Celebrating a national treasure - the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible

The King James Bible – or Authorised Version - is not the first English translation of the Bible, but it is the one that has done more than any other book or Bible translation to transform English society and culture - and indeed the world.

Carried far beyond Britain’s shores by pilgrims, missionaries, traders and travellers, the KJV brought respectability and coherence to the English language such as had never existed prior to 1611 and set English on the path to becoming a world language.

As the most printed book in the English language, it has influenced the works of writers from Shakespeare, to Charles Dickens and Philip Pullman, and is the Bible of the established Church and the Royal family to this day, not to mention the Bible of choice for many churches around the world.

“It is so many different things to so many different people,” Tim enthuses. “It’s always had that kind of timeless grandeur and it’s extraordinarily beautiful. Modern translations are great if you want to understand something very clearly but they will often go out of date because they are idiomatic translations. The KJV has stuck around.”

While Tim is clearly a big fan of the King James, he stresses that the trust’s aim is not to see its return to the pulpit of every church in the country - it's understandable that the King James is not the first Bible pastors reach for when they want to easily explain the Gospel, he admits.

What he would like to see, though, is churches having fun and gaining a new perspective of the Bible, perhaps by holding creative events or special services in which they substitute their usual Bibles with the King James.

“The trust’s aim isn’t to say we’ve got to get the King James in our churches but it is to say that it’s out there and that this is an opportunity to look at this rather neglected national treasure.

“While some of the modern translations give a clarity of meaning, their precision sometimes comes at the expense of the mystery and spiritual power the King James can give you and it’s a chance for people to rediscover that - and enjoy it.”

The King James Bible Trust is overseeing celebrations of the anniversary in Britain but part of its work is also to bring the KJV back to the nation’s classrooms.

Tim remembers the KJV being read to him every day at school when he was growing up but after decades of its absence from classrooms, awareness is, not surprisingly, plummeting (a recent poll by the trust found that 51% of under-35s had never heard of it).

Tim says he is deeply concerned by the level of ignorance surrounding a text he feels young people should know about, even if only for its cultural importance.

“I think clearly something’s happened and it’s not just with the King James but with the whole issue about the Bible’s place in schools – the Bible full stop, let alone the King James,” he says.

He admits that hard pressed teachers would far rather teach the Bible in its simplest form if they have to teach it at all. Despite this, Tim believes the King James’ significance is too great to allow it to “drop off a cliff”. That’s why the trust is developing modules for RE, ethics and English literature lessons in schools.

“The KJV’s impact on the English language is as great if not greater than that of the works of Shakespeare. Everyone agrees that children should not leave school without some encounter with Shakespeare and yet not the King James. You have to ask what the difference is between the two and you come down to the fact that it’s a religious work,” he says.

Although some people may be nervous about the King James being taught in a multi-cultural and multi-faith society, Tim’s experience tells him that most people are fine with it, including those of other faiths and none.

“There are many secular people who are not paid up churchgoers but who will nevertheless enjoy hearing the words of the King James Bible - it means an awful lot to a great many people who are not necessarily churchgoers.

“If children don’t have any knowledge of the faith and religion that has shaped their own culture … if you don’t know anything about the Bible, even walking into the National Gallery half the pictures in there won’t speak to you.

“You are simply locked out of an appreciation of your own history, our nation’s writings, our arts and our culture.”

It boils down to ‘raise awareness, leave a legacy’, Tim’s motto for the trust’s work in 2011 and the point of all the workshops, readathons, exhibitions, lectures and other countless events taking place to celebrate the KJV’s 400th anniversary throughout the year.

Tim concludes: “Whether you are a Christian, agnostic, atheist or heathen, the Bible has got something to say to you. It’s a shame if we ignore it, but actually it’s even dangerous if we ignore something so central to our culture.

“I would love to see people reengage with the King James Bible. It may be the dusty old Bible on the shelf with the forbidding black cover and gold writing that they haven’t looked up for a while but perhaps they could take it down and look at certain passages and see something they’ve perhaps neglected, because the Bible is worth finding out about.”