For those unfamiliar with history and facts, the King James Bible, also known as the 'Authorized Version,' was a government-issued and government-authorized translation.
Think about that for a moment.
Imagine Justin Trudeau or Barack Obama issuing a translation of the Bible authorized by themselves. The KJV was forced upon our ancestors as the "only Bible" the people should use. (Sound familiar?) The Bible of our ancestors was the Geneva Bible, a Bible translated by the people for the people. Our ancestors fled from England to the Americas clutching their beloved Geneva Bible, escaping from the religious persecution of King James, the Church of England, and the KJV. The Reformers, the Puritans, William Shakespeare, and early American colonists used the Geneva Bible exclusively. In fact, America was founded using the Geneva Bible.
It is interesting to note that the Geneva Bible was book-ended by religious persecution. At the front end was religious persecution from Queen "Bloody" Mary Tudor and the Catholic church, while at the back end was religious persecution from King James and the Church of England.
The Geneva Bible is the only Bible ever able to outsell and exceed the popularity of the King James Bible, until its printing ceased in 1644. It would be several decades before the King James Bible overtook the Geneva Bible in popularity with the people.
While I love the KJV translation, people need to learn some history before arguing utter foolishness (such as "The KJV was written by the Apostles."). The KJV was a Bible of religious persecution against our ancestors, and is today still being used as a tool of persecution by KJV-Onlyists who know nothing of church history and/or Bible history (let alone facts of reality). The Bible that helped shape the English language and our theology was the Geneva Bible. It was the first Bible to add numbered verses to each chapter; it was the first Bible to use Roman-style typeface instead of Gothic-style typeface; and it was the first "study Bible," utilizing extensive commentary notes in the margins. The KJV, while not a perfect translation, is nevertheless a good translation, but it is not the Bible of our ancestors. The Geneva Bible holds that title.
Think about that for a moment.
Imagine Justin Trudeau or Barack Obama issuing a translation of the Bible authorized by themselves. The KJV was forced upon our ancestors as the "only Bible" the people should use. (Sound familiar?) The Bible of our ancestors was the Geneva Bible, a Bible translated by the people for the people. Our ancestors fled from England to the Americas clutching their beloved Geneva Bible, escaping from the religious persecution of King James, the Church of England, and the KJV. The Reformers, the Puritans, William Shakespeare, and early American colonists used the Geneva Bible exclusively. In fact, America was founded using the Geneva Bible.
It is interesting to note that the Geneva Bible was book-ended by religious persecution. At the front end was religious persecution from Queen "Bloody" Mary Tudor and the Catholic church, while at the back end was religious persecution from King James and the Church of England.
The Geneva Bible is the only Bible ever able to outsell and exceed the popularity of the King James Bible, until its printing ceased in 1644. It would be several decades before the King James Bible overtook the Geneva Bible in popularity with the people.
While I love the KJV translation, people need to learn some history before arguing utter foolishness (such as "The KJV was written by the Apostles."). The KJV was a Bible of religious persecution against our ancestors, and is today still being used as a tool of persecution by KJV-Onlyists who know nothing of church history and/or Bible history (let alone facts of reality). The Bible that helped shape the English language and our theology was the Geneva Bible. It was the first Bible to add numbered verses to each chapter; it was the first Bible to use Roman-style typeface instead of Gothic-style typeface; and it was the first "study Bible," utilizing extensive commentary notes in the margins. The KJV, while not a perfect translation, is nevertheless a good translation, but it is not the Bible of our ancestors. The Geneva Bible holds that title.