Anniversary of the Bible

By EDWIN B. PETERSEN

HELLO FOLKS — The month of July gave us a full eight inches of rain. That compares with only a-half inch in June.

It started raining the first of July and gave us a good amount of rain. The last three days in July rained more than four inches. Every drop was needed and welcomed.

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THIS IS A special year in the history of Christianity. It marks the 350^th anniversary of the publishing of the King James Version of the Bible. The King James Version has these many years been considered the most accurately written of all the versions or translations.

The history of the King James Version is most interesting. In brie], here it is.

The King James Version was preceded by at least six versions— of which had followed the Coverdale translation. They are Coverdale’s Bible, 1535; Matthew’s Bible, 1537; The Great Bible, 1539; the Geneva Bible, 1557-1960, and the Bishops’ Bible, 1568. 

Some months following King James I ascension to the throne he called a conference of church leaders. The six other versions of the Bible were different enough to cause some confusion and it was agreed that one uniform version should be printed.

Forty-seven translators were called to set about the work of translating. They were divided in to six different groups and certain rules numbering 14 were drawn up to be followed.

The translators were all taken from the two Universities of England; namely Oxford and Cambridge, and were the most learned of the day. The translators availed themselves of every available source to secure excellence in their work.

The result was a version that has been accepted for 350 years and today is still the most popular version.

The first printing contained many misprints that were corrected in succeeding editions. Actually, the Oxford edition of 1787 is the one used today. The form was then changed to be as it is today.

The King James Version has had a tremendous influence upon English Literature and still holds sway today.

Perhaps the greatest criticism of the King James Version is that the present day knowledge of Hebrew is greater and for that reason the old testament could be improved upon somewhat.

In 1952 the American Standard Version appeared and it has been quite popular but shows no sign of ever replacing the King James Version.

This year the New English Bible is on the market. Its influence upon sacred scripture is apt to be even less as it seems the influence of translators who do not believe in the divinity of Jesus, is very great in it. The result is tremendous loss of power and beauty. Only three times is the name Christ mentioned in the New Testament ...(unreadable)...