Insisting that the King James Version is the only valid English translation, simply because it was translated using the original Hebrew Masoretic text, contradicts the very practice of the New Testament writers, who freely used existing translations to communicate God’s message.
Why King James Onlyism is Inconsistent with Biblical Precedent
The belief that the King James Version is the only legitimate or divinely inspired English Bible translation is inconsistent with how the New Testament writers themselves treated scripture. The apostles, especially Paul, frequently echoed or quoted from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures) rather than the Hebrew Masoretic Text, which the King James Version closely follows for the Old Testament translation.
Many key theological arguments in the New Testament rely on Greek Septuagint wording that differs from the original Hebrew Masoretic Text. For example, the Greek Septuagint more clearly emphasizes prophetic themes like Mary's virginity, the Messiah, Grace, and Gentile inclusion, which aligns more with the New Testament message. Deuteronomy 32:8 comes to mind as a key example of a different theological perspective that can be gleaned when you read the Septuagint versus the Masoretic text. These minor variations between the Greek Septuagint and the Hebrew Masoretic text can easily put a different slant to the authors of the New Testament, and their preference of text choice suggests that they prioritized the meaning and message they were aiming to relay, over strict word-for-word accuracy of the original Hebrew text, when referencing the Old Testament.
The Apostles' use of the Septuagint
The New Testament writer who most frequently used the Septuagint (LXX) when quoting the Old Testament, was the apostle Paul. This was likely because Paul's primary audience at the time were Greek-speaking Gentiles and Hellenized Jews.
Luke, a companion of Paul, in his writings (Gospel of Luke and Acts) also frequently used the Septuagint in his narrative.
The author (author unknown) of Hebrews heavily relies on the Septuagint.
Some of the other New Testament contributors, such as Matthew, Mark, John, also reference the Old Testament but usually stay closer to the Hebrew text.
Below are proof texts of a small list of the many examples of the New Testament's use of the Septuagint. I will include the New Testament scripture along with the both the Old Testament Greek (Septuagint) and Hebrew (Masoretic Text) proof texts.
A Small List of Proof-Texts showing the New Testament's use of the Septuagint
KJV - Matthew 3;3 quoting Isaiah 40;3
Matthew 3;3
...Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight...
English translation of Septuagint
Isaiah 40;3
...Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Isaiah 40;3
...Prepare ye the way of the LORD, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God...
---------------------
KJV - Matthew 12;21 quoting Isaiah 42;4
Matthew 12;21
...And in his name shall the Gentiles trust...
English translation of Septuagint
Isaiah 42;4
...and in his name shall the Gentiles trust...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Isaiah 42;4
...And the isles shall wait for his law...
---------------------
KJV - Mark 7;6-7 Quoting Isaiah 29;13
Mark 7;6-7
...This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men...
English translation of Septuagint
Isaiah 29;13 ...and they honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: but in vain do they worship me, teaching the commandments and doctrines of men...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Isaiah 29;13
...And with their lips do honour me, But have removed their heart far from me, And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men...
---------------------
KJV - Acts 7;14 - Proof of reference - Genesis 46;27
Acts 7;14 ...Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls...
English translation of Septuagint
Genesis 46;27 ...all the souls of the house of Jacob who came with Joseph into Egypt, were seventy-five souls...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Genesis 46;27 ...all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten...
---------------------
KJV - Acts 7;27 - proof of reference - Exodus 2;15
Acts 7;27 ...But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday...
English translation of Septuagint
Exodus 2;15 ...Wherefore smitest thou thy neighbour? And he said, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? wilt thou slay me as thou yesterday slewest the Egyptian...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Exodus 2;15 ...Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian...
---------------------
KJV - Acts 15;17 quoting Amos 9;12
Acts 15;17 ...That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things...
English translation of Septuagint
Amos 9;12 ...that the remnant of men, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, may earnestly seek me, saith the Lord who does all these things...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Amos 9;12
...That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, Which are called by my name, Saith the LORD that doeth this...
---------------------
KJV - Romans 3;4 quoting Psalm 51;4
Romans 3;4
...That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged...
English translation of Septuagint
Psalm 51;4
...that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Psalm 51;4
...That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest...
---------------------
KJV - Romans 3;13 quoting Psalm 5;9 and Psalm 140;3
Romans 3;13 ...Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit..
"the poison of asps is under their lips...
English translation of Septuagint
Psalm 5;9 ...their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit...
Psalm 140;3 ...the poison of asps is under their lips...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Psalm 5;9 ...Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue...
Psalm 140;3 ...Adders’ poison is under their lips...
---------------------
KJV - Romans 3;14 quoting Psalm 10;7
Romans 3;14 ...Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness...
