Rachel Evans
The King James Version of the Bible, commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, is a Protestant translation of Scripture into English. It was commissioned by King James VI of Scotland and England, who was raised in the Protestant religion despite his mother's Catholic faith. The Catholic Church does not recognize the King James Version as the standard translation for Catholics, and Catholics are advised to use the version of the Bible used at Mass: the New American Bible. This is because the King James Version does not include certain books of the Old Testament that are recognized by Catholics, and because the language used can be difficult to understand for modern readers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is the King James Version a standard for the Catholic Church? | No, it was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611 for the Church of England. |
| Is the King James Version authorized by the Catholic Church? | No, it is not authorized for use in public worship. |
| Is the King James Version recognized by the Catholic Church? | No, but Catholics are not forbidden from owning it. |
| Is the King James Version easy to read? | No, it can be difficult to understand due to its archaic language and changes in the English language over time. |
| Is the King James Version accurate? | It may be less accurate than more recent translations as scholars have since discovered other manuscripts and made more current translations. |
| Does the King James Version include all books of the Bible? | No, it is missing seven books and two partial books of the Old Testament that are recognized by Catholics. |
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What You'll Learn
The King James Version is a Protestant translation
The King James Version (KJV) is an Early Modern English translation of the Bible, published in 1611 under the sponsorship of King James VI and I. It is considered one of the most important books in English culture and has been described as a driving force in shaping the English-speaking world. The translation has had a significant influence on English literary style and was accepted as the standard English Bible for a long time.
The KJV is a Protestant translation. It is the preferred translation for many Protestant Christians and is considered the only valid translation by some Evangelicals. The Bible was commissioned in 1604, soon after King James' coronation as King of England, to address the inconsistencies in the existing translations and to unite the different factions within the Church of England. The Geneva Bible, which was the most popular English translation at the time, was made by English Protestants and contained annotations that challenged the authority of the bishops and the primacy of secular rulers. The KJV was meant to be a universally accepted text that would curb individual proclivities and ensure a scholarly and nonpartisan character.
The KJV includes 80 books: 39 books of the Old Testament, 14 books of Apocrypha, and 27 books of the New Testament. However, it does not include the Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament that are recognized by Catholics, such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and portions of Esther and Daniel. This is because the Protestant Bibles of the 16th century did not consider these books to be part of the Old Testament text.
The KJV has faced criticism for its complex and archaic language, which can make it difficult to read for modern audiences. Additionally, in the centuries since its publication, scholars have discovered numerous other manuscripts from which more accurate and current translations have been made. As a result, the KJV has been replaced by more modern translations in many mainstream Protestant churches.
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It is not authorised by the Catholic Church
The King James Version of the Bible, also known as the Authorized Version, is a Protestant translation of Scripture into English. It was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611 for the Church of England, by sponsorship of King James VI. The books of the current King James Version include 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament.
The King James Version is not authorised by the Catholic Church for use in public worship as a whole. This is because the Church did not authorise the KJV. However, there are portions of the KJV that are to be found in the Divine Worship missal used in the Ordinariates. The lack of authorisation does not mean that Catholics are not allowed to read or enjoy the translation. It means that it is not officially authorised and therefore cannot be used in liturgy or in official church documents.
The King James Version also differs in numerous ways from the Catholic translation, the Douay-Rheims Version (DRV), on points of disputed doctrine. The description of the Pope as "that man of sin" in the Epistle Dedicatory hardly endeared it to the Catholic Church. There was already a Catholic translation in the DRV, so the KJV would have been superfluous. Beyond these reasons, there were genuine doctrinal differences between the two.
The King James Version is also outdated in many ways. The English language has changed substantially in the last 400 years, and words have changed meaning over time. Scholars have also discovered numerous other manuscripts from which more accurate and current translations have been made. For these reasons, Catholics may find it helpful to use the version of the Bible that is used at Mass: the New American Bible. Other recommended Catholic Bibles include the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition and the Didache Bible.
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It is outdated and difficult to understand
The King James Version of the Bible is considered outdated and difficult to understand by many Catholics. The English language has evolved significantly since the King James Version was published in 1611, and as a result, the language used in the King James Version can be challenging for modern readers to comprehend. The text contains archaic words and phrases that are no longer in common use, such as "thou," "thee," "ye," and "thine," which can make it hard for people to understand the meaning.
