The Story of the King James Bible

Wycliffe 14 th Century, John Wycliffe translates the Bible into English Wycliffe claimed that each person should be able to read and study God’s Word in their own language ‘Wycliffe’s Bible’ was completed in 1384, the year of his death

Tyndale 1408 A law is passed forbidding the use of any English Bibles 1384 Wycliffe Bible completed 1538 King Henry VIII orders that an English Bible be placed in every church William Tyndale translated much of the Bible into English. He was arrested, publically strangled and his body burned at the stake. Legend says that his last words were, ‘Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!’ Myles Coverdale, Tyndale’s assistant, completed the Old Testament - the first complete Bible printed in English.

Coverdale to King James swayed by the whim of the monarchy King Henry VIII Places ‘Matthew’s Bible’ in each church, however this was later changed to a Coverdale Bible 1553 Mary Tudor Severe persecution upon Protestants with the burning of many Bibles. Many flee to Geneva where the ‘Geneva Bible’ is written – the first with verse divisions 1558 Queen Elizabeth I Persecution against Catholic scholars, who in turn flee to Europe where the Rheims-Douai English language Catholic Bible’ was translated

King James Version 1603 King James comes to power 1611 First edition of the King James Bible is published 1604 Conference held in Hampton Court Palace to sort out religious differences. Proposal for a new Bible translation which will be accepted by all churches and authorised by King James KJV is first printed without the Apocryphal books 1769Last major revision of the KJV took place – the version we have today

2011 The KJV became a Bible of preference, first across the British Isles and then spreading as English-speaking Christians travelled the world through trade, colonisation and mission. Biblefresh: celebrating the 400 th anniversary of the KJV Over the last 400 years the KJV has been published in hundreds of editions and is still a firm favourite for many Christians throughout the world. English/Arabic NKJV From

The Bible Today Today Bibles, including the KJV edition, are distributed by Bible Societies all over the world. Out of the 6,912 active languages in the world today only 459 have full Bibles Working to make the Bible available to all in a form they can understand and at a price they can afford Over a billion people can’t read – but only 3% of languages have the Bible in an audio format For over a billion people, the Bible is a luxury they can’t afford

What will you do? Biblefresh, marking the 400 th anniversary of the KJV, is a movement of churches, agencies, organisations, colleges and festivals which has a vision to reignite and re-enthuse the church in its passion for the Bible. For many in our churches the Bible has become tedious and toxic rather than treasured, trusted and true. The aim of the Biblefresh initiative is to encourage a greater confidence and passion for Scripture across the Church.