Belonged to Katherine Kent Stanley 1867

In many senses still the Bible version for the English-speaking world. Although its use continues to decline (due to its increasingly-archaic language, the proliferation of modern Bible versions and the general decline in Bible reading and ownership), its phrases are still instantly recognizable and have shaped English. Only Shakespeare can rival its influence on the language.

The King James Bible was the culmination of a century of English Bible translation that began with William Tyndale’s 1521 New Testament. Tyndale’s skill with language and style ensured that all subsequent versions, including this, were really revisions of his work. Many memorable turns of Bible phrase originate with Tyndale. Like the Bible translations of the sixteenth century (Coverdale Bible-1535, Great Bible-1539, Geneva Bible-1560, Bishop’s Bible-1568, among others), the King James Bible was an exercise in politics as much as in translation. Completed in 1611, this version steers a middle course between the Reformed leanings of the Geneva Bible and the churchmanship of the Bishop’s Bible. In many of its translations it supports the theology and structure of the Church of England.

It replaced the Bishop’s Bible as the version to be read in churches, and, in this way, became known as the Authorised Version (AV). It was never given any royal sanction, but became known as the King James Bible (or Version) because it was dedicated to James I of England, Scotland and Ireland, who commissioned it. It was revised a number of times, and the text we now have was from the final 1769 revision.

The AV assumed a unique place in the English-speaking world because no other successful translations appeared between 1611 and 1885. Its only rival was the Douai Version, produced for Roman Catholics in 1609, which limited its appeal and readership. Everyone knew the Bible in King James language. Even today many continue to use it.

In this reviewer’s opinion, everyone should at least read familiar passages of the Bible in the AV, as well as modern translations. It teaches good style, keeping us in touch with our language. It links us with the majority of English-speaking Christians who, before the 1950s, only knew the Bible in that language, not to mention the older members of current church congregations who were raised on King James scripture. It may also expose the poverty of some modern translations.

However, the King James Bible is a poor choice for a working Bible today. Clearly, its language and idiom are very archaic. The few fundamentalists who still insist that it is the only viable Bible translation are true obscurants. More seriously, the AV relies on flawed Bible texts. Infinitely better resources are available to textual critics now than to scholars in 1611, who relied on a 1525 edition of the Massoretic text for the Old Testament, and on Erasmus’s Textus Receptus, first published in 1516, for the New Testament. To be tied to the AV as the only acceptable version of scripture is to make it into a new Vulgate, ignoring the spirit of the Reformers, let alone the everyday koine Greek of the New Testament and the very earthy, accessible language of Jesus.

In one way, it is a good thing that so many translations have stepped up to take the load from the AV. The word of God should not be associated with only one turn of phrase or style. It is to be wondered if any version will come to dominate. I doubt it. NIV for evangelicals. ESV for the conservative and Reformed. NRSV for mainliners. The Message for seekers and anyone who can’t stretch themselves beyond the Midwestern USA. And so on and so forth. So many translations in English, to suit an affluent US market, when so many peoples have no complete contemporary scriptures in their language. The Bible-reading scene has splintered, as it had before 1611. Among the good that has emerged since the demise of the AV, one can feel a little sadness that a monument of the English language, and of unity among Christians, has is passing away.

This was my family Bible. It has The Blakes written in the front right hand corner of the cover. it was a gift of Patsy's to my grandparents. In the back on the page before The New Testament is the list of Family deaths. There are newspaper clippings inside. ( )

Full title reads: The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments translated out of the original tongues: and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by His Majesty's special command. Appointed to be read in churches. [Authorized King James Version]. Including: Ready References : a compilation of texts subjectively arranged with annotations. A small Bible, but being over 4 inches tall, not really a miniature. Distributed by Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah.