The Bible
Every year more copies of the Bible are sold than any other book. It is the all time best seller. However, it is probably the least read. Today there are scores of translations and paraphrases of it in circulation. It is said that the Bible has been translated into every language under the sun.
This year -2011-marks the 400th anniversary of the printing of the KJV, the King James Version in 1611. It is still the most popular of all the translations. After King James commissioned several dozen scholars to update previous attempts of the Bible, it took six years to complete. Two Protestant Reformers of the 14th century, John Wycliffe and William Tyndale, paved the way for the KJV. Both of them were arrested, condemned and burned at the stake. Tyndale’s translation and the Latin Vulgate became the basis of the King James Version.
One of the earliest editions became known as the “Wicked Bible.” Because of a misprint. Rather exclusion. In Exodus the 20th chapter, are the Ten Commandments, the basis of Hebrew beliefs. The word NOT was left out. It read, “Thou shall commit adultery,” “Thou shall steal,” etc. Many words used in the KJV are no longer in vogue. Their meanings have changed. For example the word “charity.” In 1611 it meant “love.” Not so today. Webster states, “Generous actions to aid the poor.” This becomes clear in I Corinthians chapter 13. The word “peculiar” in I Peter 2:9, is translated to mean a different people. But today it means “odd.”
The language of the KJV has also added phrases that have become mainstays in our vernacular. “To fall flat on his face,” “to pour out one’s heart,” “under the sun,” “sour grapes,” “pride goes before a fall,” and “the salt of the earth.” A casual survey reveals the major contributions to other literary works. Alster McGrath states, “Without it there would have been no Paradise Lost, no Pilgrim’s Progress, no Handel’s Messiah, no Negro Spirituals, and no Gettysburg Address.”
It took hundreds of years and scores of writers to develop the original canon of the Bible. For the purpose of this article I will focus on the New Testament. Take it from me, the Old Testament was equally torturous. A consensus of Bible scholars believe that Jesus was born between 7 and 4 B.C. He died about 33 A.D. The Apostle Paul was beheaded around 65 A.D. by Nero. All of his Epistles had to have been written before his death. At least 25 years after Jesus’ death.
The earliest Gospel was Mark, written about 70-75 A.D. 42 years after the death of Jesus. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke were written between 80-90 A. D. Now get this. No one knows for sure who wrote the Gospels. The titles of the Gospels were added several hundred years after they were written. The final group of books (27) was not decided until 467 A.D., 433 years after the death of Jesus. Until that time various Patristic Fathers like Marcion, Ireneaus, Polycarp, Origen and others had compiled their own lists. Even after 467 A.D. Martin Luther, the founder of the Reformation and the Lutheran Church denied the acceptance of the books of Esther and James to the Bible. Esther because the word God is not included in the book. And James because it contradicts his fundamental premise of “the just shall live by faith.” James says, “faith without works is dead. (2:26)
Aside from Luther’s views, the Book of Revelation was the last book added to the New Testament. The biggest problem in Biblical scholarship revolves around the issue of inerrancy. Basically it means that every “a” “and” and “thee” is directly inspired by God. It is an absolute assertion. No deviation. Those who support this view are called fundamentalists.
We must recognize that there is no original manuscript in existence of any book in the New Testament
earlier than the 5th century. The KJV is not an original. It is a translation.
Happy 400th anniversary King James Version.
Amen. Selah. So be it.
Words to Think About
G. W. Abersold, PhD