January 2011
The Making of the King James Version of the Bible, 1611-2011
Some consider the King James Version of the Bible to be THE Bible. Others have never heard of it (or refer to the “St. James Bible”). And still others prefer more modern translations. Regardless of the version you prefer, the King James Version of the Bible has formed the language, politics, faith and culture of vast swathes of the globe, certainly the English speaking portions. This year is the 400th anniversary of its publication and there are a variety of observances in England and around the world.
A local minister and lecturer at recent Adventures in Learning seminars, is offering a four-part lecture series on The Making of the King James Version of the Bible, 1611-2011. Steve Odom, of Central Christian Church, will deliver four lectures on successive Mondays, at 10 AM at 404 E. Main St. in the sanctuary of the church.
February 14 the lecture will focus on the precursors of the KJV, and the making of Books and Bibles in the era before and after the invention of movable type by Gutenberg (1450).
Lecture two on February 21 will examine the first printed English Bibles which predated the KJV, and the Tudor Kings and Queens of the century before King James, the founder of the Stuart line.
The third lecture on February 28 will examine the reasons for a new translation and introduce the Translators, a group of 54 scholars who did the actual work of translation, as well as the production process.
The last lecture on March 7 will examine the translation issues, the influence of the KJV on the English language and culture since, the Fall and Rise of the KJV and its use in America leading to modern day versions.
The event is free and open to the public. There will be bins available for those who wish to donate non-perishable food items for the Rutherford County Food Bank, and a basket at the back for those who wish to donate to the church.
January 17, 2011
2011 is the 400th anniversary of the publication of what became known as the King James Version of the Bible, though originally just referred to as the version “appointed to be read in the church.” Thus, in England today, abbreviated as the AV, or Appointed Version, sometimes misstated as the “Authorized Version.” In this calendar year we will read from the AV in church a half dozen times, on Sundays closest to birthdates (or death dates, when birthdays are not known) of the major characters in the development of this translation of the Bible. This will include people such as William Tyndale, Archbishop Richard Bancroft, King James himself, Lancelot Andrewes, and Myles Coverdale.
Myles Coverdale (c. 1488 – 1569) was a 16th-century Bible translator who produced the first complete printed translation of the Bible into English. He studied at Cambridge (bachelor of canon law 1531), became priest at Norwich in 1514 and entered the convent of Austin friars at Cambridge, where Robert Barnes was prior in 1523 and probably influenced him in favor of Reform. When Barnes was tried for heresy in 1526, Coverdale assisted in his defence and shortly afterward left the convent and gave himself entirely to preaching.
In 1535 he published the first complete English Bible in print, the so-called Coverdale Bible. As Coverdale was not proficient in Hebrew or Greek, he used 'five sundry interpreters' in Latin, English and German as source text. He made use of Tyndale's translation of the New Testament and of those OT books which were translated by Tyndale: the Pentateuch, and the book of Jonah. The publication appeared in Antwerp and was partly financed by Jacobus van Meteren. In 1537, his translations were included in the Matthew Bible. In 1538, he was in Paris, superintending the printing of the "Great Bible," and the same year were published, both in London and Paris, editions of a Latin and an English New Testament, the latter being by Coverdale. That 1538 Bible was a diglot (dual-language) Bible, in which he compared the Latin Vulgate with his own English translation. He also edited the Great Bible (1540). Henry VIII had a Coverdale Bible put into every English Church, chained to a bookstand, so that every citizen would have access to a Bible.
He returned to England in 1539, living briefly in Newbury, but on the execution of Thomas Cromwell (Henry VIII's Chancellor and Chamberlain, who had been his friend and protector since 1527) in 1540, he was compelled again to go into exile.
In March, 1548, he went back to England, was well received at the court of the new monarch, Edward VI, and was made king's chaplain. In 1551, he became Bishop of Exeter, but was deposed in 1553 after the succession of Queen Mary, and returned to exile. In 1559, he was again in England, but was not reinstated in his bishopric, perhaps because of puritan scruples about vestments, which were required. From 1564 to 1566, he was rector of St. Magnus's, near London Bridge. On 20 January 1569, Coverdale died in London .
