Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
New York : Doubleday, c2001.
Description
"The King James Bible is the most familiar and widely read Bible translation in the world, recognized for centuries as both a religious and literary classic. But the origins of this masterpiece are far from what one might expect, and its beginnings lie in murder, deceit, bitter political feuds, and religious conflicts so intense they threatened the unity of England. The struggle to translate the Bible into English was a passionate cause, in the name of which crusaders fought, were imprisoned, and were sometimes even executed - like William Tyndale, whose efforts to translate the New Testament into English led him to a gruesome death. Now, Alister McGrath explores the origins of this monumental work and delves into the forces that brought it into being, illuminating a particularly volatile and culturally rich period in European history."--Jacket.… (more)
Media reviews
Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly
Although one does not hear much about "King James only" controversies in our midst anymore and only relatively veteran pastors used the KJV for a significant part of their ministries, yhe King James Bible is still of great interest as the most influential Bible translation ever.
User reviews
LibraryThing member waltzmn
The King James Bible: The noblest work of religious prose in English. The most beautiful translation of the Bible ever made in any language. One of the landmarks of early modern English.
An inaccurate translation of a corrupt Greek and Hebrew original.
This is the sad dilemma facing anyone choosing
Scholars and lay people can (and assuredly do!) differ on how much this matters. Theologically, it isn't tremendously important; most of the differences between the Authorized Version and the modern translations have no doctrinal significance. But to tell this tale without emphasizing what we now know is to omit a very important facet of the modern debate over the King James Bible. Admittedly this is a history of a translation, not a commentary. And it is a good history within its bounds. But its bounds are too narrow.
An inaccurate translation of a corrupt Greek and Hebrew original.
This is the sad dilemma facing anyone choosing
Show More
an English Bible today. The scholars who translated the Hebrew Bible simply did not have enough knowledge of Hebrew to do well, and those who translated the New Testament worked from the Textus Receptus of Erasmus, prepared almost a century before, and written under a printer's deadline. Erasmus was a great man, but he admitted that his text was "precipitated rather than edited"; it was based on a handful of bad manuscripts. The bottom line is, The King James Bible, for all its beauty, does not represent the original Bible at all well.Scholars and lay people can (and assuredly do!) differ on how much this matters. Theologically, it isn't tremendously important; most of the differences between the Authorized Version and the modern translations have no doctrinal significance. But to tell this tale without emphasizing what we now know is to omit a very important facet of the modern debate over the King James Bible. Admittedly this is a history of a translation, not a commentary. And it is a good history within its bounds. But its bounds are too narrow.
Show Less
LibraryThing member imnotsatan
The subject is fascinating. The writing isn't. I'm sure this would be a great resource for Biblical scholars, but it's not so great for the casual reader.
LibraryThing member polingspig
This is a wonderful book to give anyone with the KJV only attitude. I love the KJV, but I undrstand it is just a translation. The history of that translation process is laid open by McGrath. He respectfully tells the story and keeps it interesting.
LibraryThing member deanc
McGrath presents a riveting account of the history of the King James Bible and its significant impact on the English language. Beginning with Gutenberg and the origins of printing, and the religious-political developments of the 16th century, the author establishes the context for the emergence of
This 300-page book has an extensive bibliography and a substantial index. I believe any serious student of biblical studies, church history, or English literature would benefit from it.
Show More
the Authorized Version and how it came to supplant the Geneva Bible in popularity and influence. This 300-page book has an extensive bibliography and a substantial index. I believe any serious student of biblical studies, church history, or English literature would benefit from it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member docliz
An excellent book written by Alistair McGrath, Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford.
It looks not only at the development of the King james Bible and the history of the times but it is a fascinating study of the development of the English language.
to quote: 'those translators produced a
It looks not only at the development of the King james Bible and the history of the times but it is a fascinating study of the development of the English language.
to quote: 'those translators produced a
Show More
literary milestone' ; 'The true heirs of the King James translators are those who continue their task today, not those who declare it to have been definitively concluded in 1611'. Show Less
LibraryThing member saintjudeslibrary
King James Bible, history
LibraryThing member maryreinert
I'm not a Biblical scholar or an authority on the history of the English language although both subjects are of interest to me. This is not a book for those looking to discredit Bible translation as a way to discredit Christian faith. Obviously, the author has a great deal of respect for those that
All in all, I found this book interesting, easy to read (except for a few places), and enlightening.
Show More
took on this task. However, he doesn't shrink from telling all the "dirty laundry" associated with the translation and the acceptance of the KJV. If we think politics and religion get all mixed up today, we only have to read this to find that there is nothing new in the world.All in all, I found this book interesting, easy to read (except for a few places), and enlightening.
Show Less
LibraryThing member leandrod
Very entertaining and informative; I ended up wishing for more information.
LibraryThing member BibleQuestions
I just finished reading Alister McGrath's book "In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How it Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture". Even though I've read over a dozen books on the topic of English Bible translations, I was suitably impressed with the information in the
I was a bit disappointed the book didn't discuss into the successors of the KJV, such as the RV, ASV, RSV, NKJV, etc.
All-in-all, this is a 5-star book. This would be a good choice for a layperson who wants to learn about the history of English Bible translations.
Show More
book. I'd expected the book to be a review of information I was already aware of, but McGrath added pieces to the puzzle I was unaware of. McGrath went into some political and religious areas to explain what happened to the KJV after pupublicationand part of the book was the influence the King James Version had on the American colonies. I was a bit disappointed the book didn't discuss into the successors of the KJV, such as the RV, ASV, RSV, NKJV, etc.
All-in-all, this is a 5-star book. This would be a good choice for a layperson who wants to learn about the history of English Bible translations.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2001
Physical description
x, 340 p.; 25 cm
ISBN
9780385498906