,theylie,theylie,theylie.Idon’tlikeamanwhohabituallylies.I’llputupwithitoccasionally;Iknowpeople.You’lllieaboutsomething.ButaboutthewordofGod?

IinvitedaprofessorofoneofthestrongestFundamentalschoolsinthecountrytoourJanuaryBaptistBlowout,andhephonedmeandsaidhecouldn’tcome.Isaid,“Why?”Hesaid,“Idon’twantanypublicity,but they threatened to fireme if I came.”Theycalledhim inand threatened to firehim ifhecamehere tobeat the school.Whatabunchofdirty, rotten, low-down, cheap, good-for-nothing, wretched, sorry, backslidden,hypocriticalbunchof….If someofyouhadachance togopreachatanotherschoolor

someotherchurch,doyouthinkI’dcomplain?

Folks,ifyou’renotgoingtobelieveme,willyousitdownandconsultwithyourownmind?What’sthedifferencebetweenthisschoolandotherschools?Idon’thandlethingslikethosepeopledo.Somebody’swrong,andI’llgiveyouoneguess.

HerbEvanswrote JohnR.Riceone time foradebateand said, “WouldyoudebatewithDr.PeterRuckmanabouttheKingJamesBible?”Ricewrotebackandsaid,“No,IcanhavenofellowshipwithBrotherRuckmanbecausetheBiblesaysyou’renottokeepcompanywith an angry and furiousman.”Evanswrotehimagain, “I didn’t askyou tohave fellowship with an angry and furious man. I asked you to debate with BrotherRuckman.”YouknowwhatIhaveagainstthesefellows?Theywon’ttellthetruth.Yearsago,amanphonedmeinthemiddleofthenight,crying,andaskedmetocomeandtalkwithhim.Ihadn’tseenthisguyforoverthirtyyears;beforeIwassavedIusedtoknowhim.WhenIgottohishouse,heandhiswifehadbothbeendrinking.Hecameuptomecryingandsaid,“Pete,showmeJesus,showmeJesus!”(Waituntilyouhavethatputonyouwithoutamoment’snotice.)Ijusthappenedtohaveonmeoneofthosecolorcartoontracts,TellItLikeItIs.Iflippeditopen,andtherewasChristonthecross,rightinfront,withthebloodrunningoffHim.Thatoldboybrokedown.Hekneltdownthereandgotsaved. After he got saved, he said, “Now, tell mywife! Lead her to Christ!” She wassitting there ina stateof shock; shewasanEpiscopalian. I said, “Areyousaved?”Shesaid,“Well,Iwasconfirmed.”Isaid,“Iwasconfirmedtoo,beforeIgotsaved.”Shesaid,“Well,Ihaveagodfatherandagodmother.”AndIsaid,“SodidI,beforeIwassaved.”Andshesaid,“Yeah,butwestudiedCatechism.”Isaid,“Idid,beforeIwassaved.”Andshesaid,“But;”andtheguythatjustgotconvertedjuststartedlaughing,andhesaid,“Seethere! I told youPeteRuckmanwould tell you the damn truth!”That’swhat he said. Ididn’tsaythat;Iquotedthatfellowsayingthat.

Some of you thin-skinned folks don’t understand that, do you? I understand it. IconsiderthatagreatercomplimentthanifIhadgonetoBobJonesandhadbeengivenanhonorary doctorate. I know what that old drunk meant. He meant, “I can count onRuckman.Hewon’tlieandmessaround.He’lltellyouthetruth!”Now,Idon’tcallit“thedamntruth”;Icall it“theblessedtruth,”butIknowwhathemeant.I’dratherhavethatguy’scommendationthananyPh.D.inthecountry.Youknowwhatthetroublewiththesefellowsis?They’renotmanenoughtoobey;they’renotmanenoughtospeakout;they’renotmanenoughtospeakthetruth.That’stheirproblem.

A.V.Henderson, thepresidentofBibleBaptistCollege, said to a friendofmine, “Ithink in the next generation peoplewon’t even use theKing JamesBible, and it won’tbotherme if theydon’t.”Whata thing for thepresidentofaBaptistcollege tosay toayoungbunchofpreachersthatarestudyingfortheministry.

GeneralMacArthursaid:“Neveranightgoesby,ifIameversotired,butIreadthewordofGodbeforeIgotobed.”Howdoeshereaditifhedoesn’thaveit?

GeneralPatton:“KeepyourfeetcleanandreadyourBible.”

Hoover:“TheBibleistheunfailingguidewhichpointsthewayformentoaperfectlife.”

