Glossary of unfamiliar words in the AV (KJV)

These are words that have shifted in meaning since 1611 or are no longer in general use. The list is not complete and probably not error free. I would be happy for suggestions from readers. Words of Anglo-Saxon or Old Norse origin anon - at once cattle - domestic livestock. Small cattle - sheep and goats. … Continue reading Glossary of unfamiliar words in the AV (KJV)

African Americans and the Bible

The January - February issue of Christianity Today carried an article entitled Black Bible Reading Endures. I would like to share some of the statistics and a couple of quotes from that article. Twice as many African Americans as other Americans to say that Bible reading is crucial to their daily routine. They are twice … Continue reading African Americans and the Bible

Some clarifications and an illustration

The Bible translation produced in 1611 was never given an official name. In England, Scotland and many other places it is referred to as the Authorized Version, but that name does not appear in the Bible itself. The text now in common use dates from 1789. Typographical errors had crept into the various printed versions. … Continue reading Some clarifications and an illustration

Why I do not read the King James Bible

I read the Authorized Version instead, of which Cambridge University Press is the main publisher. The text is identical to that in Bibles that are called the King James Version, except that the AV maintains the alternate marginal readings that were placed there by the translators 400 years ago. I suppose that if we would … Continue reading Why I do not read the King James Bible

Three keys to getting the most out of reading the Bible

Read it like a story book, not a recipe book A cook will pick up a recipe book and look for the type of dish he wants to make. The recipe will list all the ingredients and provide all the instructions needed to prepare that dish. Some folks try to use the Bible in the … Continue reading Three keys to getting the most out of reading the Bible

Verily, verily

The English of the AV, or KJV, translation was not the same as the English commonly spoken 400 years ago. The words were carefully selected to first of all be a true representation of the text in the original languages and secondly, to convey that truth in simple words arranged to have the greatest imapct … Continue reading Verily, verily

Appointed to be read in churches

The above notation appears on the title page of the Bible translation known in the USA as the King James Version and almost everywhere else as the Authorized Version.  The words are an introduction to one of the goals of the translators — they wanted this to be the best possible translation for reading aloud. … Continue reading Appointed to be read in churches

Tips for studying the Bible

1.    Read it. This is so obvious that I shouldn’t have to say it, yet I am constantly amazed at the number of people who don’t get much out of the Bible because they jump from one place to another, only reading little snippets here and there. The first step in understanding the Bible is … Continue reading Tips for studying the Bible

Why I prefer the AV Bible

Critics of the Authorized Version often appear to be more than a little disingenuous.  Some make an issue of minor variations in words and say that Peter, Paul & Jesus did not always quote from the same version of the Old Testament.  It is commonly accepted that Old Testament quotations in the New Testament come … Continue reading Why I prefer the AV Bible

The AV a trustworthy translation

The people behind new translations of the Bible have convinced a large number of believers that new translations are needed because (a) the discovery of ancient Greek texts of the New Testament provide a more accurate text and (b) changes in the English language make the Authorized Version unintelligible to modern readers.  According to a … Continue reading The AV a trustworthy translation