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• DBTS distinctives
• Resources on the KJV and Bible Translation Issue

There are a lot of seminaries out there to choose from. What sets DBTS apart from the others?

There are several important distinctives which set DBTS apart from other seminaries, even some that could be classified as conservative. A simple summary is listed here. DBTS is:

• Baptist in heritage
• Fundamental in position
• Dispensational in approach
• Local church in ideology

In addition, DBTS places a strong emphasis on expository preaching, systematic theology (not just biblical theology), and the use of the original biblical languages. For additional information on our position as a fundamentalist institution it would be helpful to consult "An Inside Look at Ecclesiastical Separation," written by Dr. Rolland D. McCune. It would also be helpful to review material presented at MACP in past years. An example of this would be, "Fundamentalism at the Start of the 21st Century," the 2001 theme for MACP.

What is the seminary’s position on the King James Version?

Doctrinal Statements
Although our seminary has not written a book dealing with the translation issue, we have published a clear statement regarding our position on the doctrines of inspiration and inerrancy. This statement is located on our website under Media Resources. A broader statement on the doctrine of Bibliology is included in the seminary's Statement of Faith.

Journal Articles
We have also published a number of valuable articles in the Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal dealing with various aspects of the debate. These too are available on the website in downloadable format.

• Vol. 1:1 (Spring 1996) Dr. William Combs "Erasmus and the Textus Receptus."
• Vol. 1:2 (Fall 1996) Dr. William Combs "The Preface to the King James Version and the King James- Only Position."
• Vol. 2 (Fall 1997) Dr. S.E. Schnaiter "New Age Bible Versions: Review Article."
• Vol. 4 (Fall 1999) Dr. William Combs "Errors in the King James Version?"
• Vol. 5 (Fall 2000) Dr. William Combs "The Preservation of Scripture."

Recommended Books
There are a number of books that we can recommend, though the list has been kept brief. You may also want to reference the seminary's recommended book list concerning the doctrine of Bibliology.

1. White, James R. The King James-Only Controversy. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany Book House, 1995. This is probably the best overview and synopsis of the issue in one volume.
2. Carson, D. A. The King James Version Debate. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1979. Carson offers a more technical analysis of the textual issues behind the debate.
3. Williams, James B. and Shaylor, Randolph, editors. From the Mind of God to the Mind of Man: A Layman's Guide to How We Got Our Bible. Greenville, SC: Ambassador-Emerald International, 1999.
4. Williams, James B. and Shaylor, Randolph, editors. God’s Word in Our Hands: The Bible Preserved for Us. Greenville, SC: Ambassador-Emerald International, 2003. This recent book includes chapters by a wide range of fundamentalist leaders, including two DBTS alumni, Daniel Davey and Mike Harding.
5. Beacham, Roy E. and Kevin T. Bauder. One Bible Only? Examining the Exclusive Claims for the King James Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Books, 2001. This recent book by the faculty of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minneapolis deals with the issue from a fundamentalist perspective. Basically, this new work is a revision of their earlier book, The Bible Version Debate, 1997. One flaw in this volume is its treatment of preservation (See William Combs' article above).