The King James Bible
All scripture is ... profitable for ... instruction in righteousness.
Key words
- Controversial: causing disagreement or discussion
The book was very controversial.
- Oversee: to watch or organize a job or an activity to make certain that it is being done correctly
As marketing manager, her job is to oversee all the company's advertising.
- Endorse: to make a public statement of your approval or support for something or someone
The Council is expected to endorse the committee's recommendations.
- Fund: to provide the money to pay for an event, activity, or organization
The company has agreed to fund my trip to Australia.
- Omit: to fail to include or do something
The book omitted any mention of the king's illness.
Read the article to find the answers
- When was the King James Version written?
- Why was it written?
- Who paid for the New International Version?
- What does the New International Version omit?
The King James Bible
The King James Bible (KJB/KJV) is named after King James of England, who lived from 1566 to 1625. Christians were divided during this time, so King James called a conference to try to unite them. The result was a new translation of the Bible.
The translations used before the KJV were of low quality, and Christians did not agree on them. For example, the Geneva Version of the Bible was controversial because it called the Pope the Antichrist, and the Bible used by the Pope was not easily understood because it was in Latin.
The KJV was approved and published in 1611. Because of the care and precise attention to detail during this seven-year translation, and because it was overseen by King James, it was considered the most accurate and complete translation of the Bible in existence and was widely accepted. It not only changed society, it changed the English language.
Bibles were not widely available before the KJV because they were copied by hand and therefore very expensive, and some people wanted the Bible to be available only to the clergy. King James, however, wanted to use the newly invented printing press to ensure that the King James Bible would be available to all people. The spelling was updated in 1769 to make it even easier for everyone to read.
Most Bibles in other languages were originally translated from the KJV.
The New International Version
The NIV is an original translation of the Bible begun by Howard Long and endorsed by numerous church leaders who met in Chicago in 1966. It was funded by the New York Bible Society in 1968. The words used in the NIV are changed regularly. The NIV is easy to read, but it omits many words, phrases, and sentences.
The NIV omits a clause: Luke 4:4
KJV And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
NIV Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone.
The NIV omits a word: Mark 9:29
KJV And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
NIV He replied, This kind can come out only by prayer.
The NIV omits a sentence: Matthew 17:21
KJV Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
NIV
Errors in the King James Bible?
In verse 3, chapter 24 of Matthew's Gospel it is written:
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The original Greek word is aeon (αἰών), which means a very long period of time, or an age. It can be translated as:
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?
The translation of aeon (αἰών) to 'world' has led many people to believe in various doomsday scenarios, while the translation of aeon (αἰών) into 'age' would have led people to believe that Jesus was telling His disciples about the end of temple worship in Jerusalem.
There has also been controversy over the anacronistic use of the word Easter.
Discussion questions
- Do you have any questions about any of the vocabulary or grammar in this article?
- Do you know the Bible passage quoted at the top of this article?
- Who translated the Bible into your native language?
- Did they use the KJV to translate it into your native language?
- Did they omit anything?
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