A Case Study on the Cultural Appropriation in the History of Translation: the First Epistle of John of the KJV

Abstract

This paper is to reveal the cultural appropriation of KJV onlyists, who claim that the KJV is the only English Bible inspired by God’s providence. They argue that the interpolation in the verses 5: 7-8 of the First Epistle of John is genuine, coming without any corruption from the Greek New Testament in the first century. Technically, this is untrue, since the KJV originates just from the TR (Textus Receptus) of Erasmus which was affected by the Late Medieval Vulgata, and directed by the papal authorities as well. Another argument that Lucifer is the name of the Devil is a myth articulated by the KJV onlyists. As this paper shows through the analyses of original languages including Classical Hebrew and Greek, Lucifer is not a proper noun, but a personified one, originating from the Latin word ‘lucifer’ meaning ‘day star’ carrying light(morning). Even in the KJVs 1611 through 1873 Lucifer is referred to as a “day starre,” explicated clearly on their marginal notes, which is intentionally expurgated in the modern KJVs. Then, KJV onlyists claim that their Bible is the best of keeping God’s words without corruption or changes, by appropriating translation to gain power over other religious creeds and denominations. This is a myth-creating of rewriting and restructuring of the Bible.