Authorized Version Defence THE LITERARY GUIDE TO THE BIBLE

THE LITERARY GUIDE TO THE BIBLE

Here is another article taken from a Debate Forum.

A relatively recent publication by Harvard University Press entitled, The Literary Guide To The Bible, made these observations. After comparing numerous passages between the Authorized Version and modern bibles, the following conclusions are drawn –

“All these examples can be seen to have doctrinal or theological implications, but they also have one distinct literary implication: that the Authorized Version’s translators were artful and, in the best Renaissance sense, witty, contriving to make what they wrote have a variety of meanings. In their view the translator’s task was not to assume that there is one clear meaning to which the text should be reduced, but instead to open out the text to include as much as possible… Many modern versions eschew anything which smacks of imagery or metaphor… The loss is measurable not only in terms of aesthetics but also in terms of meaning. Particularly in the narrative sections of the Bible the Authorized Version emerges from comparison with twentieth-century versions as more attractive and more accurate… At its best, which means often, the Authorized Version has the kind of transparency which makes it possible for the reader to see the original clearly. It lacks the narrow interpretive bias of modern versions, and is the stronger for it… Through its transparency the reader of the Authorized Version not only sees the original but also learns how to read it.” 14

Needless to say, our God is the God of languages and do we expect anything less from the living words that came down from above? We are told in Psalm 12:6 that “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” The Psalmist also said, “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” (Psalm 119:140)

Indeed, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” (Proverbs 30:5)