Crowned
With Glory: The Bible from Ancient Text to Authorized Version, by Dr. Thomas Holland.
Paperback, $19.95, December
2000.
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Here to Order
Crowned With Glory is not your average “King James Only”
book.
When I started reading Crowned With Glory, I realized
there was something special about it. Dr. Holland has written a unique book which
is charitable but powerful, simple yet scholarly, and concise though wonderfully
informative. I knew early on in my reading that I had found a new “recommended
introductory book” to offer people on this important subject.
Crowned With Glory is aptly subtitled “The Bible
from Ancient Text to Authorized Version.” Dr. Holland examines the transmission
of the Bible from the first century on down to our contemporary age of modern
English. The reader will quickly learn of the differences between various Hebrew
and Greek manuscripts. The chapter Tampering With Texts powerfully demonstrates
the influences early heresies such as Gnosticism (the teaching that Jesus Christ
was a created god) have had on the Alexandrian Greek manuscripts which are the
foundation of modern Bible versions. These are not simply accusations made, but
are carefully considered and demonstrated with historical evidence. In contrast,
the chapter Testimony Through Time makes a strong case for the faithfulness
of the Received Text which underlies the King James Bible’s new testament. Both
texts are considered in a scholarly manner but in light of Biblical Preservation.
The chapter Forging the Metal is a chronology of English
and other language Bible translations leading up to the King James (Authorized)
Version of 1611. The chapter The English Jewel discusses Authorized Version
in depth, giving solid historical information while debunking false conceptions
about subjects such as the Cum Privilegio, Apocrypha, so-called revisions, etc.
The Oracle of the Jews explains the importance of understanding
that the Bible is a Jewish Book and why it is relevant to the issue at hand. The
chapter Understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls discusses the Dead Sea Scrolls
and their impact on our knowledge of the history of the Bible.
Together, the chapters Textual Considerations, Translational
Considerations, and Deliberating the Arguments make a very strong case
for the King James Bible against the modern versions. Controversial texts such
as John 1:18, Acts 5:30, Acts 12:4, Hebrews 10:23, 1John 5:7, and more are dealt
with succinctly. An appendix is also devoted to the internal evidence of the last
twelve verses of Mark as it exists in the Received Text and the King James Bible.
Arguments presented by modern textual critics in support of the Alexandrian texts
are easily defeated and their inconsistency exposed.
The appendixes of Crowned With Glory are a nice bonus.
In addition to the aforementioned appendix on Mark 16:9-20, Dr. Holland has provided
a list of translators of the Authorized Version and their governing rules, a brief
section on textual evidence (a listing of many manuscripts and their dating used
for textual support), a glossary, Scripture and subject indexes, and comprehensive
bibliography.
The footnotes in this book frequently offer valuable information
relevant to the topics discussed. For example, a footnote in the section on Origen
gives a nice nugget of information: "...One of the subscriptions in Codex
Sinaiticus states, 'Taken and corrected according to the Hexapla of Origen. Antonious
Collated: I, Pamphilus, corrected.' Pamphilus, along with Eusebius, was a disciple
of Origen. Therefore, we see the influence Origen had on Codex Sinaiticus as stated
in a footnote of that Codex." Since Sinaiticus is usually referred to
as one of the "older and better" manuscripts in defense of the Alexandrian
text, it is interesting to see how the influence of a heretic like Origen directly
affected such a manuscript.
As a whole, this book is an excellent discussion of the core
issues of this controversial subject. If you are seeking an easy yet informative
introduction to the Bible’s history of preservation and translation, this book
should be your first choice. If you are moderately familiar with the subject and
seek further understanding of the Biblical Preservationist perspective, this book
is for you. If you are a Critical Text supporter, this book is sure to challenge
your preconceptions of the Bible and its history, and just might make you think
twice.
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Crowned With Glory is also included in SwordSearcher
Bible Software.
Material ©2003 AV1611.com. Various text coprighted by other authors. No warranty of any kind expressed or implied.
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