I recently had the opportunity to view a DVD documentary on "The Making of the King James Bible" by the Christian History Institute, which I learned has lots of interesting visual products pertaining to Christian history.
Just today (or more precisely, last night), I attended a one time course at MAPC on the same subject. To make sure I'm well prepared, I watched the DVD first without any further delay.
To make it a short summary of my learning, I shall jot this down from memory:
Since Queen Elizabeth had no heir, the throne fell on her cousin, King of Scotland, James VI. Thus making him King James I of England.
At that time, Bible translations were a common thing.
Due to the dispute on which version is accept in the church, the King called for a universal version.
The King James Bible owes much to Tyndale's version. A sidenote on Tyndale: He once debated against a catholic theologian in 1523, taken from wikipedia: "We had better be without God's laws than the Pope's." Swelling with
emotion, Tyndale responded: "I defy the Pope, and all his laws; and if
God spares my life, ere many years, I will cause the boy that driveth
the plow to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost!"
Before the KJB, the church used an unfavored Bishop's Bible. This was because there were in those days supporters of the Genevan Bible.
There was also the catholic's Rheims version, which has footnotes in certain verses here and there mocking the protestant movement (ie. Luke 1:48 on Mary being blessed).
In the DVD, it mentioned the Gunpowder plot of 1605 Nov 5th (which is annually celebrated by people reciting the incident and wearing Guy Fawkes' masks), in relation to the promotion of the KJV, as the plot failed.
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This is the bio of yesterday's (The origin of the King James Bible) lecturer:
Iain Torrance, Princeton Seminary president and Professor of Patristics, will present on the history and background of the King James Bible. Shortly after inheriting the English throne and uniting the kingdoms of Scotland and England, James VI of Scotland became James I of England and authorized a new English translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek texts. Begun in 1604 and published in 1611, the King James Version became England’s Authorized Version of the Bible. Since then, millions of Christians have lived out their faith through its words.
Dr. Torrance h
Update: 8/7/2025 Old King James Only Song (Independent Fundamental Baptist IFB Bible Song) - The Bible Bookstore KJV Bible Song. I can never get why KJV-Only folks are so shallow but this song maybe an antidote:
Song allegedly by John Marshall: