This article is part of a series on the changing meaning of English words and its impact on the King James Only debate. To see the introduction to this series, click The King James Version and the changing use of words.
Words in any language change over time. Once popular words drop out of use entirely, new words come into existence or migrate in from other languages, and (perhaps most importantly) many words change in their common meaning and usage. Terms that meant one thing even a few generations ago may now mean something different entirely. These changes often impact how we understand older documents more than we even realize. There are many such passages in the KJV. They were perfectly good translations for their time, but because of changes in English, their meaning has now been subtly obscured. For an example of this, let’s consider the word “heresies.”
There must be also heresies among you
Today, a heresy is an erroneous and damaging doctrine, especially one that denies or distorts an essential element of the Gospel. Thus, heresies are false teachings. They are dangerous beliefs against which the believer must be equipped and on guard. It is only natural that many readers bring this definition with them when they read Paul’s statement:
“For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you,” (1 Corinthians 11:19, KJV).
Paul here would seem to be saying that false doctrines that creep into the church, while bad things in and of themselves, do serve the positive role of distinguishing the true believers from the false brethren. Paul does, indeed, address a number of false teachings throughout the book of 1 Corinthians. Chapter 15 even addresses people who are denying the very doctrine of bodily resurrection! Perhaps these are the heresies he has in mind? While this explanation seems to make sense, it is based on a simple error: reading the modern definition of “heresies” into a historical text. In 1611, the word “heresies” merely meant “factions” or “sects.” There are, of course, “factions” based on false doctrines or gathered around false teachers, which is where our modern usage ultimately derives, but these are not the only kinds of factions. Paul was writing here against factionalism in general, not about false teachings in particular. Almost all the English translations leading up to the King James rendered this text:
“…there must be sects among you…” (Tyndale, see also Coverdale, Matthew Bible, Great Bible, Bishops Bible).
Modern translations likewise read:
“…there must also be factions among you…” (NASB, see also ESV, CSB, NKJV, MEV).
“…there have to be differences among you…” (NIV).
“…there must in fact be divisions among you…” (NET).
None of these translators are disagreeing with the KJV. They are actually saying the same thing, its just that “heresies” has taken on a new, derivative meaning that makes it harder for us to catch the original sense.
