We’re just over a month now from welcoming 2011. Whatever else 2011 brings, it also marks four hundred years since the translation of the Authorised King James Version in 1611.

This is a notable landmark for the Church of Jesus Christ and I hope to see it marked by celebration and a renewed focus on God’s providential preservation of his word throughout the ages.

Already Thomas Nelson and Hendrickson have published commemorative editions of the 1611 translation (Hendrickson also has an older and slightly more affordable 1611 edition here and Thomas Nelson has also published a commemorative 1611 edition in combination with the New King James Version here). Unfortunately, both editions use a modern Roman font, but all spellings have been retained as well as the original 1611 translation, the preface to the reader, and the marginal notes from the translators.

Additionally, B&H Publishing has published a commemorative study edition of the 1769 edition of the King James Version and Thomas Nelson has published a 400th anniversary edition of the The King James Study Bible also using the 1769 King James Version.

I’m considering several ideas for celebrating the quadricentennial here at InFocus including:

  • A testimonial post sharing the influence of the King James Version in my life. Perhaps we could get others in the team to do so as well.
  • Perhaps some posts on the doctrine of Scripture.
  • Some posts on the history and influence of the King James Version.
  • Perhaps some posts on the history of Scripture in general including its transmission and translation throughout history.

Let me know any other ideas you may have. If you have an interest in the topic and would like to write on it, I’d be happy to receive your submissions by email.

I thank God for scholars all throughout history who have perpetuated and translated God’s word so that we can read it every day in our own contemporary language. And I thank God for the Authorised King James Version.

Grace to you.

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About Jason Harris

Dr Jason Harris is a writer, pastor, and academic. He has authored multiple books, articles, and papers including his book Theological Meditations on the Gospel. Jason has a PhD from James Cook University as well as degrees in theology, music, accounting, and research. Jason has lived in Cairns, Australia since 2007 and serves as pastor at CrossPoint Church. You can contact Jason at jason@jasonharris.com.au.

7 Comments

  1. PJ 19 November, 2010 at 6:30 am - Reply

    Sounds great Jason! Thoroughly recommend ‘In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture’- a book by the Oxford theologian and historian Dr Alister McGrath.

  2. Jason Harris 19 November, 2010 at 12:39 pm - Reply

    @PJ, Yeah, that is a great book. Perhaps we can get someone to review it here this year.

  3. Steve 21 November, 2010 at 8:55 pm - Reply

    Looking forward to it Jason. How about a post investigating whether William Shakespeare was a translator of the KJV, now that would be interesting!

  4. Jason Harris 21 November, 2010 at 9:52 pm - Reply

    Sounds good Steve. I’ll let you write that one. =P

  5. RoSeZ 21 November, 2010 at 10:56 pm - Reply

    @ Steve, But then that might open the question of whether William Shakespeare really wrote William Shakespeare’s own work… =P

  6. Steve 22 November, 2010 at 8:26 am - Reply

    Actually, I think Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare’s work.

    Seriously though, some of the KJV translators were interesting characters, perhaps a post on them and their method of translation would be more enlightening and edifying.

  7. RoSeZ 23 November, 2010 at 1:35 am - Reply

    Hate to disagree with you Steve, but all of the 80 men who have at one time or another been thought to have written Shakespeare have been proven wrong. Besides, one only has to look at Francis Bacon to see that a Scientist who died while watching meat freeze simply does not EVER write Romeo and Juliet type stories. =)

    I think Shakespeare is the work of a woman. Women were not allowed to be authors back then, but many were published under their husband or friends’ names. I believe such was the case with Shakespeare.

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