The King James BibleThe King James BibleCompleted

in 1611

The Reformation caused a need for a

Bible the people could actually read.

One of the first acts of James I was to sponsor

a new translation of the Bible – an

authoritative English translation.

The king appointed 54 learned clergymen who dividedthe scriptures among them for translation and checking.

It took them seven years.

The new translation was checked time and again foraccuracy, unlike existing interpretive translations.

The translators reviewed original sources as well as translations of the work, such as the Vulgate (Latin) and Tyndale’s, an English version of the New Testament which the committee followed closely.

This bible became known as the “Authorized Version,” or simply, the English Bible.

It has been called “the only classic ever created by a committee.”

It is still used in many churches today, referred to as the King James Version, or KJV.