His translation of the Psalter is used in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, and is the most familiar translation of the psalms for many Anglicans all over the world. As a consequence, many musical settings of the psalms make use of the Coverdale translation.
January 12, 2011
One news aggregation website I read has an occasional feature that they dub “Outrageously Outrageous Outrage of the Day!” Somewhat tongue in cheek I'm sure, but it does point out the degree to which some become addicted to the latest “outrage,” the latest heinous crime, the latest idiocy foisted upon the listening public. You've got your own list, as do I, which changes from week to week. The shooting of Congresswoman Giffords in Arizona, and the murder of six innocent bystanders. The announcement by Westboro Baptist Church that they would picket the funeral of the nine year old girl killed that day; and then the subsequent announcement that they would refrain from picketing her funeral in return for free radio air time from local stations in Kansas. The fact that a Pakistani Christian woman is under arrest for “blasphemy” against Islam and facing the death penalty, and then the news that the governor of her province had been murdered by his own bodyguard because the governor had spoken on her behalf. And worse, it seems like many Pakistanis are in support of the killing.
You may be outraged by completely different sorts of events or reports. Maybe the newscaster or talk radio host drives you up the wall, or your math teacher at school makes you absolutely bonkers or your brother-in-law, yet again, is bailed out of financial shenanigans by YOUR parents because of the grandchildren. I could go on all day, and I'm sure you could, too. In fact, I'm having a hard time stopping right now!
But you see what I mean. It's not right, it's not good, it's not helpful, it's not “edifying.” My outrage does not comfort the grieving, does not help the orphan or widow, does not feed the hungry, in short, does not butter any parsnips!
What to do? Well, sometimes I call my Congressman. What a rough job that must be, answering the phones for a politician in a time when everybody seems to hate politicians and wants to call 'em up and yell at them. Sometimes I tell my poor wife my thoughts (“don't point that finger at me!”). Nothing very practical or effective.
So. What to do? Well, how about this. Instead of pretending you're not outraged, instead of venting at someone who had nothing to do with the outrageous outrage, here's a thought. How about prayer? Now, I'm not saying that just because I'm your pastor. Archimedes said “Give me a lever and a place to stand and I will move the earth!”
Stop and think a bit with me here. We have a lever that we too seldom use. First of all, though there may be times one should pick up a shovel and dig instead of pray, one needn't think of prayer as an alternative to anything helpful and effective. You can do all kind of wonderful things, and still pray. I'm saying that the things we hear about in our 24/7 media culture need our prayers.
The Christian mother sentenced to death in Pakistan, Asia Bibi, does she need your prayers? Does her family? She has five children. And Governor Salman Taseer, who was assassinated: he has seven children.
The habit of reflexive prayer is hard to cultivate, but it must be done just as sure as we must eat to live. We must pray to grow. For not only do the unfortunate souls who wind up on the news need my prayer, I need for me to pray. If I can pray instead of hate, pray instead of rant, pray instead of fume, pray instead of vent, pray instead of pout, pray instead of hold a grudge, pray instead of, well, you name it, then I'm making progress. I'm making progress in spiritual development. I'm becoming the person God wants me to become. And the person I want to become.
Remember the words of James 3, “The tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human being can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison.With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.”
January 11, 2011
Everywhere and always God is with us, near to us and in us. But we are not always with Him, since we do not remember Him; and because we do not remember Him we allow ourselves many things which we would not permit if we did remember. Take upon yourself this task -- to make a habit of such recollection.
Make yourself a rule always to be with the Lord, keeping your mind in your heart, and do not let your thoughts wander; as often as they stray, turn them back again and keep them at home in the closet of your heart, and delight in converse with the Lord. Theophan the Recluse, (1815-1894)
January 8, 2011
January Hymns
1/16
337 Jesus Calls Us vss. 1 and 5
Dear Friends,