1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Capital problems in the KJV text?

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by franklinmonroe, Aug 9, 2009.

  1. franklinmonroe

    franklinmonroe Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2006
    Messages:
    2,929
    Likes Received:
    4
    Is there a theological difference between "God" or "god"? Only The One True God should have His Name or Title capitalized; all references to false 'gods' should be spelt with a lowercase letter --
    But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver,
    and with precious stones, and pleasant things. (Daniel 11:38, KJV)

    Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame,
    who mind earthly things.) (Philipians 3:19, KJV)

    Notice "The" or "the"? If these are proper names of places then all the words of the name should also be capitalized --
    And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens;
    nigh whereunto was the city [of] Lasea. (Acts 27:8, KJV)

    And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns:
    whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. (Acts 28:15, KJV)

    Is it "Holy Spirit" or "holy spirit"? One place the KJV has both words capitalized, but in another place neither is capitalized. In several places the word "holy" is not capitalized but "Spirit" is (see Isaiah 63:10 & 63:11, Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30, 1 Thes. 4:8). I found 89 occurrences of "Holy Ghost" which seems to be always capitalized. Are not all these references to the same Person of the Trinity?
    If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father
    give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13, KJV)

    Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. (Psalm 51:11, KJV)
     
    #1 franklinmonroe, Aug 9, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 9, 2009
  2. Ed Edwards

    Ed Edwards <img src=/Ed.gif>

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2002
    Messages:
    15,715
    Likes Received:
    0
    I also like the way some modern versions (MVs) capatilize pronouns referring to the three members of the Blessed Trinity. If you buy minor changes outside the KJVs make a different doctrine -- then you must accept that the caps in the pronouns make a different theology:tongue3:
     
    #2 Ed Edwards, Aug 9, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 10, 2009
  3. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2006
    Messages:
    9,788
    Likes Received:
    698
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Recent versions such as the NASB and NIV break your capitalization "rules" too.
     
    #3 Jerome, Aug 10, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 10, 2009
  4. Logos1560

    Logos1560 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2004
    Messages:
    6,204
    Likes Received:
    405
    Faith:
    Baptist
    At Acts 27:8, the 1611 edition has "the Fair havens."

    At Acts 27:8, the 1853 American Bible Society KJV edition has "the Fair Havens."

    At Acts 28:15, the 1611 edition has "the three Taverns."

    At Acts 28:15, the 1853 American Bible Society KJV edition has "the Three Taverns."
     
  5. Logos1560

    Logos1560 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2004
    Messages:
    6,204
    Likes Received:
    405
    Faith:
    Baptist
    At Psalm 51:11, the 1853 American Bible Society KJV edition has "thy Holy Spirit."

    This edition also has "Holy Spirit" at Isa. 63:10, 11; Eph. 1:13, 4:30, and 1 Thess. 4:8.
     
  6. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2001
    Messages:
    21,321
    Likes Received:
    0
    The current rules of English dictate the following in regards to capitalization of religious references:

    Capitalize words referring to a deity used as a proper name: God, Yahweh, etc (also applies to other religiouns: Shiva, Buddha, etc.)
    Capitalize words used as titles: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Redeemer, King, etc).
    Capitalize pronounes when referring to God: God is great; He his great indeed.
    Pronouns referring to Jesus are lowercase: Jesus and his followers. (there is some debate over this).
    Lowercase deity references that are not a proper name: he experiences a god, they worhipped many gods (exception, when referring to a title, such as: they worship the God of Abraham, or Jesus is Lord of all).
    Lowercase informal religious identification: deist, monotheist, christian, buddhist, muslim, etc.
    Uppercase formal religious affiliation: Baptist, Sunni, Orthodox. (note, some words can be both informal and formal, such as jew/Jew, catholic/Catholic, so the capitalization will change accordingly).
    Lowercase adjectives or adverbs: godly, christian, ungodly, unchristian, spiritual, baptistic.
    Capitalize formal adoptions of belief, such as Article of Faith and Practice, Mission Statement, Baptist Disctinctive.

    As always, these rules are ever-changing, always rely on context, and are not set in stone.
     
    #6 Johnv, Aug 10, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 10, 2009
  7. wfdfiremedic

    wfdfiremedic New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2009
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    yes, I would state that capitalization of the Holy Spirit reflects one's doctrine. For instance, I think the NWT of the JW's does not capatilize references to the Holy Spirit because they do not hold to the Trinity doctrine. They will classify the Holy Spirit as "God's active force".


    16 However, the eleven disciples went into Gal´i·lee to the mountain where Jesus had arranged for them, 17 and when they saw him they did obeisance, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

    Above, copied from the NWT on Watchtower.org
     
  8. franklinmonroe

    franklinmonroe Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2006
    Messages:
    2,929
    Likes Received:
    4
    Thanks, Logos1560. (I knew I could count on you!)

    The Geneva has "god" (with lowercase letter) at Daniel 11:38; Coverdale avoids the problem completely by not using the word in its rendering. Wycliffe also has "god". The Bishop's Bible text has "God" as the KJV.

    While most of the pre-1611 English versions have "God" (with capital) at Philippians 3:19, the Wycliffe version does have "god" (lowercase).
     
  9. franklinmonroe

    franklinmonroe Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2006
    Messages:
    2,929
    Likes Received:
    4
    Yes, I realize that is probably true. Please feel free to give some examples.

    Conversely, do you know of any good reasons why the capitalization is such in these KJV examples?
     
Loading...