The Perfect Bible

Evidence for the King James Bible

Can Christians Know Where God Preserved His Words?

Look at the Bible copies, translations, and history behind the King James Bible. Read the old sources. See what both sides say. Then decide what the facts show.

Original SourcesHard QuestionsHonest Answers
Start the Investigation
Our Method

Do Not Take Our Word for It. Check the Evidence.

Many Bible websites tell you what to believe. This one shows you why.

Every investigation follows the same simple path:

1

Read the original source.

2

Hear the strongest objection.

3

Compare the facts.

4

Reach an honest answer.

Evidence Key

CLEAR
The source says it plainly.

LIKELY
The facts point this way.

NOT SETTLED
We need more proof.

Where Would You Like to Begin?

Choose the path that fits where you are in the investigation.

1

New to the Question

Why are Bible versions different?

Start with a plain-language guide to the debate.

2

Ready to Investigate

Which copies and translations stand behind the KJV?

Explore the evidence topic by topic.

3

Looking for an Answer

Have you heard that verses were added or Erasmus invented readings?

Read the hardest objections first.

Explore the Evidence

Research Library

Translation History

Follow the English Bible from William Tyndale to the King James Version.

Textus Receptus

Learn about the Greek New Testament used by the KJV and other Reformation Bibles.

Missing Verses

See why some modern Bibles leave out words and verses found in the KJV.

Manuscript Evidence

Compare the old handwritten Bible copies and learn what their differences mean.

Early Christian Writers

See how early Christians quoted and explained Scripture.

Common Objections

Read clear answers to the questions people ask most often about the KJV.

Case File 001 · 1 John 5:7

The Heavenly Witnesses

Was this wording invented by Erasmus or the King James translators?

What the Evidence Supports

The heavenly-witness wording was not invented by Erasmus or the King James translators. It was known in ancient Latin Christianity. By AD 484, it was cited as testimony from John.

The Honest Limit

The early surviving Greek manuscript evidence favors the shorter reading.

The full case file puts both sides on the table and shows which claims are clear, likely, or not settled.

This Month's Investigation

Every case file names the strongest challenge, shows its source, and explains what it can — and cannot — prove.

Follow the Evidence Through History

A timeline can prove that a reading was known at a certain time. It cannot, by itself, settle every question about the first Greek text.

1

About AD 250

Cyprian uses language about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being one.

2

About AD 380

Priscillian gives an early clear Latin quotation of the heavenly witnesses.

3

AD 484

Victor of Vita records the wording as testimony from John during the African conflict with the Vandals.

4

1500s

The wording is debated during the rise of the printed Greek New Testament.

5

1611

The King James Bible includes the traditional reading.

Hard Questions

We Welcome the Hard Questions

Good research does not hide difficult evidence. Each case file names the strongest challenge, shows its source, and explains what it can — and cannot — prove.

Why is the wording missing from early surviving Greek manuscripts?

Did Erasmus promise to add it if one Greek copy could be found?

Did hundreds of African bishops each own a Bible containing it?

Could the wording have begun as a note that later entered the text?

How We Keep the Research Honest

Five commitments that govern every case file and every claim on this site.

Source First

We link important claims to old documents, scholarly works, or clear records.

Both Sides

We present evidence that helps the KJV case and evidence that challenges it.

Plain Language

We explain expert terms so ordinary readers can follow the argument.

No Legends

We do not use popular stories when the historical proof is weak.

Open Verdict

You can inspect the evidence and decide whether our answer is fair.

Free Guide

Begin with Seven Questions

Get the free guide: 7 Questions Every Christian Should Ask About Bible Preservation

A short, plain-language guide to the key questions:

  • What does preservation mean?
  • Why do Bible versions differ?
  • Which old copies matter?
  • How should we weigh a disputed verse?
  • What can translation history prove?
  • What makes a claim trustworthy?
  • Where should a new reader begin?

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About

The Perfect Bible

The Perfect Bible is a public research project. Its goal is not to win arguments. Its goal is to help Christians examine the evidence with confidence and understand the Bible they hold in their hands.

Research should be careful.

Questions should be welcome.

Claims should match the proof.

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