English translation of Septuagint
Psalm 10;7 ...Whose mouth is full of cursing, and bitterness...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Psalm 10;7 ...His mouth is full of cursing and deceit...
---------------------
KJV - Romans 9;27 quoting Isaiah 10;22
Romans 9;27
...Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved...
English translation of Septuagint
Isaiah 10;22
...And though the people of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them shall be saved....
English translation of Masoretic Text
Isaiah 10;22
...For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, Yet a remnant of them shall return...
---------------------
KJV - Romans 9;29 quoting Isaiah 1;9
Romans 9;29
...Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha...
English translation of Septuagint
Isaiah 1;9
...And if the Lord of Sabaoth had not left us a seed, we should have been as Sodoma, and we should have been made like to Gomorrha...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Isaiah 1;9
...Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, We should have been as Sodom, And we should have been like unto Gomorrah...
---------------------
KJV - Romans 10;18 quoting Psalm19;4
Romans 10;18 ...their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world...
English translation of Septuagint
Psalm 19;4 ...Their voice is gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Psalm 19;4 ...Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world...
---------------------
KJV - Hebrews 1;6 quotes Deuteronomy 32;43 (possibly Psalm 97;7)
Hebrews 1;6 ...And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him...
English translation of Septuagint
Deuteronomy 32;43 ...Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him...
Psalm 97;7 ...worship him, all ye his angels...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Deuteronomy 32;43 Phrase not found in Masoretic Text
Psalm 97;7 ...worship him all ye gods...
---------------------
KJV - Hebrews 10;5 quotes Psalm 40;6
Hebrews 10;5 ...Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me...
English translation of Septuagint
Psalm 40;6 ...Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared me...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Psalm 40;6 ...Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; Mine ears hast thou opened...
---------------------
KJV - Hebrews 11;5 - Proof of reference - Genesis 5;27
Hebrews 11;5 ...Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God...
English translation of Septuagint
Genesis 5;27 ...And Enoch was well-pleasing to God, and was not found, because God translated him...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Genesis 5;27 ...And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him...
---------------------
KJV - Hebrews 11;21 - Proof of reference - Genesis 47;31
Hebrews 11;21 ...By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff...
English translation of Septuagint
Genesis 47;31 ...And Israel did reverence, leaning on the top of his staff...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Genesis 47;31 ...Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head...
---------------------
KJV - Hebrews 13;6 echoes Psalm 118;6
Hebrews 13;6 ...The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me...
English translation of Septuagint
Psalm 118;6 ...The Lord is my helper; and I will not fear what man shall do to me...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Psalm 118;6 ...The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me...
---------------------
KJV - James 4;6 quotes Proverbs 3;34
James 4;6 ...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble...
English translation of Septuagint
Proverbs 3;34 ...The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Proverbs 3;34 ...Surely he scorneth the scorners: But he giveth grace unto the lowly...
---------------------
KJV - Revelation 2;27 quotes Psalm 2;9
Revelation 2;27 ...And he shall rule them with a rod of iron...
English translation of Septuagint
Psalm 2;9 ...Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron...
English translation of Masoretic Text
Psalm 2;9 ...Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron...
Some Concluding reflections on King James Onlyism
This specific study journey started a few years back. It was inspired by individuals in my circle who strongly pushed the King James only mindset. At the time, I felt the least I could do, out of respect of my disagreement, was to come up with a legitimate argument why I could not agree to King James Onlyism. I began by asking myself, "How did Jesus and the apostles approach scripture?" and "Does the Bible itself offer any insight?"
Armed with both testaments of the King James Bible, and Brenton's English translation of the Greek Septuagint, I began researching each Old Testament citation or allusion in the New Testament to determine if the writer more closely followed the Hebrew text or the Geek Septuagint. While there are many more examples of the Septuagint's significance in the New Testament that could be inserted into this article, my aim was to keep this study article concise and to the point.
My personal conclusion through this study, was that King James Onlyism contradicts the example set by Jesus and the apostles. God clearly allowed a mixture of both the Hebrew Masoretic Text and Greek Septuagint to be used in the creation of the New Testament. Insisting that the King James Version is the only valid English translation, simply because it was translated using the original Hebrew Masoretic text, contradicts the very practice of the New Testament writers, who freely used existing translations to communicate God’s message. This precedent supports the validity of using various translations to understand and apply Scripture still today.
While I have yet to find any one translation that is completely consistent in every way with the most ancient texts available to us, I also haven't found any modern translations that have lost the core gospel message. Personally, for study purposes, I like to consider them all together... And while my personal favorite English translations remain the KJV, NKJV, and ESV, I pray I never lose sight of the simplicity of the gospel message. The word of God = Jesus (Torah in the flesh), not a specific way words are written on a page.