How the Bible came to be and why the King James Version isn't and shouldn't be the only version

There are many, many different versions of the Bible out there today. Sometimes, the choice for an appropriate text can be overwhelming. Some prefer the NIV, others the NRSV, while others would have you think that the King James Version is the only pure and Godly version in existence. This belief is more harmful than good. For many proponents of this position, the other versions of the Bible came out through a satanic plot to corrupt the church. They claim that the Alexandrian texts used by the NIV and others are corrupt. Actually the objection to the Alexandrian texts is a fallacy. The King James text, which originated in 1611, has limitations, due to the time it was written and by the method of translation that IT used. I am not saying this to proclaim that one text is better than the other, but I do want to point out that the line of thinking that Alexandrian texts were considered heretical is not true.
First, the KJV is without the knowledge of the Masoretic texts and the Dead Sea Scrolls, which when discovered in 1947 brought about incredible knowledge of early Jewish life and their beliefs. Second and most important, the image of one lonely monk painstakingly translating the Bible from its original Hebrew and Greek into Latin or even later, English is not an accurate view of translation.
See, we don't have the original autographs - the original documents, written by the original writers. We do have pieces of papyrus that date close to the originals, but even then, we are talking about @ 100-200 years of difference. Also, many - and I mean hundreds of pieces of scrolls and papyrus get laid out on tables and they are then pieced together by flow and writing style in order to match up content, etc. for accuracy. This is a lengthy process that requires the work of many, rather than one.
Second, the translation style that was used for the KJV is actually the weakest. Instead of examining the scrolls, etc. themselves, the "translators" all sat in one large room, while one person sat up front and read the scrolls aloud. In essence, this was a large dictation party. This was done for speed's sake. Remember, the KJV came at the bequest of King James. History shows us that he was not even what you would call a very decent man. YES, I do believe that God used in spite of himself. God does that throughout history. By the way, for what it is worth, it is believed that James was very likely a homosexual. Does that really matter? That is an issue between the man and God, but it should be noted.
The translating process for scrolls, papyrus that was used by the NIV involves much more time and the process that I first described. This is one reason why you might see phrases like "does not appear in the earliest Greek texts" in the notes in some Bibles. For example, Mark 16:9-17 - the ending that we have in Bibles simply was added later. John 7:53-8:1-11 - which is the story of the woman caught in adultery does not appear in most ancient texts. These portions, along with others simply weren't in the most reliable early texts. This clearly points to the portions being added by later writers. By the way, the one text that is used by KJV-only proponents, most vocally Chick Publications, point towards I John 5:7 to say that if your Bible doesn't read, "There are three that testify in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one", then it is "false". The vast majority of versions render this verse in v.7-8 as "There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree". Once again, the most reliable early texts simply DON'T render what the KJV has in it. In fact, the KJV rendering, while being a concise Trinitarian statement, would be the ONLY verse in the Bible to be so clear in position. I am a firm believer in the Trinity, so I am not bashing that, only once again pointing out that there are inconsistencies in the KJV.
Frankly, it is NOTHING BUT A MIRACLE of the Holy Spirit that we have the Bible at all. Remember, it is NOT like the Bible was assembled in one piece and laid at the feet of every believer upon conversion. The Bible that we have today is the result of the efforts of thousands over countless hours of writing, mediation, study, debate and most importantly, PRAYER.
I really think that some of the issue with KJV-only folks is their view of how scripture was given to men. Some people believe that the writers were mere tools who wrote every word EXACTLY as God meant it to be. In other words, they were merely taking dictation. However, when you read the Bible, it is clear that the personalities of the writers comes out from time to time. I really believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, but just as God chooses to speak to the hearts of men, he also has used men to write. This is called "dynamic inspiration". The Holy Spirit worked WITH the writers, using their literary skills, world views, etc. For instance, why do we have 4 Gospels? Why do those 4 Gospels actually have 4 different views of the same events? Why is it that some omit things others left in? It has to do with the writer and most importantly, the CONTEXT in which the book was written. Remember, the books were also assembled. It's not like Luke would have just sat down and wrote his gospel in sitting. It took time, etc. Remember, Luke wasn't even at the events that he describes in his gospel, yet Matthew was. Don't you think that would lead to some differences in accounts? This isn't to lessen either one, it is merely to say that we have to be careful as to how hard and dogmatic we cling to each word.
Each person has a unique personality and even writing style. This is reflected in the texts that we have today. Look at the different styles that are present. The Bible is collection of 66 smaller books that were written over hundreds of years and then only MUCH later, assembled into what we have today. It wasn't even until AD 367 that Athanasius wrote the first list of books of the New Testament, in the way in which we have it today. As a side note, it should be stated that the nature of Christ, his full divinity and full humanity wasn't nailed down until the Council of Nicea in AD 325. The full divinity of the Holy Spirit wasn't established, formally, until the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. Point being, our faith has been worked out through the course of time by so many. We take this for granted, but it should NEVER be.
I write this not to attack, but to inform. We must understand that while yes, the Bible is the Word of God; it has been given to and through fallible men. I am not saying that it is full of errors. I am saying that the Bible has plenary inspiration from the Holy Spirit. This means that the Bible is inerrant in INTENT. It is completely inspired in thought and intent from the Holy Spirit. Personal use of words and phrases was allowed for the purpose of expressing the divine in human words. I hope this is of use. There are many other reasons why there are different versions of the Bible, but I assure you that the NIV and others do not exist as some plot of Satan to corrupt the church and Christians everywhere. This has been a quick overview of the landscape of Biblical interpretation.