the holy bible king james version

Did God Authorize the King James Bible?

By Kalinda Rose Stevenson, PhD

The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is also called the “Authorized Version” (AV) (spelled “Authorised Version” using British spelling.) This leads to an important question. Who authorized it? For many reasons, The King James Version has been THE bible for English-speaking people since its first publication in 1611. It is also the most published work in the history of the English language. In all of that time, it has carried the label “Authorized Version.” For those who do not understand the history and political purposes behind the translation, it is very easy to assume that the words “Authorized Version” stamped on the cover mean that this version is somehow authorized by God. In fact, the one who authorized the King James Version was not God, but King James, and demonstrates the intimate connection between religion, politics, and the Bible.

If you have watched any of “The Tudors,” you will see some of the forces at work behind the writing of the King James Bible. Religion, politics, and power were at the heart of the ongoing conflicts. The official language of the church was Latin and translations of the Bible into English were strictly forbidden. Sir Thomas More, who was executed for refusing to recognize Henry VIII’s authority over the church, was also adamant against allowing English translations of the Bible. There is too much history to outline here to reach the point when James I became King of England after the death of Elizabeth, but the critical issues facing James were ones that had surfaced during the era of Henry VIII. As a result of Henry VIII, the king was the head of the Church of England (the Anglican Church.) When James became king, the Anglicans and the Puritans were involved in deep conflicts over which version of the Bible was “authorized” for use in the Church of England. This means that control of the Bible was a highly political issue.

In a brilliant stroke of leadership, King James I “authorized” that a committee of scholars prepare a new translation, and control the conflicts between the Anglicans and the Puritans. The critical point is to understand that, whatever else James I wanted to accomplish, his first goal was a political one. The first goal of King James Version was to reinforce King James I authority as head of the Church of England. Although there are many reasons why the King James Version has been beloved by English-speaking Christians for almost four hundred years, there is no benefit to assume that this version is the holiest Bible of all because it has been somehow uniquely authorized by God as the official “Word Of God.”