2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible and Tim Brearley, director of the King James Bible Trust, is hoping that Christians will seize the opportunity to explore its beauty, mystery and of course its truth.

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 Modern translations are great if you want to understand something very clearly but they will often go out of date because they are idiomatic translations.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).

Article by Christian Today: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/celebrating.a.national.treasure.the.400th.anniversary.of.the.king.james.bible/27406.htm