Affirms Inspiration of the Protestant Canon
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Manuel A. “Don” Biadog
Commander, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Southern Baptist Convention
April 28, 2026
LAKE MARY, Fla., April 28, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — Dr. James F. Linzey, Chief Editor of the Modern English Version (MEV) Bible, issued a Statement on Theological Integrity regarding his own unwavering theological commitments and the resulting foundations of the Modern English Version (MEV). The move comes as a response to a host’s out-of-context “gotcha” moments currently being circulated by the YouTube channel “A Nickel’s Worth.”
Dr. Linzey characterizes last year’s interview as the result of a significant departure from professional and theological standards. Documented evidence confirms that the host of the program explicitly agreed to a structured set of questions focused on the Textus Receptus and the KJV legacy, only to abandon the script for a “gotcha” style interrogation once cameras were rolling. The documentation is attached to the Statement.
Clarification on the Canon and Inspiration
To ensure the record is clear for the scholarly community and the Body of Christ, Dr. Linzey has clarified the following:
• On the Canon: Dr. Linzey’s commitment to the 66-book Protestant canon as the sole, authoritative rule of Scripture is absolute. Any suggestion of a “tentative” view was the direct result of an intentional media ambush.
• On Inspiration: Regarding the use of the term “inspired” in the interview, Linzey stated, “During the heat of that moment, I inadvertently used the term in a broad, colloquial sense. I recognize the terminological error; I do not view the Apocrypha or 1 Enoch as divinely inspired or authoritative Scripture.”
Dr. Linzey noted that the English word “inspired” derives from the Latin inspirare (to breathe in), a tradition reflected in the Vulgate and subsequently the King James Version. “In a colloquial sense, one can find ‘inspiration’ in many things,” Linzey explained. “However, I wish to be technically precise for the record: I do not believe the Apocrypha or 1 Enoch are theopneustos—divinely ‘God-breathed’—as defined in 2 Timothy 3:16. Only the 66 books of the Protestant canon hold that unique, authoritative status.”
A Record of Rigorous Vetting
Dr. Linzey’s theological foundations were formed at Vanguard University of Southern California and Fuller Theological Seminary, and are the product of decades of service. He holds permitted dual ordination through the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park, CA, and the General Council of the Assemblies of God of Brazil (in full communion with the AG USA) where his theological views were well screened. Additionally, his ministry is represented to the IRS by the Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministries International.
“My credentials within these orthodox, conservative bodies are a testament to my unwavering theological foundations and faith,” Linzey added.
Documented Breach of Pastoral Ethics
Dr. Linzey has released a formal Statement on Theological Integrity to his publisher and peers. This briefing includes email correspondence proving the breach of pastoral and professional ethics, as well as documentation showing that subsequent attempts to seek a professional correction were met with personal speculation rather than theological accuracy.
About the Modern English Version (MEV):
The Modern English Version Bible translation is the work of a world-class evangelical translation committee comprised of 47 distinguished scholars. As a Formal Equivalence update of the King James Version, the MEV preserves the literal accuracy and poetic majesty of the KJV while providing essential clarity for the modern reader. The 2024 update has been on the market for two years and has established itself as a premier translation for study and liturgy, standing second to none in its commitment to textual integrity and the Textus Receptus tradition.
About James F. Linzey:
Chaplain (Major) James F. Linzey, U.S. Army (Ret.), is a twenty-four-year military veteran with the rare distinction of having served across the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps communities. He has served in four Command Chaplain assignments and was the first full-time chaplain for the ROTC Cadets’ summer training program at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He has given lectures on Military Leadership for the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Lee, Virginia, and Fort Meade, South Dakota, and on the Battle of Midway for Marines in Professional Military Education at MCAS Miramar. Linzey composed Creator of the Universe (officially adopted as the United States Space Force Hymn), authored Moral Leadership, and served as chief editor of the Modern English Version Bible translation. Born into a multi-generational military family—descending from a chaplain in George Washington’s Army—he is the son of Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr., CHC, USN (Ret.), a survivor of the sinking of the USS Yorktown (CV-5) at the Battle of Midway.
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SOURCE Manuel A. “Don” Biadog, Commander, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Southern Baptist Convention