In our ever-changing and disposable world, some things continue to endure. Consider the King James Version of the Bible, which is 400 years old this year. When King James I commanded that a committee of translators set to work on a new Bible translation in 1604, England was still in religious turmoil. Seventy years before, King Henry VIII had rid England of the yoke of catholicism, and succeeding monarchs adopted new articles of faith which were often rapidly changed, resulting in leaders being in good standing one year and sent to the gallows in the next. The King James Version of 1611 was produced at a moment in history that helped protestantism gain permanent footing in England and other parts of Europe.
The KJV was not the first English translation. The Tyndale Bible was completed in the 1530s even though William Tyndale did not complete an entire English translation before his martyrdom in 1536. He did, however, consult with Luther and Melanchthon in Wittenberg, and, like Luther, translated the New Testament from a new Greek version recently published by Erasmus of Rotterdam.
The KJV today is still revered by many churches and church bodies as the best, or certainly the most preferred, English translation. Since 1611, dozens of English translations have been published especially in the twentieth century. Some pastors and churches seem to regard the KJV to be as divinely inspired as the original texts. Amazingly, the KJV was able to escape Middle Age church arguments, which was no small feat considering that era was filled with bitter disputes.
The English used in the KJV was already slightly outdated in its own day, with "thee" and "thou" starting to pass out of everyday speech. Modern translations have been published because the English language is evolving. Furthermore, many ancient manuscripts discovered since the days of the KJV have helped modern scholars to understand the biblical texts better, resulting in more accurate translations.
Stlll the King James Version of 1611 endures. There is even a "King-James-Only" movement which considers the KJV not just another translation but an indispensable foundation of the Christian faith. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Evidently some Christians believe our Lord was talking about the King James Version.
The true and everlasting Word of God - Jesus Christ - will always survive translation!
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