From Christians Together in Bovey Tracey and Heathfield

Something worth celebrating lies before us. The King James Bible is 400 years old!  Samuel testified, “. . . and the word of the LORD was precious in those days”.  I wholeheartedly agree with the prophet . . .both then and now!   The Bible is a precious commodity and deserves our celebrating its age, its influence and its enduring attributes.

Do you realize the King James Bible is older than the United States of America?  The great scientific ages of industry, space, and telecommunications along with their fruits of factories, rockets, and mobile phones came only after the massive distribution of this the greatest of books. It is not just a history book – it’s a book that has made history. 

No other literature touches the influence of the King James Bible.  Soldiers found hope and comfort in it when Cromwell’s troops faced up to the Royalist army on Bovey Heath in January1664 and even today when under fire in Afghanistan.

Its well worn pages have been read at our weddings and by our gravesides. Prime Ministers and Kings have quoted from it for aid in domestic disputes, and for clarity amidst diplomatic challenges.  Its words, more than any other, are plastered over our public buildings, referred to in our music, and acted out in our films. It has been etched into our national psyche over these last 400 years, and with good effect.  This sacred work has solidified the English language, and spread its influence across the globe.  As the most printed book in the English language, it has influenced the works of writers from Shakespeare, to Charles Dickens and Philip Pullman.

It truly is the best selling, often read, and most beloved of books.

Much can be said of the King James Bible’s endurance.  No book has been more scrutinized for centuries, or attacked by disparate enemies. It simply was made to last. Some have said it is an anvil moulding the instruments that comply to its shaping, and breaking the ones that try to destroy it. It is worth celebrating!

It really is more than a national icon – it is a worldwide phenomenon!  And while it cannot be said that God is Englishman, it is indisputable that the King James Bible has made sure English speakers, of every race and continent, know who God is.  What a Bible we have!  Its words will transform a person, and enrich a nation.  Join me in celebrating this monumental cornerstone of our culture.

(The original version of this article was written by Dr. Douglas F. Levesque and can be found at www.kingjames400.com )