In 1604, King James I came to the throne of England. At that time, the Protestant religion had gained control of the country, and the Church of England needed a Bible for use in its churches. The Bishops’ Bible was used in the churches, but many people had a Geneva Bible at home.
King James didn’t like the Geneva Bible because he felt that the notes in the margins were too supportive of Calvinism. Furthermore, these annotations challenged the power of the bishops and King James himself.
The Bishops Bible was also problematic because its language was too grandiose, and its translation work was inferior. Consequently, King James commissioned a new translation of the Bible, which came to be known as the King James Version. This version was published in 1611 and quickly became popular among both clergy and laypeople.
The Beginning of Bible Translations into English
The Bible is one of the best-selling books of all time, and it has influenced nearly every corner of the globe. So it may be surprising to learn that the first complete translation of the Bible into English wasn’t completed until 1382. That’s over 600 years after the first partial translations were made.
The man behind this landmark achievement was John Wycliffe, an early English reformer. His translation was based on the Latin Vulgate, the standard Bible used in England then.
John Wycliffe and his followers may have completed the first English version of the Bible, but it was William Tyndale who translated the New Testament and some parts of the Old Testament. His work eventually became the basis for the subsequent English translations of the Bible.
William Tyndale believed that everyone had a right to read the Bible in their language. So, in 1524, he went to Cologne to start working on his translation, but he was forced to flee when it became clear that the authorities were against his work. He eventually settled in Worms, Germany, where he completed his translation of the New Testament.
The first edition of the New Testament was published in 1526, and Tyndale began working on translating the Old Testament. However, Tyndale’s enemies were determined to stop him, and he was arrested and imprisoned in Belgium in 1535. He was tried for heresy and sentenced to death. He was strangled, tied to a stake, and burned on October 6th, 1536. Despite his martyrdom, Tyndale’s work lived on.
His New Testament was widely circulated and formed the model for subsequent English translations, including the King James Version of 1611. Later on, Miles Coverdale used Tyndale’s work to produce the Great Bible in 1539, which became the first authorized version of the Bible after the English Reformation.
What Is the Geneva Bible?
The Geneva Bible was one of the most influential English Bibles of the 16th century. It was first published in Switzerland in 1560, amid religious turmoil in England.
Queen Mary I persecuted Protestant leaders at that time, causing many of them to flee to Geneva, Switzerland. There, they came under the leadership of John Calvin and began working on the English translation of the Bible. William Whittingham led the team of scholars who translated the Geneva Bible, which quickly became popular for its clear and concise language.
The reformers who produced the Geneva Bible felt that it was important for everyone to have a Bible in their language. As a result, it became popular not only in Geneva but also in England. The Puritans brought the Geneva Bible to America on the Mayflower, and it continued to be used by many English-speaking Christians for centuries.
It also became one of the first mass-produced Bibles printed on a mechanical press, making the Bible accessible to everyone (not just priests or scholars). It was similar to our Bibles today, with study tools, cross-references, introductions to each book of the Bible, maps, charts, pictures, and notes.
One of the most distinctive features of the Geneva Bible is its marginal notes written from a Calvinist viewpoint (and several penned by John Calvin himself). These notes offered commentary on biblical passages and provided guidance on Christian living.
However, not all of the marginal notes appeared in the Apocrypha books. In the 1560 edition of the Geneva Bible, these books were included but were prefaced with a statement acknowledging that they did not have the same authority as the other books of Scripture. Later editions of the Geneva Bible did not include the Apocrypha books. Also, even the editions that did include them significantly reduced the number of marginal notes. As a result, readers became apprehensive about consulting these books for enlightenment and guidance.
What Is the King James Bible?
The King James Bible is one of the most widely read versions of the Bible in the world. Its origin can be traced back to the early 1600s when King James I commissioned a new translation of the Bible.
At that time, the most popular version of the Bible was the Geneva Bible, which included extensive notes and commentary from Protestant reformers such as John Calvin. However, King James wanted a version of the Bible that would reflect the views of the Anglican Church, which he saw as the legitimate successor to the Catholic Church.
Therefore, he ordered his translators to use the Bishops’ Bible–a less popular version of the text–as their base text. The result was a simpler, more accessible translation that retained many of the essential features of the Geneva Bible. While it was not without its critics, the King James Bible quickly became popular with scholars and laypeople, and its influence can still be seen in modern translations of the Bible.
