Version Info
| Complete name: | King James Version / Authorized Version |
| Abbreviation: | KJV |
| Year: | 1611 |
The Authorized King James Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible begun in 1604 and first published in 1611 by the Church of England. In common with most other translations of the period, the New Testament was translated from the Textus Receptus (Received Text) series of the Greek texts. The Old Testament was translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text, while the Apocrypha was translated from the Greek Septuagint (LXX).
The 1611 Bible is known as the King James Version in the United States. In the United Kingdom, it is commonly known as the Authorized Version. King James did not personally translate the Bible, but his advance authorization was legally required for the Church of England to translate, publish and distribute the Bible in England. James and the Bishop of London wrote the brief that guided the translation; it prohibited the marginal notes found in the Geneva Bible and ensured the position of the Church of England was recognised on various points. While the new Bible did replace the Bishops' Bible in the Church of England, there is no extant documentation to suggest that the completed book was ever formally 'authorized'. However, from 1662, the Epistle and Gospel texts in the Book of Common Prayer were taken from this Bible; and as such were 'authorized' by Act of Parliament (Daniell 2003, p. 488).
The 1611 Bible is known as the King James Version in the United States. In the United Kingdom, it is commonly known as the Authorized Version. King James did not personally translate the Bible, but his advance authorization was legally required for the Church of England to translate, publish and distribute the Bible in England. James and the Bishop of London wrote the brief that guided the translation; it prohibited the marginal notes found in the Geneva Bible and ensured the position of the Church of England was recognised on various points. While the new Bible did replace the Bishops' Bible in the Church of England, there is no extant documentation to suggest that the completed book was ever formally 'authorized'. However, from 1662, the Epistle and Gospel texts in the Book of Common Prayer were taken from this Bible; and as such were 'authorized' by Act of Parliament (Daniell 2003, p. 488).
