Computer software undergoes Beta testing before it is released to the public, to determine if it works properly, is free of bugs, is user-friendly, etc. In the same way, each translation of the Bible needs to be tested to determine if the original meaning of each Biblical passage is accurately understood by its readers, and if that meaning is expressed in a way that is natural and clear to its readers. (You can read more on comprehension testing at my webpage: http://www.mcn.net/~wleman/glossco.htm#comprehension.)
Following is a test to determine comprehension of some passages in the KJV. Use only your KJV Bible to answer each question. Do not use any other resources, such as reference notes in your Bible, a dictionary, or commentaries. Do not ask anyone else for help with this test. This is NOT a test of your knowledge of the Bible. It is, instead, an objective test of one version of the Bible. Similar tests can be created for other versions of the Bible.
This is a multiple-choice test. For each question, select the answer that you think most closely represents the meaning of the words of each verse which appear within "//" marks (and possibly also boldfaced). You can place an "x" next to your choice. There is one and only one correct choice for each question. The multiple-choice answers use standard meanings of the words, as commonly used by everyday speakers of the English language today. This test attempts to determine how well the boldfaced words are understood by current speakers of English. Be aware that words in all languages change meaning over time, so the original meaning of the English words in the verses may not be the same as the meaning that those words have to most speakers of English today.
Please send me your answers privately via email. I will release the results of the test to this forum after enough individuals have submitted their answers. Test results will be anonymous, that is, no one's name will be released with their answers. Please give answers as short as possible. If you are not sure of an answer, please try to guess what would seem a reasonable answer to you. To make the results as informative as possible, please answer each question.
First, please answer some background questions to help me analyze the results of the test:
1. How old are you?
2. Is the KJV the main Bible version that you use today?
3. Whether or not the KJV is your main Bible version, do you consider yourself familiar with or relatively familiar with the KJV, its words and grammar?
4. If you answered yes to #3, for how many years have you read or been familiar with the KJV?
5. Are you a native (first language) speaker of English?
6. If the KJV is not the main Bible version which you use, which version is?
7. Do you believe that the KJV is the only true Word of God in the English language today?
Now, for each of the following portions of verses, place an "x" before the one answer which you consider to be closest in today's meaning of English words to the marked word(s) of the Bible verse:
1. //Charity// never faileth (1 Cor. 13:8)
2. Charity //suffereth long// (1 Cor. 13:4)
3. Can the //children of the bridechamber// fast, while the bridegroom is with them? (Mark 2:19)
4. And //straightway// he entered into a ship with his disciples (Mark 8:10)
5. And //it came to pass in those days//, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee (Mark 1:9)
6. Therefore if //any man// be in Christ, he is a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17)
7. only he who now //letteth// will let, until he be taken out of the way (2 Thess. 2:7)
8. For the word of God is //quick//, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword (Hebrews 4:12)
9. the //dumb// ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet (2 Pet. 2:16)
10. And he is the //propitiation// for our sins (1 John 2:2)
11. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many //sleep//. (1 Cor. 11:30)
12. it is hard for thee to kick against the //pricks//. (Acts 9:5)
13. And went to him, and //bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine// (Luke 10:34)
14. who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, //despising the shame// (Heb. 12:2)
15. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I //know not a man//? (Luke 1:34)
16. For the kingdom of God is not //meat// and drink (Rom. 14:17)
17. //Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance// (Matt. 3:8)
18. Except a //corn of wheat// fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone (John 12:24)
19. It is good for a man not to //touch a woman// (1 Cor. 7:1)
20. A man shall not take his father's wife, nor //discover his father's skirt// (Deut. 22:30)
21. when thou wilt //ease thyself abroad// (Deut. 23:13)
22. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of //plaiting// the hair (1 Pet. 3:3)
23. //bewitched// the people of Samaria (Acts 8:9)
24. Casting down //imaginations// (2 Cor. 10:5)
25. //rightly dividing// the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15)
26. how long will ye love vanity, and seek after //leasing//? (Ps. 4:2)
27. shall not //prevent// them which are asleep (1 Thess. 4:15)
28. //Suffer// the little children to come unto me (Mark 10:14)
29. The Lord is my Shepherd; //I shall not want//. (Ps. 23:1)
30. For the love of Christ //constraineth// us (2 Cor. 5:14)