While KJV was based on the Bishops’ Bible, it used many notes from that translation and annotations and revisions from other versions. Some early editions of the King James Version included notes from the Geneva Bible. The final version was published in 1611 and contained:
- 39 books of the Old Testament
- 27 books of the New Testament
- 14 Apocryphal books
Readability Comparison Between the Genevan Bible and the KJV Bible
The readability of the Bible depends on the translation. In this section, let us explore the readability differences between the KJV and Geneva Bibles.
Geneva Bible
The Geneva Bible is a significant translation of the Bible for several reasons:
- Its translation was based on the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts rather than the Latin Vulgate, making it more accurate than the previous translations.
- It was the first Bible divided into chapters and verses, making it much easier to reference specific passages.
- It included a wealth of marginal notes, comments, and study notes.
Its features and readability made it one of England’s most popular versions of the Bible and impacted English culture. It is thought to have raised literacy rates, changed the English people’s moral character, and helped shape their speech, thoughts, and spirituality.
KJV Bible
Published in 1611, the King James Version of the Bible quickly became popular for its poetic language. The KJV was fairly similar to the Geneva Bible, although the latter was more direct and used more modern language at that time.
The translators used the 1524 Hebrew Rabbinic Bible by Daniel Bomberg and the Latin Vulgate as their primary sources for the Old Testament, and the Textus Receptus, the 1588 Greek translation by Theodore Beza, and the Latin Vulgate for the New Testament. The Apocrypha books were translated from the original Hebrew and Greek texts. The resulting work, known as the King James Bible or the Authorized Version, quickly became one of the most widely-read texts in English history.
However, at King James’ directive, the KJV did not contain all the study notes, illustrations, and other “extras” that the people loved. And while it is beloved for its poetic language today even after 400 years, many people still struggle to comprehend archaic English especially ancient idioms, like “her hap was to light on” in Ruth 2:3, the definition of words that have changed throughout the years, like “conversation” which meant “behavior” in the 1600s, and words that are not used anymore in modern English, like “chambering,” “concupiscence,” and “outwent.” This is why others prefer the latest translations that are easier to understand.
Bible Verses Comparison Between Geneva Bible and King James Version
Now, let’s take a look at and compare some of the verses from each Bible. In the following Bible verses, the Geneva Bible verses are based on the 1599 edition, while the KJV verses are based on the 1769 edition.
Romans 12:1
Geneva: “I Beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye give up your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable serving of God.”
KJV: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Micah 6:8
Geneva: “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee: surely to do justly, and to love mercy, and to humble thyself, to walk with thy God.”
KJV: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
1 John 4:16
Geneva: “And we have known, and believed the love that God hath in us, God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
KJV: “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
Mark 11:24
Geneva: “Therefore I say unto you, Whatsoever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye shall have it, and it shall be done unto you.”
KJV: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Psalm 23:1-6
Geneva: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to rest in green pasture, and leadeth me by the still waters.
He restoreth my soul, and leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.
Yea, though I should walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou dost prepare a table before me in the sight of mine adversaries: thou dost anoint mine head with oil, and my cup runneth over.
Doubtless kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall remain a long season in the house of the Lord.”
KJV: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
Revisions to the KJV and Geneva Bibles
The Geneva Bible is one of the most significant versions ever published. Since its first release in 1560, the Geneva Bible was revised constantly for the next 80 years. In all, there were about 150 editions of the Geneva Bible published between 1560 and 1644.
The 2006 version of the 1599 edition, released by Tolle Lege Press with modern English spelling, is a direct descendant of the original Geneva Bible. It retains all of the original cross-references and study notes written by Calvinist leaders of the Reformation. Consequently, the 2006 edition of the Geneva Bible is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of Christianity.
Like the Geneva Bible, the King James Version of the Bible is also one of the most popular versions today and has undergone several revisions since its first release in 1611. Notably, in 1629 and 1633, Cambridge University revised the text, correcting printing errors and updating the translation in some places. They also included literal translations of some words and phrases previously in margin notes.
In 1760, Cambridge University conducted another revision, and in 1769, Oxford University also revised the text. These revisions corrected many printing errors, updated spelling, capitalization, and standardized punctuation. The text of the 1769 edition is what you see in most KJV Bibles today. As the church in England transitioned to more Puritan influence, the Parliament forbade reading the Apocrypha books in churches in 1644. However, the KJV Bible continues to be a popular choice for many readers today.
