400 years of the King James Bible

Four hundred years ago, in 1611, the 'King James Bible' was first completed.

The King James Bible Trust has been established to celebrate the 400th anniversary. A website has been set up, with full details of the translation and events surrounding the King James Bible.  

It is also known as the Authorised Version since it was 'authorised' by King James 1. When first published, the translation was given the title "THE HOLY BIBLE, Containing the Old Testament, AND THE NEW: Newly Translated out of the Original tongues: & with the former Translations diligently compared and revised, by his Majesties special Commandment" (different original spelling - see image of title page at Wikipedia - and at right)
View a digitised version of the first edition - click here.

Various short videos on the main website highlight various well-known phrases from the King James translation - 'salt of the earth', 'the powers that be', 'nothing new under the sun' and so on.

Surprisingly, even atheists have contributed to reading chapters of the King James Bible for a special BBC production and have commended the King James Bible:

Richard Dawkins says that the King James Bible is essential for understanding English language, literature and culture. He read a chapter from Song of Solomon. watch the interview with Richard Dawkins - click here.

Christopher Hitchens, another atheist, recently said, in his commentary in Vanity Fair, "Though I am sometimes reluctant to admit it, there really is something 'timeless' in the Tyndale/King James synthesis. For generations, it provided a common stock of references and allusions, rivaled only by Shakespeare in this respect. It resounded in the minds and memories of literate people, as well as of those who acquired it only by listening."
Read report at Christian Post. 

He went on to commend the King James wording of a passage in Philippians - "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." He said he found a newer translation of these verses to be "pancake-flat"!

Even our Prime Minister, Julia Gillard - herself an atheist - recently affirmed the importance of the Bible...

Ms Gillard said it was important for people to understand their Bible stories "not because I'm an advocate of religion - clearly I'm not - but once again, what comes from the Bible has formed such an important part of our culture". "It's impossible to understand Western literature without having that key of understanding the Bible stories and how Western literature builds on them and reflects them and deconstructs them and brings them back together," she said.