KJV only...?

I'm studying various Greek paradigms and tables for an upcoming exam on either Tuesday (highy unlikely) or Wednesday (very likely). I've finally understood the concept that when you're translating Greek you're not translating a word, you're translating an idea.

For instance, here's a translating exercise I was recently given.

"γινωσκει τὴν καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου ὁ θεός"

Literally translated, word-for-word, the sentence would look like this:

"he knows the heart of a man the God"

Now obviously this makes little sense. But applying various rules of Greek grammar the sentence would now look like this:

"God knows the heart of a man."

This little exercise, and many more like it, have helped me not only appreciate Greek as a language but also the unenviable task of bible translation. There is a vocal minority of Christians who believe that the KJV is the only infallible Word of God - and some in this camp have suggested that all other bible translators are guilty of blasphemy (particularly in regards to a small number of apparent omissions from the KJV text that the other bible translators have 'left out').

Having done Greek now, for a little over three weeks (and also Hebrew for the same amount of time) I've come to the conclusion that the 'KJV Only' debate is a thorough waste of energy. Let us rather be thankful for the preservation of the Greek and Hebrew testaments, thankful for their accurate transmission through the generations, thankful for the many bible translators who have helped to give us a variety of bible translations to meet the needs of our intellectually varied world, and even more thankful for people like Wycliffe Bible Translators who seek to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to other cultures and languages.

There is, after all, no place in scripture which reads, "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you read only from the KJV..."

Amen? :)