Other Bible Translations We Know Today
The Geneva and KJV Bibles are not the only translations used today. Many different versions of the Bible are available, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Some of the most popular versions include:
The New International Version (NIV)
The NIV was published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was translated by a team of scholars from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The NIV is currently the best-selling English translation of the Bible because it is easy to read and understand.
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The NKJV was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson Publishers. The NKJV was translated by a team of scholars from the United States and the United Kingdom. The NKJV is based on the Textus Receptus, the Greek text used to translate the King James Version.
The English Standard Version (ESV)
The ESV is a more literal translation of the Bible and was created as accurate as possible to the original text. It shares the same goal with the Geneva Bible: to make it easier for readers to study and understand what the Bible is saying. However, there are some key differences between the two translations:
- The Geneva Bible was translated by a team of scholars who were all members of the Reformed tradition, which means they had a specific interpretation of the Bible shaped by their theological beliefs. In contrast, the ESV was translated by a group of scholars from different denominations who worked to create a more objective translation.
- The Geneva Bible uses a lot of paraphrasing to clarify the text’s meaning. This can be helpful for people trying to understand the Bible, but it can also be confusing because it is not always clear what the original author meant. The ESV avoids this problem by sticking closer to the original language of the Bible.
The New American Standard Bible (NASB)
First published in 1963, the NASB is a revision of the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901, which was a revision of the King James Bible.
The NASB is widely considered to be one of the most literal translations of the Bible available today. It has been updated several times since it was first published, with the most recent update being in 1995.
The NASB is popular among evangelical Christians. While it is believed to be the most accurate Bible translation available today, some scholars have criticized the NASB for being too literalistic. They argue that this can lead to misunderstandings of the text.
Why Were Political Leaders Like King James I Threatened by the Bible?
Christianity is based on the belief that God is interested in human beings and involved in their lives. This idea runs counter to the beliefs of most political leaders, who see themselves as the center of the universe and believe that their subjects should be obedient and subservient.
The fear that political leaders had against the Bible is clearly demonstrated by how the Geneva Bible was perceived as a direct threat to King James I because it put forth the idea that Christians are responsible first and foremost to God, not to any earthly ruler. This was a direct challenge to the King’s authority, and he responded by banning the Geneva Bible and ordering a new translation, which became known as the King James Bible.
Even today, the Bible is banned in a lot of countries around the world because it poses a threat to those in power. Why? Because the Bible calls people to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, which no earthly ruler can tolerate.
If people get to study and read the Bible for themselves, they might start to get some funny ideas about things like freedom and justice. They might start questioning why they should be obedient to a ruler who doesn’t seem to have their best interests at heart. And that is what a selfish ruler is afraid of happening. After all, their power comes from the people’s obedience, and if the people start to think for themselves, that power might start to slip away.
So, how can people who are forbidden to read the Bible access it? Well, there are a few ways. One is to find an online version. These days, many different versions of the Bible are available online, so people can read it even if they don’t have a physical copy.
Another way is to get ahold of an audio version of the Bible. This can be especially helpful for illiterate people or those living in countries where the Bible is banned. There are also many different Bible translations available in audio format, so people can find one they can understand.
In King James I’s case, he didn’t ban the Bible. He made it illegal to print any version of the Bible other than his own. But people found ways around that, too. They would smuggle Bibles into the country or print them secretly. This shows just how eager people were to read the Bible for themselves, even if it meant risking punishment from the authorities.
Bottom Line
Like most political leaders, King James made ways to ensure that the Bible would not threaten his standing as an earthly ruler. He disliked the Geneva Bible because it emphasized God’s sovereignty and not enough on the king’s.
While it is impossible to know for certain, it seems likely that King James saw the Geneva Bible as a threat to his power and authority. In 1611, he commissioned a new translation of the Bible, which came to be known as the King James Version. This translation downplayed the role of God’s sovereignty and emphasized the role of earthly rulers.
Today, different Bible versions put more or less emphasis on God’s sovereignty. It is up to each individual to decide which translation they prefer. The best thing people can do is read the Bible for themselves and make up their minds about what it says. This way, they can be sure they are getting the message God intended for them to hear.
