Gladstone's Library

The King James Bible: A Short History

Posted by: Tom on 17 Jan, 2013

 ‘In the beginning was the Word…’ is the first line from the Gospel of John in the King James Bible, a translation that is known by Christians and non-Christians alike. It took centuries of religious and political conflict, and Bible translation, for this well known line to be crafted.
Although the King James Version of the Bible, or the Authorised Version, is probably the most well-known translation of the Bible various other translations had paved the way before it.
The King James Bible translation was started in 1604 and wasn’t finished until 1611, showing you how seriously they took their task and also how difficult Bible translation is.
Here at Gladstone’s Library we have copies of many of these translations, from the Anglo-Saxon Gospels and religious poetry through to Wycliffe’s and Tyndale’s translations, the Geneva Bible and the Douey-Rheims Bible. Studying these shows you not only the influence they had on the King James Bible but just how far Bible translation has come. An example of this improvement in translation is shown in one of our Geneva bibles. This particular version is known as ‘The Breeches Bible’ because its translation of Genesis 3:7 reads as ’and they sewed figge tree leaves together, and made themselves breeches.’ – that’s some skill! The King James Version translates the same word as ‘aprons’ and the more modern New International Version translates it as ‘coverings’, which seems an easier garment to make out of fig leaves than breeches!
However, despite all the detailed attention that was given to the creation of the Bible mistakes did occur, often at the stage of printing. Our oldest copy of the King James Bible was printed in 1655 by a Society of Stationers and suggests that Jesus was a ‘malefactor’ (i.e. a criminal) just by omitting a comma from Luke 23:32! This is a rather minor mistake compared to some that have occurred, including the omission of ‘not’ from the commandment ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’.

This version of the Kings James Version was printed in 1719 and includes illustrations and a copy of the Book of Common Prayer.
How to Find Out More

If you would like to learn more about the history of the King James Bible or about Bible translation and its influential role in church reform then Gladstone’s Library is the ideal place. We have many new and up-to-date works on church history and the King James Bible, including:

§  The King James Bible after 400 years: Literary, linguistics, and cultural influences

             -Edited by Hannibal Hamlin and Norman W. Jones (Cambridge: Cambridge
             University Press, 2010)

§  The King James Bible: A short history from Tyndale to today

             -David Norton (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011)

§  Bible: The story of the King James Version 1611-2011

             -Gordon Campbell (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010)

§  Begat: The King James Bible and the English language

            -David Crystal (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010)