Items of Interest May 9, 2011 Issue

King James Bible as a catalyst

Editorial, The Christian Science Monitor. April 18, 2011.

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, and it’s worth remembering how that timeless translation has had such power to transmit the idea of self-government—first in America’s founding, and still today.

When King James I commissioned scholars to produce a translation, he wanted one for all the people. They hewed closely to the original Greek and Hebrew texts, but they also brought out the spirit of the Word, producing a text of beauty that accentuated the power and glory of God.

The words were of the people and yet distinct from the people, in the manner that a king is of the people yet set above them. Verily, the language was set apart, with an elegant simplicity that transcended the coarseness of casual conversation. The translators viewed Christ (whom they understood as the living Word) as fully human, and yet more than human.

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