Who was the King James that the King James Version of the Bible is named after?

Response

The King James Version of the Bible is also known as the Authorized Version because the translation was authorized by King James I of England. The preface of the KJV dedicates the work “To the most High and Mighty Prince James, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.” Before ruling England, James was King James VI of Scotland. It was not until 1603, upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I, that the kingdoms of Scotland and England were united, and James became King James I of England, the first of the Stuart line.

Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth to her son James in 1566 in Scotland. In June 1567, the Protestant lords rebelled against their queen. They arrested and imprisoned Mary in Loch Leven Castle, where she was forced to abdicate the throne of Scotland. James was only a year old when he became James VI, King of Scotland, in 1567. Despite his mother’s Catholic faith, James was raised in the Protestant religion. He was educated by men who sympathized with the Presbyterian Church.

King Henry IV of France referred to James as “the wisest fool in Christendom.” Although intelligent and well-educated, James was unpopular and made many enemies, especially in Parliament. James was perceived as uncouth, and there is evidence suggesting he was bisexual. He often wrote against the power of the pope and Catholicism’s interference in state affairs. In his opposition to the pope’s authority, James advocated for the divine right of kings—the belief that kings are accountable to God and no one else. In 1605, a group of Catholics tried to assassinate James, his wife, and son, and blow up Parliament; however, the Gunpowder Plot was thwarted. This event is commemorated today as Guy Fawkes Day.

James also had his triumphs. He endorsed the design for the flag of Great Britain, supported the arts, and sponsored playwright William Shakespeare.

James VI of Scotland became James I of England in 1603 after the death of Queen Elizabeth I. He was the first monarch to rule both countries and is known for his patronage of the arts, including commissioning William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth in his honor. Trade with India flourished during James’s reign, and in 1607 England established its first permanent colony in the New World, named Jamestown in honor of the king. James was married to Anne of Denmark, and their son Charles later became King Charles I of England. James passed away in 1625 and was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey.

The development of the King James Version of the Bible:

The Scottish Reformation preceded the English Reformation. The Puritans and Scottish Presbyterians sought a new Bible that would differ significantly from the Bishops’ Bible of the Anglican Church. The concept of a fresh translation of the Bible was initially suggested at a religious conference in Aberdour, Fife. King James supported the idea of a new translation, particularly disliking Tyndale’s translation of Matthew 16:18, which used “congregation” instead of “church” from ekklesia, a term James preferred. The only other option at the time was the Geneva Bible from the 1560s, but King James objected to a note on Matthew 2:20 that implied kings were tyrants.

In 1604, King James organized the Hampton Court Conference and approved the commencement of a new English translation of the Bible. The goal was to establish a single standard Bible version for all English-speaking parishes. Forty-seven scholars from various backgrounds in Jacobean England were tasked with the translation. Many of them were proficient in ancient languages. The King James Authorized Version of the Bible was completed in 1611, just 85 years after the first English translation of the New Testament by Tyndale in 1526.