BillyGraham,in1949,attheendofhisrope,inlittleoldTrinityCollegedownthereinsouthFlorida.AftertheprofessorstriedtotalkhimoutofthewordofGod,hewentoutinto the bushes, knelt down, and prayed over his Bible and said, “Father, I cannotunderstandmany things about thisBook. I cannot come intellectually all theway,but IacceptitbyFAITHtobetheAUTHORITATIVE,INSPIREDWORDoftheLivingGod.”He had a King James Bible open there, kneeling with it. What happened to Billy?Somebodymusthavetalkedhimoutofit.

W.A.Criswell:“ThepreacherwhostartswiththewordofGodinhishands[howdoyou have it in your hands if it’s the originalmanuscripts?Howdo you have it in yourhands if it’s theASVor theNewASVor theTextusReceptusor theWestcottandHort?]standsuponaninvincibleandimpregnablerock.TheBibleistheinfalliblewordofGod.Godwrites it down, andwe can open the sacred book and read its holywords.”WhathappenedtoCriswell?

JerryFalwell:“NohumanbeinghastherighttochangewhatGodsaid.Ourfaith,ourministryasaNewTestamentChurch,findsitspremiseonthisEnglishBible.WheneveryouarereadingsomethingbesidesthisBook,besureitagreeswiththisBook,oritisn’tworthy of your reading time.” Amen.What happened to Falwell’s faculty? Somebodybackslidoffthedeepend.

IbelieveeverythingI’vereadthere.Didthesefellowsbelieveit?Well,iftheydidn’t,theyLIED!

Yearsago inPanamaCity, IknewamannamedLeeLarson.HewasprincipalofaschoolthatHughPylehadatCentralBaptistChurch,andhesaid,“Iwanttohaveyouputonthisschoolcharterandconstitution,‘WebelievetheKingJamesBibleisthewordofGod,preservedwithouterror’.”Theyhadabiggo-aroundaboutit,andtheydecidednottodo it.About that time JackHyles and JohnR.Rice came toHugh Pyle’s church for ameeting.ThiswasbackinthedayswhenHyleswasn’tassureofhimselfasheisnow.Hehadtobekickedaroundawhiletogetontherighttrack.HughPyle,averytactfulfellow,agentleman,calledHylesandRiceinandhadthemtalkwithLarson.TheysatdownthereandtriedtoconvincehimtheKingJameshadmistakesinit.BrotherLarsonsaid,“Well,itsaysoverthereinthebookofRevelation….”Ricegotmadandsaid,“Italsosaysyou’vegot tokeephis commandments, and theKing James translatorswereEpiscopalians andArminiansand thoughtyoucould loseyoursalvation,andamancouldn’tbesavedandbelievethatpassageasitstandsintheKingJamesBible.”Larsonsaid,“Ibelieveit,”andpointedoutsomeotherthings.Ricegotmadandlefttheroom.Afterhelefttheroom,JackHylesstoodthereandsaid,“Youshouldn’thaverebukedanelderlikethat.”Larsonsaid,“Iwasn’trebukinghim,Iwasjustshowinghimmistakes.”Hylessaid,“Well,bethatasitmay,JohnRiceisourcaptain,andwe’regoingtofollowhim.”AndBrotherLarsonsaid,“IthoughtJesusChristwasthe‘captainofoursalvation’.”Hylessaid,“That’sthefirstmeanthingyou’vesaidtomethisevening.”

Brethren,Idon’tcarewhatBibleyouread.Idon’tcarewhatBibleyoubuy.Idon’tcarewhatBibleyouuse.Idon’tcarewhatBibleyoupreach.I’manAmerican;Ibelieveinfreedom.Preachanythingyouwantto.IfyouwanttobelieveTheLivingBibleisthewordofGod,helpyourself,brother;it’syourneck,notmine.I’mnotgoingtoworryaboutit.Ihavejustonethingagainstthebrethren:Iamsickandtiredofthemstandinginthepulpit,wavingabookaroundtheydon’tbelieve,andtellingabunchofChristians,“This is thewordofGod,”whenthedirty,lyingscumsdon’tBELIEVEit!Iftheydon’tbelieveit,letthemSAYtheydon’tbelieveit;andiftheydobelieveit,letthemSAYtheybelieveit.Iftheydon’tbelieveit,theyshouldgetoutofthepulpitorgetabooktheydobelieveisthewordofGod.Butdon’tlie!

TheKingJamesBibleisthewordofGod,andthosearethewordsofGod.Yousay,“WhatamItodowiththem?”You’retoreadthem;you’retobelievethem;you’retolovethem;you’retoput theminpractice.Someday, ifwehavetodieforwhatGodsaid,wewon’tbethefirstones.There’salongarmyaheadofuswhodiedforit.Ifyouhavetodiebyit,diebyit.

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