Spotlight

The 400th anniversary of the King James Version

Kevin Eckstrom

(RNS2-MAY23) Clardie Ellis Jr., a member of the St. John Baptist Church in New Orleans, reads from his King James Version of the Bible during Bible study. For use with RNS-KJV-BLACKS, transmitted May 23, 2011. RNS photo by David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune.

(RNS1-MAY23) King James I commissioned the King James Bible to unite a disparate flock amid theological and political divisions. For use with RNS-KJV-UNITE, transmitted May 23, 2011. RNS photo illustration by Ed Riojas/The Grand Rapids Press.

(RNS4-MAY23) The frontispiece to the original 1611 King James Bible shows the Twelve Apostles at the top, with Moses and Aaron flanking the central text. In the four corners are evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. For use with RNS-KJV-UNITE, transmitted May 23, 2011. RNS file photo

(RNS3-MAY23) King James I of England commissioned the King James Bible to unite a disparate flock despite political and theological divisions. For use with RNS-KJV-UNITE and RNS-KJV-BOOKS, transmitted May 23, 2011. RNS photo courtesy Library of Congress.

In 2011, the world celebrated the 400th anniversary of the Bible commissioned by King James I, the successor to Queen Elizabeth I. Commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, the Authorized Version, known as the King James Version, or KJV, has become one of the most influential books in the English language. It went through several revisions over the years, most recently (and permanently) in 1769. Religion News Service covered news of the anniversary, along with commentary about its influence, history and even some quirks.

Oops! Printing errors in the original KJV

Daniel Burke | May 23, 2011

(RNS) In the days before spell check, printer errors occasionally crept into the King James Version of the Bible. Here are some of the most notable: -- In a 1612 edition, Psalm 119:161 read "Printers have persecuted me without cause," instead of "princes." Perhaps a Freudian slip by the copy edi...
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Lofty language of KJV is more common than you might think

Daniel Burke | May 23, 2011

(RNS) Twelve phrases believed to have originated in the King James Bible, which celebrates its 400th anniversary this year: "Fight the good fight" (1 Timothy 6:12) "What comes out of the mouths of babes" (Psalms 8:2) "How are the mighty fallen" (2 Samuel 1:19) "To every thing there is a se...
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New books herald world’s most famous Good Book

ANN BYLE | May 23, 2011

(RNS) Anyone who watched the recent royal wedding in Westminster Abbey heard words and phrases found in the King James Version of the Bible: "vouchsafed" and "thee" and "asunder." It was a fitting setting as the world celebrates the 400th anniversary of the Bible commissioned by King James I, th...
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For many blacks, there’s only one Bible, and it’s the KJV

Adelle M. Banks | May 23, 2011

(RNS) On Sundays, C. Elizabeth Floyd, shows up for worship at Trinity Baptist Church of Metro Atlanta, with her Bible in hand. But the large, black leather Bible with dog-eared pages and hand-written notes in the margins isn't just any Bible: It's the King James Version. And Floyd, like many A...
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Mormon embrace of KJV didn’t come early, or easy

Peggy Fletcher Stack | May 23, 2011

(RNS) Though many early Mormon texts and speeches mirror the English prose of the King James Bible, it was not always the Mormons' only authorized version ofHoly Writ. In fact, Mormon founder Joseph Smith had so many reservations about its language that he stated his new Church of Jesus Christ o...
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