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2011 Marks the 400th
Anniversary of the Publication of
The King James
Bible
The Authorised Version
1 In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was
upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the
face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the
light from the darkness.
Genesis, Chapter 1
In 1603
King James VI of Scotland became James I of England.
In 1604 James VI and I convened a conference of fifty scholars
from all shades of opinion at Hampton Court to translate the
Holy Bible into English. In 1611 The Authorised Version
was published and is still for many the preferred version.
The
Queen's Christmas Broadcast of 2010 was centred on the
anniversary and emphasised the cooperative nature of the work in
producing this masterpiece of English Prose.
Introduction to the Bible
To the most high and mighty prince James
By Grace of God
King of Great Britain, France and Ireland
Defender of the Faith, etc.
The Translators of the Bible wish
Grace, Mercy, and Peace
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Great and manifold were the
blessings, most dread Sovereign, which Almighty God, the Father
of all mercies, bestowed upon us the people of England, when
first he sent Your Majesty's Royal Person to rule and reign over
us. For whereas it was the expectation of many, who wished not
well unto our Sion, that upon the setting of that bright
Occidental Star Queen Elizabeth of most happy memory, some thick
and palpable clouds of darkness would so have overshadowed this
Land, that men should have been in doubt which way they were to
walk; and that it should hardly be known, who was to direct the
unsettled State; the appearance of Your Majesty, as of the Sun
in his strength, instantly dispelled those supposed and surmised
mists, and gave unto all that were well affected exceeding cause
of comfort; especially when we beheld the Government established
in Your Highness, and Your hopeful Seed, by an undoubted Title,
and this also accompanied with peace and tranquillity at home
and abroad.
But among all our joys, there was no one that more filled our
hearts, than the blessed continuance of the preaching of God's
sacred Word among us; which is that inestimable treasure, which
excelleth all the riches of the earth; because the fruit thereof
extendeth itself, not only to the time spent in this transitory
world, but directeth and disposeth men unto that eternal
happiness which is above in heaven.
Then not to suffer this to fall to the ground, but rather to
take it up, and to continue it in that state, wherein the famous
Predecessor of Your Highness did leave it: nay, to go forward
with the confidence and resolution of a Man in maintaining the
truth of Christ, and propagating it far and near, is that which
hath so bound and firmly knit the hearts of all Your Majesty's
loyal and religious people unto You, that Your very name is
precious among them: their eye doth behold You with comfort, and
they bless You in their hearts, as that sancitified Person, who,
under God, is the immediate Author of their true happiness. And
this their contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every day
increaseth and taketh strength, when they observe, that the zeal
of Your Majesty towards the house of God doth not slack or go
backwards, but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself
abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom, by writing in
defence of the Truth, (which hath given such a blow unto that
man of sin, as will not be healed,) and every day at home, by
religious and learned discourse by frequenting the house of God,
by hearing the Word preached, by cherishing the Teachers
thereof, by caring for the Church, as a most tender and loving
nursing Father.
Ther are infinte arguments of this right christian and religious
affection in Your Majesty; but none is more forcible to declare
it to others than the vehement and perpetuated desire of
accomplishing and publishing of this work, which now with all
humility we present unto Your Majesty. For when Your Highness
had once out of deep judgement apprehended how convenient it
was, that out of the Original Sacred Tongues, together with
comparing of the labours, both in our own, and other foreign
Languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should
be one more exact Translation of the holy Scriptures into the
English Tongue; Your Majesty did never desist to urge and to
excite those to whom it was commended, that the work might be
hastened, and that the business might be expedited in so decent
a manner, as a matter of such importance might justly require
And now at last, by the mercy of God, and the continuance of our
labours, it being brought unto such a conclusion, as that we
have great hopes that the Church of England shall reap good
fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to Your Majesty,
not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the principle
Mover and Author of the work: humbly craving of Your most Sacred
Majesty, that since things of this quality have ever been
subject to the censures of illmeaning and discontented persons,
it may receive approbation and patronage from so learned and
judicious a Prince as Your Highness is, whose allowance and
acceptance of our labours shall more honour and encourage us,
than all the calumniations and hard interpretations of other men
shall dismay us. So that if, on the one side, we shall be
traduced by Popish Persons at home or abroad, who will therefore
will malign us, because we are poor instruments to make God's
holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom
they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on
the other side, we shall be maligned by selfconceited Brethren,
who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing, but what
is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil; we may
rest secure, supported within by the truth and innocency of a
good conscience, having walked the ways of simplicity and
integrity, a before the Lord; and sustained without by the
powerful protection of Your Majesty's grace and favour, which
will ever give contenance to honest and christian endeavours
against bitter censures and uncharitable imputations.
The Lord of heaven and earth bless Your Majesty with many and
happy days, that, as his heavenly hand hath enriched Your
Highness with many singular and extraordinary graces, so You may
be the wonder of the world in this latter age for happiness and
true felicity, to the honour of that great GOD, and the good of
his Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.
Links
King James Bible 400th Anniversary : 1611 - 2011 : King James
Bible Trust
BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - King James Bible
King James Bible online
The British Library: King James Bible
Scriptorium Collection: A History of the Written Word - 1611
King James Bible
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