From the Mind of God to the Mind of Man: A Layman's Guide to How We Got Our Bible

by James B. Williams

The current controversy over the Bible's text and translations is creating confusing division within the ranks of Evangelicalism. A mass of misinformation fuels the debate. Scores of men realize the enormous errors being popularized, but hesitate to engender further debate by speaking out. The confusion, however, is now so pervasive within Evangelicalism that the true, biblical and historical facts on the text, translation, and transmission of Scripture must be restated in layman's terms. In this book, these facts argue eloquently for the unity, not the division of God's people on these issues.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Biblical Studies, Theology

248 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad somebody has put in words how I feel about the King James only argument. I found the beginning of the book kind of boring dealing with history of how we got the Word of God. Probably because I already knew about the Bible's history. But the end of this book was fantastic and to the point that I believe all Christians (those who have been born again and not the cults) should read and absorb what is being written in the later chapters. We as Christians are beating each other up, while the rest of the world heads for hell.

[Ken Willis · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a pretentious effort by Bob Jones University to fairly and accurately address an issue that they could not be more one sided on. I graduated from BJU in 2011 with a degree in History and can personally attest to the fact that they are not fans of the KJV or the Textus Receptus. They attack it from the chapel pulpit and rip into it every chance they get in the classroom. Their own website bears out they only consider it the standard for the undergraduate classroom and that they only hold to preservation in the original manuscripts.

This book fails on several levels. It fails to be neutral in any sense of the word. It fails to accurately represent the issue and makes glaring omissions concerning key facts about the KJV. It is strikingly in favor of liberal apostates such as Westcott and Hort. It fails to be honest concerning the amount of omissions in Critical Text translations and last but not least in this non-exhaustive list, it is written by men who do not understand or much less believe in the Bible doctrine of divine preservation.

This book is a black stain on the history of so-called Fundamentalism and a shame to all who put their name on it.

[Seth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, a completion of several men seeks to defend the Bible. An immense omission to what God promised about His Word and the origine of the original languages seemed lacking. Although I would absolutely not claim that the KJV was reinspired or that other versions are heresies, the stance that this book takes in my opinion conflicts with a truly theologic position. They took more of an academic position from what I understood.

[Anthony Hayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-reasoned approach with long chapters

[Jeremy Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of how we got the English Bible today.

[Mark Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book four stars because it came to my attention at a key period in my development as a Christian, a time when I needed to sort through the issues of the Bible's text and translation.

I was 18, and I haven't read it since because I haven't needed to. I received the necessary bibliological foundation.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a good summary of how "we" (English-speakers) got "our" Bible, but it is overshadowed by the ulterior motive of refuting King James Onlyism. This means that anyone outside of the narrow range of Christianity that deals with KJVO teaching will be a bit puzzled by the book's emphases, orientation, and digressions. Unless you specifically want the KJVO angle, find another book.

[Nathan Wilder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A balanced approach to the history of the Bible that explains how the Bible got from the ancient languages to the modern translations of today. The books is written in a way that navigates beyond taking sides in controversy surrounding translations and Greek texts, while still presenting some arguments from both sides.

[Lily-joseph Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly easy-to-read book concerning the King James Controversy. The authors are conservative Fundamentalists that saw the need of right representation of the historical Fundamentalism on the matter of Bible translation and text.

[Read1000books · Rating 3 out of 5]

College-level information about Bible translations and manuscripts. For the average layman who has not already done a lot of reading on this subject before reading this book, your time might be better spent just reading your Bible.

[Andy]

0139

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

1611 KJV-ers beware. You might rend your garments whilst reading. And be proven to be in the wrong.