I have on my desk three copies of McGrath’s In The Beginning to give away in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version.
I read this book several years ago and found it well-written, informative, and enjoyable to read. The following is taken from the back cover of the book:
In the sixteenth century, to attempt to translate the Bible into a common tongue wasn’t just difficult, it was dangerous. A Bible in English threatened the power of the monarch and the Church. Early translators such as Tyndale, whose work greatly influenced the King James, were hunted down and executed, but the demand for English Bibles continued to grow. Indeed it was the popularity of the Geneva Bible, with its anti-royalist content, that eventually forced James I to sanction his own, pro-monarchy, translation. Errors in early editions—one declared that “thou shalt commit adultery”—and Puritan preferences for the Geneva Bible initially hampered acceptance of the King James, but it went on to become the definitive English-language Bible. This absorbing history of a literary and religious masterpiece explores the forces that led to the decision to create an authorized translation, the method of translation and printing, and the central role this version of the Bible played in the development of modern English.
Here are the giveaway rules: You must be able to provide an Australian shipping address if you win. You may only enter the draw once. Three winners will be chosen randomly. Winners will be notified by email. The giveaway closes Monday, 1 August.
[NOTE: If you are reading by email or RSS, you may need to click through to the site to see the entry form for the draw.]
One Comment
Steve
Cool. Thanks Jason, very generous of you.