LAKE FOREST, CA (ANS) — By way of introduction to the preface of the newest translation and update of the King James Version, I would like to say that it is not too often that the Authorized King James Bible (1611) is updated. It happened in 1769 by Oxford, which is commonly read today. Well, on the 400th Anniversary of the publishing of the King James Bible it is happening again.
By Dan Wooding
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| Cover of the King James Version 2011 New Testament |
Dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the King James Version (2011) translated by Chaplains to the Armed Forces of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and United States Military Chaplains have accomplished this major feat. What you are about to read is presented by permission of the Military Bible Association. Its preface reads as follows:
“The King James Version has been the standard version for Protestants throughout the English-speaking world for four hundred years. Its flowing language, prose rhythm and powerful and majestic style made it a literary classic, with many of its phrases and expressions embedded into today’s English.”
It goes on to say, “Today, Chaplains to the Armed Forces of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and United States Military Chaplains frequently encounter troops who do not understand the beautiful Elizabethan English of King James’ era. Realizing the need to update the King James Version for twenty-first century troops, chaplains of all major Christian traditions have joined forces with outstanding scholars to translate the Textus Receptus into modern English while retaining the style of the King James Version.
“The chaplains began their work on the New Testament in 2004, and the scholars completed the editing in May 2011. The chaplains and scholars adhered to the principle of formal correspondence, placing the King James Version of 2011 in the tradition of the Tyndale Bible of 1534, the King James Version of 1611 and the King James Version of 1769.
“The King James Version was first completed by the Church of England and published in 1611. The Anglican clergy working on it stated their purpose: not to make a new translation, but to make a good one better. They also wanted to make the Bible more known and accessible to the people. Thus, they produced the King James Version of 1611, which was a revision of the Bishop’s Bible of 1568, combined with their reworking of William Tyndale’s translation from the Greek text, now known as the Textus Receptus.
“Later, the University at Oxford produced a standard text of the King James Version of 1611, known as the 1769 Oxford Update and edited by Dr. Benjamin Blayney. Dr. Blayney standardized the punctuation and spelling to update the King James Version of 1611. The 1769 Oxford Update is the King James Version commonly used today.
“The Committee on Bible Translation of the 2011 King James Version comprises seventeen chaplains and thirteen scholars, who have aided the chaplains by editing the translation and giving it the scholarship required. This Holy Bible is the first translation by a committee of chaplains to the American and British Armed Forces. The chaplains represent such churches as the Church of England, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the General Council of the Assemblies of God, the Presbyterian Church of America, the Roman Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Syrian Orthodox Church and the United Methodist Church. The scholars represent institutions such as the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, Oral Roberts University, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Westminster Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary and Yale Divinity School. The Committee is devoted to making a good translation better and to ensu ring that the King James Version of 2011 is an accurate and unbiased update of the King James Version of 1611.
“The work of translating Scripture has always been an important part of Christian missions. Due to the work of missionary Bible translators, the complete Bible is available in over four hundred languages today. Missionaries normally have not used ancient Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic texts in translation work. Instead, they usually have relied on the King James Version. The King James Version of 2011 is in modern English and is, likewise, useful to continue translation work on the mission field.
“Chaplains are integral to missions. Many Armed Forces chaplaincy commissions serve as part of the home missions departments of their respective denominations. The King James Version (2011) is a translator’s Bible for missions work to provide the Word of God to all English-speaking people and the entire world.”
Readers are asked to compare the original Tyndale Translation with the updates of the following old English passage:
For when the worlde thorow wysdome knew not God in ye wysdome of God: it pleased God thorow folisshnes of preachinge to save them yt believe (I Cor. 1:21, Tyndale Translation 1534).
For after that, in the wifedom of God, the world by wifedome knew not God, it pleafed God by the foolifhneffe of preaching, to faue them that beleeue (I Cor. 1:21, KJV 1611).
Modern English:
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (I Cor. 1:21, KJV 1769).
“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (I Cor. 1:21, NKJV 1979).
Since in God’s wisdom the world did not know God through its wisdom, it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe (I Cor. 1:21, KJV 2011).
The preface concludes: “Chaplains to the Armed Forces of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and United States Military Chaplains and the scholars comprising the Committee on Bible Translation offer up to God the King James Version of 2011, the inspired Word of God, in the spirit of praise and thankfulness for the purpose of making disciples and teaching all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The Military Bible Association will soon announce its release date of the King James Version (2011).
Contact: Rev. Dr. Jim Linzey
President, Military Bible Association
Cell Phone: (760) 855-3905
E-mail: [email protected]
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Dan Wooding, 70, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 47 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 200 countries. You can follow Dan on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available this link.
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