For over three hundred years, the King James Version of the Bible was the primary Bible of the Protestant Church and now, more than four hundred years after it was first translated, it remains one of the more popular versions of Scripture. Otherwise known as the Authorized Version (AV), or the King James Bible (KJB), the King James Version (KJV) is an English translation of the Christian Bible that was commissioned for the Church of England in 1604, and completed in 1611. The KJV was the third English translation approved by English Church authorities, the others being the Great Bible and the Bishops Bible. The KJV was named for King James I, who convened the Hampton Court Conference in response to problems reported in earlier translations by the Puritans, a faction within the Church of England. The Bishops Bible and the original Hebrew and Greek texts served as the basis for the translation. Marginal notes, which in other versions tended to offend one faction or another, were to be used only to explain Hebrew and Greek words or to point out parallel passages, and distinctive type set off any words that had been added to complete a thought. During the 1700s, the KJV became the standard version of Scripture for English-speaking Christians, particularly within the Protestant churches. Several changes were made to the text in revisions during the years after it was first published, and the edition that is most used today follows the standard text of 1769. The strength in the KJV lies in the richness of the language, especially in the Bible's poetic passages. Some Christian denominations consider the KJV to be the only reliable English translation of the Bible. However, discoveries of additional Hebrew manuscripts have allowed for more accurate translations of the New Testament texts, according to most scholars. More modern translations have been adopted in recent years because some of the words commonly used in the 17th century are no longer in use today.
Recommended Resources
The full text of the King James Version of the Bible, as narrated by Stephen Johnston, is available online, and may also be purchased on CD, MP3 disk, or as software for a PC using Windows. Instructions for webmasters wanting to link to the Audio Bible are provided, and sponsorship opportunities are offered. Its products may be purchased online, and a support pages is included.
https://www.audio-bible.com/
The full text of the King James Version of the Christian Bible is presented, organized by book, chapter, and verse. Other resources include general information about the KJV and its status as being in the public domain, which means that there is no copyright on either translation or the software used to present it here, as well as a guide to reading the Bible through in one year.
http://www.kingjamesbible.com/
This online version of the King James Bible features the standard King James Version, also known as the Cambridge edition, as well as the original 1611s edition in early modern English. Also available as a mobile app for smart phones or tablets, the site allows users to search by word or verse, with advanced options, or by book, chapter and verse. Bible trivia questions are also featured, with various difficulty levels, which may be accessed by category, subject or book.
http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
King James Version of the Bible
With few frills or extraneous material, which provides for a rapid response to searches, the site offers the full text of the King James Version of the Bible, presented in search, the site offers the user the opportunity to search the entire Bible, the Old Testament, or the New Testament, as well as only the words of Christ (red letter), or by verse numbers only.
http://www.kjvbible.net/
The King James Only Resource Center
Written from a standpoint in opposition to the popular idea that the King James Version of the Bible is the only English edition approved by God, the site offers several oppositional articles by various authors, publishes an electronic magazine on the subject, entitled As I See It, and promotes King James Onlyism: A New Sect, a book on the topic. Links to like-minded sites are also available.
http://www.kjvonly.org/
The online store is a source of King James Version Bibles and study guides based on the KJV, as well as church supplies, gifts, and other conservative Christian products, including a selection of conservative Spanish and foreign language Bibles considered to be comparable to the English KJV. Included are study Bibles, Thompson Chain Bibles, Scofield Bibles, Bibles available in bulk, wide-margin Bibles, premium leather Bibles, family Bibles, and electronic or audio Bibles.
http://www.thekjvstore.com/
Taking a position against those who believe the King James Version of the Bible is the only reliable English translation of the Bible, the site includes a history of the KJV and Bible translation in general, and an examination of KJV-only arguments, but with a bias in favor of those supporting other versions. Articles and references by several authors are represented, and other resources are available through its online bookstore.
http://www.kjv-only.com/
