This book by Dr. Carson is an extremely well thought through book that deals with some of the, in my view, subjective arguments that KJV Only advocates propose (esp. Chapters 7-9). The book is divided into two main parts: textual questions and non-textual questions, with 7 and 2 chapters respectively, with Chapter 7 & 9 being the most dense chapter in the entire book.
Chapter 1 begins with an overview of copying practices in the New Testament period and how texts may have been transmitted in the earlier period, all of which, of course, are conjectural but do provide a human aspect to the whole issue of textual criticism.
Chapter 2 deals with some of the errors that crop up in MSS, which can be divided into two main categories: intentional and unintentional.
Chapter 3 deals with the various “buckets” (my wording) of manuscripts known as “text-types.” These “text-types” are broad characteristics that these various manuscripts share in common (the operative word being “broad”). For example, they may share the same errors, the same readings in key areas and the same pattern of development (I’m assuming this last one refers to the “transmission” of the text).
Chapter 4 deals with some of the criteria that textual-critics use to determine whether certain readings/variants are correct such as geographical distribution, dating of certain manuscripts (more importantly the text-type itself) among other things.
Chapter 5 deals with the origins of the textus-receptus mainly through the work of Desiderius Erasmus who was the first to publish (not “print,” pp. 33-34) the Greek New Testament.
Chapter 6 is where the technical discussion begins, starting with some reasons why certain persons advocate the Byzantine text-type over the other text-types. Carson draws upon the work of David Otis Fuller and the book he edited called Which Bible? (see pp. 39-40, 40n3).
Chapter 7 deals with 14 propositions that D.A. Carson believes and defends. They also deal with, by definition, the (textual) arguments of the KJV-Only advocates. Chapters 8 and 9 deal with part 2 of the book. Here, Carson deals with non-textual or subjective arguments relative to the preference of the KJV over the more modern translations.
Finally, D.A. Carson has an appendix dealing with Wilbur Pickering’s work The Identity of the New Testament Text. He makes frequent references to this section multiple times throughout the book.
In the final analysis, the book is well structured and, for the most part, easy to read—the only exception, however, being Carson’s rather technical, verbose, and rather (at times) superfluous language. But since this was published back in 1979, I can understand. Further, this is my first book in this category, I can understand that it will take some getting used to in order to understand the nomenclature with this part of Christianity.
Many a time I found myself resonating with the book with audible “mmms” as the various points were being made that severely (in my view) undermined the subjective biases of those who hold a more rigid form of KJV-onlyism (of which there are at least 5 groups—see James R. White, The King James Only Controversy, pp. 23–28).
Many of the subjective arguments, in my opinion, have been severely, if not entirely, diminished—they have lost their philosophical, logical, and theological weight. I must admit that after reading this book, I feel as if I am better equipped to detect such subjective argumentation (primarily dealt with in chapters 7–9).
In essence, he gives a number of reasons why they don’t hold up to scrutiny:
1) They’re based on subjective bias (it’s reverent, it’s easy to memorise, it’s best for public reading, etc.);
2) The logic, to remain consistent, must be applied to other versions/translations as well, which, if done, would undermine the arguments used in favour of the KJV.
All in all, the book is “technically” 103 pages in length minus the appendix. With the appendix it’s 123 pages. As I made substantial progress through the book, I said to myself “It didn’t feel like the book took that long to get through at all!”
I do plan to read more books in this category such as James R. White, The King James Only Controversy; F. F. Bruce, The New Testament documents: Are They Reliable?; F. F. Bruce. The Books and Parchments; John D. Meade, Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible; J. Harold Greenlee, Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism; Elijah Hixson and Peter J. Gurry eds. Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism; Peter D. Wegner, Journey from Texts to Translations: The Origin and Development of the Bible; Bruce M. Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament its Origin, Development, and Significance; Bruce M. Metzger, The Early Versions of The New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, And Limitations; Bruce M. Metzger and Bart Ehrman, The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration.