History of the KJV

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Rhonda_in_GA

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Can someone please help me in understanding the history of the KJV? I’m thinking that King James authorized it – but who actually translated it, and from what source(s)?

And is it correct that it was originally published with the Deuterocanonicals in the Appendix, and it no longer has them today?

Is the book of Wisdom in the current publication of the KJV?

Has the Church authorized the use of the KJV by Catholics?
Are there restrictions placed on it’s use by the laity?

Thanks for your help.

Rhonda in GA
 
History of the KJV:

King james wanted a new protestant translation for England. He comissioned one, and it was then then called the KJV or the Authorized version, because it was authorized by king james.

The KJV used to have the deutrocanonical books along with a few others in the appendix. The printers took these books out several years later.

The KJV is a protestant translation, and therefore not a catholic one. The transation is biased towards protestant beliefs. A good catholic bible is the RSV-CE (revised standard version, catholic edition). Sometims it goes under the name the “ignatious bible”.
 
See the above link by Athanasius for a good history of the KJV, although they wrongly imply that the deuterocanonical books were not originally included.
Rhonda in GA:
Is the book of Wisdom in the current publication of the KJV?

Has the Church authorized the use of the KJV by Catholics?
Are there restrictions placed on it’s use by the laity?
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The Wisdom of Solomon should be in the Apocrypha section of the KJV. However, as noted, most KJV’s that you pick off the shelf today will be missing the Apocrypha - it depends on the publisher and which particular edition you choose.

KJV is a very good translation, and I am not aware of any restrictions on its use. I don’t believe the Church has ever specifically authorized its use, because of the occasional Protestant bias, and because there was never a need to do so - there are plenty of good Catholic choices with impramateurs and Nihil Obstats already. On the other hand, the Church maintained a list of banned books for awhile, and I don’t think the KJV ever made it onto the list - implicit recognition that the KJV is acceptable, even though not preferred.
 
King James Version errors. These are a sampling of KJV errors. Why the errors? The 42 translators brought back their work to London and the King and his own Bishops changed quite a few verses to suit Protestantisms deviations from Catholic Teachings.
  1. Exodus 20:4 The Ten Commandments are corrupted by the KJV. Graven thing (idol) becomes graven image (Catholic icons). They pretend to forbid all sacred images as did the iconoclast heretics of the eighth century.
Against the need for faith and good works in Christian life:
  1. Heb 10:22 The KJV dares to add to the word of god “full assurance” to the word “faith,” to support the heresy of Martin Luther.
  2. Rom 4:3 One of countless examples of replacing the word “justice” or “justification” clearly meaning good works, with “righteousness,” as if salvation were all and only God’s work regardless of our cooperation.
  3. II Pet I: 10 The KJV and other heretic Bibles omit the words “by good works,” where the Holy Ghost tells us via the first pope that we must make sure our election (salvation) “by good works.”
Beware devout souls who believe in Jesus Christ and want the pure Word of God! Woe to he who corrupts, adds to, distorts or forbids the holy word of god as we received it from the fathers of old! Modern Catholic and all Protestant bibles are seriously corrupt in many ways.

The only reliable Bibles are those based on the old Latin Vulgate, such as the Douay-Rheims bible, available from TAN publishers. Ask for a catalogue, and try a small booklet by Fr. Rumble, “Bible Quiz,” or the small paperback "Where We Got the Bible: Our Debt to the Catholic Church
 
Woe to he who doesn’t cite his sources. Exporter, where is this list from?
 
Rhonda:

I recommend a book I recently read (a gift from my sister) called “God’s Secretaries”, a history of how the KJV came to be. For all the Protestant ranting about how the RCC sold out to curry political favor from Constantine and his successors, it’s fascinating to see what a political translation their favorite bible is. James faced a divided Protestantism (Anglicans vs. Calvinists), with a lurking Catholicism waiting in the wings. The common English Protestant bibles of the time were strongly Calvinistic, which tended to exalt the individual conscience over that of any arbitrary authority such as (eegad!) the king or his bishops. James commissioned a new translation more amenable to his own claim to power - specifically, his authority as head of the church in England. A classic example: the translators were not allowed to use the English word “tyrant”.

My advice: stick to the approved Catholic translations.
 
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