The Perface to the KJV: Not What You'd Expect

some thoughts on the English Bible

I’ll be publishing a series of short essays that I put together for a friend as he is studying for his comprehensive exam for his Master’s. They include one on the Septuagint, an article on the preface to the KJV, an examination of different translation philosophies, and a short history of the English Bible before the KJV. Just a heads up: writing style will be a little different because of the nature of the work. I hope you Enjoy!

If you grew up “King James Only” like me, then you’ll appreciate this one!

The preface of the KJV contains two letters: one to the readers and the other to the king. In the dedication to the king, the translators stated the purpose of their work as well as the danger of it; both of these subjects were expounded upon in the letter to the readers. Concerning their purpose, they wrote,

For when Your Highness had once out of deep judgment apprehended how convenient it was, that out of the Original Sacred Tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own, and other foreign Languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact Translation of the holy Scriptures into the English Tongue.¹

But with creating a new translation, they faced a certain danger. On one hand, their character would be maligned, but on the other hand, their very lives were at risk. They said,

So that if, on the one side, we shall be traduced by Popish persons at home or abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are poor instruments to make God’s holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on the other side, we shall be maligned by self-conceited brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil; we may rest secure, supported within by the truth and innocency of a good conscience, having walked the ways of simplicity and integrity, as before the Lord.

Before giving a defense for their work in the preface, the translators lamented the unfortunate human tendency to persecute those who bring change, even if the change is good. Many “worthy men,” they said, “have been brought to untimely death for none other fault, but for seeking to reduce their countrymen to good order and discipline.” Even when people please God best, they went on to write, they could hardly please all.

Intertwined within these remarks concerning resistance to good change are darts aimed at the Roman Church. “Poison” had been poured down into the church, so change was necessary. But those who dare speak the word of God “setteth himself upon a stage to be glouted upon by every evil eye; yea, he casteth himself headlong upon pikes, to be gored by every sharp tongue.” And why this harsh treatment? “For he that meddleth with men’s religion in any part meddleth with their custom, nay, with their freehold; and though they find no content in that which they have, yet they cannot abide to hear of altering.”

How, then, would truth be restored to the church? How would good change come about in the world? If truth is locked up under the shackles of an unknown tongue, how can any common person come to know God for himself? “What word of God, whereof we may be sure, without the Scripture?” Thus, the translators thought it necessary to produce a translation in the common tongue, for the Bible, after all, is able to help a person at any point in their lives. “If we be ignorant, they will instruct us; if out of the way, they will bring us home; if out of order, they will reform us; if in heaviness, comfort us; if dull, quicken us; if cold, inflame us.”

…it is necessary to have translations in a readiness. Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light; that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most holy place…Indeed without translation into the vulgar tongue, the unlearned are but like children at Jacob’s well (which was deep) without a bucket or something to draw with…

In fact, translations have been necessary since language has found its way to pages and ink. In reaction to Hellenization, the Septuagint was born. In response to Romanization, the Vulgate was born. Why, then, should the English speaking world be exempt from a quality translation? Granted, translations could never be perfect, as the authors admit. But though a translation may have its faults, the perfect Word of God can still work through man’s imperfection. Though the LXX had its faults, “it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to them to take that which they found, (the same being for the greatest part true and sufficient) rather than by making a new…” without a word of condemnation.

So, despite Rome’s protests, Clement the eighth refusing any license to translate Scripture into the common tongue, the translators of the King James Version thought it necessary to press on with their task, deliver a quality translation to the common people, and, in doing so, fight against what they saw to be an unwillingness to communicate scripture and a deceitful mishandling of the word of God.

This new translation, though it might be called the Authorized Version, is not without its faults, but the translators recognized this and offered grace to the translations which “broke the ice” of English translation, to use their language. They wrote that “the very meanest translation of the Bible in English set forth by men of our profession (for we have seen none of theirs of the whole Bible as yet) containeth the word of God, nay, is the word of God.” They extended the same grace, fallibility, and humility towards their own works in that they committed to admitting errors, submitting new editions, and including marginal notes when the wording was difficult or unique.

In the end, the purpose of the translators of the King James Version was not to make a new translation at all, “but to make a good one better, or out of many good ones one principal good one, not justly to be excepted against; that hath been our endeavour, that our mark.” In fact, they agreed with Augustine that a variety of translations is profitable for finding the sense of the Scriptures. The King James translators didn’t seek to create the best translation for all time; they sought to create the best translation for their time, always willing that it could and should be improved upon and updated so that all may read and understand the oracles of God.

1. All quotations are taken from The Cambridge Paragraph Bible: Of the Authorized English Version. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1873. Print.