Additionally, the King James Version is based on older manuscripts that have been superseded by more recent discoveries. In the last 400 years, scholars have found numerous other manuscripts that have enabled more accurate and modern translations. Progress in Scripture scholarship since the late 19th century has resulted in new Bible translations that challenge the previously undisputed prominence of the King James Version. These newer translations are often considered more accessible and relevant to contemporary readers.
The King James Version also differs from Catholic translations in several significant ways. Firstly, it follows the Protestant pattern of excluding the Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament that are recognized by Catholics, including Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 & 2 Maccabees, and portions of Esther and Daniel. By 1769, the King James Version had conformed to the shorter Protestant canon, dropping these seven Old Testament books. This is a significant omission for Catholics, who consider these books to be part of the Bible.
Moreover, the King James Version was commissioned by King James VI of Scotland and I of England, who was Protestant, and it was created for use in the Anglican Church. The translation also refers to the Pope as "that man of sin" in the Epistle Dedicatory, which is not in line with Catholic doctrine. These factors contribute to the perception that the King James Version is not aligned with Catholic beliefs and practices.
While the Catholic Church does not forbid Catholics from owning or reading the King James Version, it is not recognized or sanctioned by the Church as an official translation. Catholics who wish to study the Bible may find it more beneficial to use a Catholic translation, such as the New American Bible, the Douay-Rheims Bible, or the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition, which are considered more accurate and relevant for Catholic readers.
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It is missing several books of Holy Scripture
The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is a Protestant translation of Scripture into English. It was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611 for the Church of England, by sponsorship of King James VI. The original KJV included the books of the ancient and Catholic Old Testament: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees.
However, by 1769, the King James Version had dropped these seven Old Testament books and conformed to the shorter Protestant canon of the Old Testament. This is a major reason why the Catholic Church does not recognize the KJV as a translation. The KJV is considered outdated, with the English language having changed substantially in the last 400 years, making it difficult to understand for inexperienced readers.
The KJV also does not use the most accurate manuscripts available today for translation. The Textus Receptus, used in the KJV New Testament, is considered a lesser manuscript compared to the Novum Testamentum Graece critical text used by most translations today.
Catholics may find it more helpful to use the version of the Bible used at Mass, such as the New American Bible, or other Catholic-approved translations like the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE) or the Douay-Rheims Bible. These translations include the books of Holy Scripture that are missing from the KJV.
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The Douay-Rheims translation is a Catholic alternative
The Douay-Rheims translation was completed and published around the same time as the KJV in the early 17th century. It is a Catholic translation of Scripture into English. The KJV, on the other hand, is a Protestant translation commissioned by King James I of England for use in the Anglican Church.
One of the main reasons the Catholic Church does not sanction the KJV is because it excludes several books of the Old Testament that are recognized by Catholics, including Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, as well as portions of Esther and Daniel. These books are known as the Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament. By 1769, the KJV had conformed to the shorter Protestant canon, excluding these books.
Additionally, the KJV's description of the Pope as "that man of sin" in the Epistle Dedicatory did not sit well with the Catholic Church. There were also doctrinal differences between the KJV and the Douay-Rheims translation, which was already established as the Catholic "standard" translation.
For these reasons, Catholics who wish to use a Bible that aligns with the Catholic Church's teachings and includes the full canon of Scripture may prefer to use the Douay-Rheims translation or other Catholic editions, such as the New American Bible or the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the King James Version is not the standard translation for the Catholic Church. It is a Protestant translation that was commissioned by King James VI of England for use in the Anglican Church. Catholics may find it more helpful to use the version of the Bible that is used at Mass: the New American Bible.
The King James Version is not authorised by the Catholic Church because it does not include the Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament that are recognised by Catholics: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 & 2 Maccabees, and portions of Esther and Daniel. The language of the King James Version is also considered archaic and difficult to understand.
The Catholic Church does not forbid Catholics from having any version of the Bible, including the King James Version. However, it is not officially authorised for use in liturgy or official church documents.
