400 years of the KJV

Seize the opportunity

2011 marks the 400th Anniversary of the publication of the Authorized (King James) Version of the Bible in May 1611.   There will be many special events surrounding this date, some at Hampton Court Palace where the decision to produce a new translation was taken in 1603.

Read a 1611 Bible on-line The 2011 Trust website includes an option to read and search a reproduction of a King James Bible, printed in 1611, on its website.  This is available through cooperation with the Nida Institute at the American Bible Society.  Click on the image or go to:- www.2011trust.org/resources/Digitized-KJV-of-1611.

The anniversary offers an opportunity to encourage people to think about our Christian heritage and for those who are not familiar with the Bible to discover it's treasure themselves.   Schools may consider running competitions related to the ocasion.  Churches may put on special programmes, talks, films, exhibitions or even plan an event such as a Bible Reading Marathon.  Why not "bless your local school" with a presentation of Bibles to pupils.

Over the coming months many new books, DVDs and other resources will be published and, in May 2011, a new revised Edition of the New International Version (NIV) will be published.   We will be constantly updating this page to give customers information on the resources available and some of the special events planned. 

Now in The Biblefresh Handbook Packed with creative suggestions to help Christians engage with the Bible in a fresh way in 2011 and to impact their local communities with the living message of God's Word. Contributors include Krish Kandiah, John Stott, Bob Hartman, Rob Bell, Vaughan Roberts, Richard Foster, Andy Croft and Tim Keller. Click HERE for a review of the Biblefresh Handbook

For reviews of Bible study aids - Bible dictionaries, handbooks etc. click HERE.

 

Own your own 1611 Bible or give it as a prize or presentation A reprint of the 1611 Edition of the King James Version could make an ideal gift, a prize for a Bible History competition, or just a resource for teachers.   This is described as a "word-for-word facsimile" preserving the original 1611 edition word-for-word and page-for-page, with the original spelling and illuminated initials but clearer type.  It has the original preface and translators notes, including an Almanac for the years 1603-1641, and a Table and Kalender (sic) giving psalms and lessons for morning and evening prayer.  It is produced in a handsome hardback edition (genuine leather also available) with ribbon marker.  There is a presentation page in the front and a number of essays on the enduring importance of the KJV and earlier translations. £26.99 Copies of the Tyndale New Testament (1526), Matthew's Bible (1537) and the Geneva Bible (1560) are also available to special order.

 

Relevant books available from re:fresh

A Visual History of the English Bible by Donald L Brake

This 350-page hardback book provides a handy overview of the story of our English Bible.  Starting with early hand-written texts it devotes chapters to John Wycliffe, Gutenberg and the development of printing, Martin Luther, William Tyndale,  Miles Coverdale, The King James Version and subsequent revisions.  It looks at other early translations, modern translations and principles of translation.  
 
The book is written in a style that will suit a non-academic readership and could provide a valuable resource for anybody planning special events around the 400th Anniversary of the KJV.  As the name implies, it is lavishly illustrated with over 100 photographs of ancient texts and pictures of people mentioned.  It also includes useful charts and timelines.

Travel with William Tyndale by Brian H Edwards

Anybody who is familair with Day One's "Travel with..." guides will know that these are highly readable little books that present the lives of great Christians like Bunyan, Spurgeon, William Carey, Wilberforce and Tyndale in the form of travel guides that transport the reader from location to location with old pictures, modern photographs, maps and other information.

Travel with William Tyndale is written by the Series Editor, Brian Edwards (Former Minister of Hook Evangelical Church), who also wrote God's Outlaw, a biography of Tyndale which spawned the successful film of the same name (See below).  It traces Tyndale's life and work from his Gloucestershire roots to Oxford, Cambridge, London, Antwerp, Vilvoorde and other parts of Europe.

There is also an associated children's activity book with photocopiable activities and text for classroom or group use.

God's Smuggler
by Brother Andrew with John & Elizabeth Sherrill

God's Smuggler shows how Christians in more recent times have risked their lives to bring the Bible to people in countries where Christianity is outlawed.  A best seller for more than 40 years (it was first published in 1967) it is the true story of a young Dutchman who risked his life and freedom to bring the Bible to people behind the Iron Curtain. 

Secret Believers, a more recent book by Brother Andrew, tells the story of people born and brought up in Muslim countries who have become Christians, and the opposition and persecution they face.   It is written as a novel but based on fact. 

The Story of the Bible by Tim Dowley  (New 2010 Edition)

One of Candle's Essential Bible Reference series for young people*, this attractively-produced 32-page book is an ideal resource for schools.  In concise, fully-illustrated spreads, it traces the story of the Bible from the original writers and their writing materials through the preservation and transmission of the texts to the work of the translators of the English Bible and beyond.
The Story of the Bible includes material on the development of writing, the language of the Bible and the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. There is a brief summary of each book of the Bible, references to key passages and "fascinating facts".  The story of the King James Version is set in the context of translation into other languages such as  Spanish (1417), French (1523), Italian (1471) and Russian (1581).
Single copies £1.99. 
Ask about bulk quantities.
*Click HERE for information on other books in the Essential Bible Reference series.

DVD -  The Story of the English Bible

This 52-minute documentary traces the history of the King James Version.  It discusses the background to Wycliffe's translation of the Latin Vulgate, the work of John Huss in Prague, Gutenberg and the development of printing, Erasmus and the Greek New Testament, Thomas Bilney, Martin Luther and, of course, William Tyndale.
Although the narrative style is rather stilted, the filming is good and does not fall into the common trap of spending too much time in the contributors' studies.  Contributors come from Bob Jones University and various reformed churches in the UK.

DVD - John Wycliffe The Morning Star

This is a 75-minute dramatic presentation of the work of John Wycliffe.   It gives an impression of his teaching on subjects such as salvation, transubstantiation and the selling of indulgences which brought him into conflict with civil and ecclesiastical authorities, before he set about the great work of translating the Latin Vulgate into the English vernacular.

The DVD offers English, German, Spanish and Portuguese options language and includes additional resources including a study guide with notes for teachers and questions for students.  It also includes printable worksheets in PDF format.

DVD - God's Outlaw, The Story of William Tyndale

God’s Outlaw is a 95-minute colour film of the inspirational story of William Tyndale, who paid the ultimate price for bringing us the Bible in English.   Forbidden by the Catholic church to carry out his translation work in England, he fled to the Continent and moved from City to City to evade capture until betrayed by a friend, brought back to England, strangled and publicly burnt.

At his execution he prayed “Lord open the King of England’s eyes.”  Within two years Henry VIII had decreed that every church in England should display a Bible in English.  It is said that 90% of Tyndale’s work found its way into the King James Version of the Bible.   This has carried through into more recent versions, based on the AV, including the Revised Standard Version and the English Standard Version.

An inspirational film that should be seen by anybody who does not know the background to our English Bible … and those who do as well!

DVD - The William Tyndale Story (for 8-12 year olds)

Part of the 'Torchlighters' series by the Christian History Institute and International Films, this 30-minute animated story follows the life of Tyndale as he works to translate the Bible into English, moving from town to town to escape imprisonment.  It features the voice of Russell Boulter (The Bill) as William Tyndale. 

In addition to the 30-minute film there are interviews with Russell Boulter and Tyndale scholar, David Daniell, plus a teacher's guide with background information, a timeline of the period, reproducible student handouts, discussion questions, puzzles activities and more.