ryancarter
12-05-2010, 09:47 AM
There is no more influential document in the history of the English language than the King James version of the Bible (KJV). If one were to rank the most influential (among Christians) Bible translations ever made, arguably, they would be as follows:
1. Septuagint (Greek Translation of the OT, the Bible of the Early Church)
2. Latin Vulgate (the Church's Bible for 1000 years or so)
3. Luther's German Bible
4. King James
5. Reina Valera
(Of course one could argue that the predecessors of the KJV, like Wycliffe, Tyndale, the Bishop's Bible, and the Geneva Bible, are as important as the KJV itself. The KJV is best viewed as the culmination of these works, and so by putting it on the list, its predecessors are in some sense represented.)
The KJV was completed in 1611. This coming year, 2011, will mark 400 years for ole King James, yet the KJV still holds the #2 position in Bible sales (http://www.cbaonline.org/nm/documents/BSLs/Bible_Translations.pdf).
While many of us may not prefer to use the KJV as our main translation (for good reason), the current trend of disparaging and/or ignoring the KJV will not do either. I think 2011 gives us a great chance to honor the legacy of the KJV by re-familiarizing ourselves with its beautiful text. I, for one, am going to read through the entire KJV Bible (w/out Apocrypha) in 2011. Anyone want to join me?
Ryan
1. Septuagint (Greek Translation of the OT, the Bible of the Early Church)
2. Latin Vulgate (the Church's Bible for 1000 years or so)
3. Luther's German Bible
4. King James
5. Reina Valera
(Of course one could argue that the predecessors of the KJV, like Wycliffe, Tyndale, the Bishop's Bible, and the Geneva Bible, are as important as the KJV itself. The KJV is best viewed as the culmination of these works, and so by putting it on the list, its predecessors are in some sense represented.)
The KJV was completed in 1611. This coming year, 2011, will mark 400 years for ole King James, yet the KJV still holds the #2 position in Bible sales (http://www.cbaonline.org/nm/documents/BSLs/Bible_Translations.pdf).
While many of us may not prefer to use the KJV as our main translation (for good reason), the current trend of disparaging and/or ignoring the KJV will not do either. I think 2011 gives us a great chance to honor the legacy of the KJV by re-familiarizing ourselves with its beautiful text. I, for one, am going to read through the entire KJV Bible (w/out Apocrypha) in 2011. Anyone want to join me?
Ryan