Celebrating the KJV's 400th birthday
Sarah Stevens
| 05 Oct 2011
Print This
TEXT
Top News...
- Latest
- Most commented
-
A seminar at Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral next month will examine the profound impact of the King James Bible.
-
The opening spread of the New Testament - as seen in one of the earliest printings of the King James Bible.
-
Still shaping us - the King James Bible.
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible – and it’s hard to over-estimate the impact that it’s had on the shaping of the English language, on society and politics.
On November 5th Christians from across the denominations will gather in Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral to reflect on that in a seminar called: “The Bible Then and Now: A Celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the Publication of the King James Bible”.
King James I commissioned the bible in 1604. He was looking to bring an end to arguments between Puritan and Anglican factions, each of whom had their favoured English translation.
Six ‘companies’ of the brightest minds in Britain – drawn from each side of the theological divide – worked on different sections of the text over a six year period to produce what’s been hailed as a “masterpiece by committee”.
The November 5 HTC celebration is for anyone who love the scriptures and would like to learn a little more about the origin and impact of this translation.
Professor David Norton from Victoria University’s English Department will outline how the King James Bible emerged from a century of translation, by scholars who worked long before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
He describes the KJV text as “a resolutely literal” translation of the original Greek and Hebrew texts. And one result of that literal approach was that even early readers of the KJV found it took some getting used to.
Of course, many of the terms they stumbled over – such as: how the mighty have fallen (2 Sam 1: 27); fell flat on his face (Num 22: 31); a house divided against itself (Matt 12: 25); and holier than thou (Isaiah 65: 5) – have since taken root in the English language.
Professor Peter Lineham from Massey University will explore the political impact of the KJV. He’ll also discuss how the bible’s reputation has affected how it is read and the radical impact of the KJV among Maori.
Professor Elaine Wainwright from The University of Auckland will discuss the politics of biblical translation and interpretation in the 20th and 21st centuries. She will also offer some comments on feminist, post colonial, ecological and liberationist biblical interpretation.
Dr Tim Bulkeley from Carey Baptist College will discuss the ways in which the presentation of scripture shapes and conditions the way it is read. The early publishers of the KJV made a number of key decisions, often for political reasons, such as highlighting verse divisions and laying out the Psalms as prose.
He will also explore the ways in which electronic media have affected the diverse options for scriptural presentation today.
It won't just be a case of being 'talked-at' either. There'll be a panel discussion too - and the opportunity then for people to fire questions at the team of scholars on that panel.
“The Bible Then and Now: A Celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible” will run from 2-5pm on November 5th at Parnell’s Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Registration for the seminar costs $25 – or $20 for the unwaged – and that entrance charge will also cover afternoon tea. All profits from the event will go to The New Zealand Bible Society.
For more information contact Holy Trinity Cathedral on 09 303 9500 or office@holy-trinity.org.nz .
The Rev Sarah Stevens is Priest Assistant at Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Comments on this story
Log in or create a user account to comment.