What Bible does WFRBC use?

One of the most often asked questions of our Church is, “What Bible do you use?” 

We answer unapologetically, "the King James Version." More and more individual Christians and unfortunately Bible-believing churches are forsaking the King James Version in favor of the more modern translations. In fact, there exists a huge controversy among Bible-believing Baptist as to whether or not the King James Version of the Bible is the Bible to be used in worship and personal study. A desire exists to forsake the King James Version (KJV) for the more “modern” translations such as the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the New International Version (NIV), or even the New King James Version (NKJV). The argument is put forward that the more modern translations are easier to read because the translations update the language and leave out all those "thee’s" and "thou’s." Another argument tries to say that the new translations are more accurate than the KJV. Wares Ferry Road Baptist whole-heartedly disagrees with these and any arguments that claim that these translations are more accurate than the KJV. It is the position of Wares Ferry Road Baptist to reject these arguments and these translations, and to confidently say that we use the King James Version of the Bible exclusively in all services, ministries, or activities associated with our ministry.  

But, why do we use the King James Version? 

Is it because Baptist churches have always used the KJV and we cannot break tradition, or is it because the KJV is the most accurate translation in English because it is from the preserved Hebrew and Greek texts? It is the latter reason why Wares Ferry Road Baptist uses the KJV. It is a conviction.  

DEFINITIONS 

Before we can accurately state what we believe about the Bible we must first establish some definitions of the terminology that we intend to use. These definitions will aid the reader in a clearer understanding of the position that will be explained.

 • Inspiration - is that process by which “God breathed” or wrote the books of the Bible by holy men of God, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired. (2 Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:19-21) o Plenary Inspiration - is the view that the entire Bible is inspired. o Verbal Inspiration - is the view that "God-breathed" extends to the choice of the words of Scripture. It asserts that the God-breathed truth was grasped by God-appointed men who were guided by the Holy Spirit in their selection of words. 

• Preservation - is the view that God will, and has, preserved His Word in pure form, including the most minute details (the jots and titles, the words), and that this would include the whole Scriptures, Old and New Testaments. The biblical doctrine of preservation is verbal, plenary preservation, which is the only reasonable view in light of the Biblical doctrine of the verbal, plenary, inspiration of the Writings. 

• Inerrancy - is the view that the Bible is without error, that the Bible is correct in every statement it makes. The Bible reports and identifies errors accurately, of course, but it does not perpetrate them. 

• Infallibility - is the view that the Bible is effective in everything it does. When the Bible is used, it always works. It never fails us. The Bible is incapable of error.  

OUR POSITION 

Wares Ferry Road Baptist believes the Bible is comprised of sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments and was given by inspiration of God. Wares Ferry Road Baptist believes, therefore, that it is inerrant and infallible. Wares Ferry Road Baptist furthermore believes in both the verbal and plenary inspiration. In addition, Wares Ferry Road Baptist believes that God has preserved His word as He promised, and that He has preserved it in the traditional texts or in the set of manuscripts known as the Textus Receptus. Wares Ferry Road Baptist also believes that the King James Version of the Bible is an accurate, faithful, and reliable translation of these manuscripts and that the English reader, therefore, can study it with utmost confidence and rely upon it. Wares Ferry Road Baptist can confidently say the King James Version is the inspired Word of God, not because God “breathed” again in 1611, but because the King James Bible was translated from the preserved texts.  

CONCLUSION 

Wares Ferry Road Baptist is a church that uses the King James Version of the Bible by conviction. We cannot see any reason to use another translation in worship or personal study.