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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.”

holy bible king james version

Discovering The King James Bible
By Susan Sloba

We all know that Bible study is an important part of the Christian faith, but in these turbulent and busy days it can be challenging to find the time for proper Bible study. One method that many have found to be helpful in this regard is to utilize the audio Bible for this purpose. The comes in several well-loved versions, including the King James audio Bible. Audio Bible study has never been easier, because you can listen to a CD containing the audio Bible or you can listen to an audio Bible mp3 version that will fit on a tiny mp3 player, so you can take your audio bible. Bible study with you wherever you go. The King James version of the Bible that we have come to know and love has a fascinating history.

The King James version of the Bible uses the Hebrew texts as the basis for its Old Testament translation, and the Greek texts for the New Testament translations. It does also refer in a secondary sense to the Latin Vulgate text as well. The translation work took place in England between 1603 and 1611, and the text was translated by 47 scholars from the respected Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as Westminster, working in different committees, which were assigned with translating certain portions of the Bible. The Apocrypha was included in this translation; some groups accept these books as part of scripture, while others do not.

King James himself started his political life as King James the Sixth of Scotland. His mother was the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots and his aunt was Queen Elizabeth the First. James became the King of England in 1603 and was known as King James the First. Before King James came to power in England, there were many competing versions of the Bible, most with footnotes favoring certain political or ecclesiastical positions of the authors.

In light of this situation, it was decided by King James that there should be a new English translation of the Bible that would settle all the controversies surrounding the many other versions, and this new version should follow the doctrine as put forth by the Church of England. He wanted a version where there was a minimum of marginal notes, except for the few needed to help better explain the meaning of certain Hebrew and Greek terms in words that English readers could understand. King James asked them to revise what was known as the Bishop’s Bible, and to compare this version to several of the other competing versions to come up with the translation that best fit the King’s parameters. The translation was completed in 1611, and hit the printing presses that year as well. Intense rivalries developed among the printers chosen to print the Bible; the rights for printing this version of the Bible were eventually purchased in the 1900s by the Cambridge University Press. Today the history of this well loved version of the Bible is carried on in the form of an audio Bible

You may want to check out my other guide on bible covers