Here I am again talking about the KJV. Next thing you know, I'll be hitting the revival meeting circuit with Oral Roberts. Anyway, here are 5 reasons why you should consider reading the King James Version.
1. It is beautiful. There is a reason why you study this thing in Literature courses. While some might feel that beauty comes at the price of clarity (especially considering the plainness of the original language), to experience the English language at its best, you need to read the KJV or Shakespeare. I pick the bible!
2. It is common to all. Step back for a minute. Think of all the scripture you can quote. If you are Presbyterian like me, it is probably not much! But the things you DO know probably come from the King James Version. The Lord's Prayer. The 23rd Psalm. Even John 3:16. Most people quote these from the King James Version. It gives us English speakers a common bond and language to share.
3. It is a good translation. Sure, the KJV doesn't make use of the earliest manuscripts. It might not match up well to modern bibles in terms of content (or vice versa if you are of the King James Only variety). However, the KJV is an excellent translation of the Greek language. Seriously! As long as there are not too many textual variants in the passage, the translation of the KJV will stand up to anything you come up with on your own. I used it to check my Greek from time to time. Chop off the -sts or the -ths and you are good to go.
4. It is pre-modern, thus making it post-modern. We hear all about post-modernism these days. And the result? Crappy modern sounding English translations like The Message. (Sorry, I just can't drink the Eugene Peterson Kool-aid.) If the commentators are right about the post-modern desire for mystery and ritual, what could be better than the King James? It sounds archaic and at times down-right spooky. That is what the post-modern world loves, so this should be the version of choice!
5. It is free to use. Most people don't realize this, but most modern bible translations are copyrighted. If you are going to quote from them, you need permission. Otherwise, it is time to pay up. Lest you think this is a joke, I was part of a one-act play in college based on the book of Job. Two weeks before we went live, the playwright discovered that his script, based on the NIV, could not be performed because it was based entirely on copyrighted material. I am not sure how he resolved this, but needless to say, it is a problem. On the other hand, the KJV has passed out of copyright in the U.S. That is why you find it so many places. That is why the Gideons used it for their bibles. Its completely, totally, 100% free to use!
And there you have it. Pick one up, try it...
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