The Great Translation Adam Nicolson has written a fascinating book called ' Power and Glory Jacobean England and the making of the King James Bible' (Harper Perennial 2004 £8.99). Much of the detail of the work of translation is not known to us, only fragments of the story survive, but Adam Nicolson, who writes so very well, puts it all into its historical context and sets our what we can manage to glean from the few surviving documents. When
King James VI of The
king, and the Archbishop of Canterbury drew up guidelines.
The basis was to be what was known as the Bishop's Bible
but others to be consulted were listed, concern was to be
had for the truth of the original. Traditional
translations of key words were to be maintained, thus the
Greek ekklesia, was to be translated at church and not
congregation. The same English words were to be used when
the New Testament quoted from the Old Testament. The way
the translation was to be done was this. Six companies of
translators were formed. Two in The
initial translations of chapters were divided between the
members of the company; every now and then the members
would gather to approve or alter these translations.
There was much discussion. If there were great
disagreements, other learned biblical scholars were
consulted. A very few early drafts survive; a very small
number of letters between translators survive. Some
translators were slow in producing their chapters and the
more hardworking had to take over extra chapters. When
each company had finished their portion of the bible,
there were a number of meetings in In all
these meetings of translators, the proposed versions were
not written with copies in front of everyone. The
proposed translations were read aloud to the others; for
how the translation sounded, was of prime importance. In
1611 the new translation was published. It took time for
it to become accepted. It was only incorporated in the
Book of Common Prayer in 1662 and even then the Psalms
were kept in the translation by Miles Coverdale of the
1540's. But in time it won great acceptance in English
speaking countries where, until the second world war it
was the only generally recognised version of the Bible in
English. I believe that this translation has very considerable virtues. Where the Hebrew or Greek covers a range of meanings, the Authorised Version allows that - unlike many contemporary versions it does not narrow the meaning. It sounds, when read well, magnificent. It has, again unlike too many contemporary versions, a wide vocabulary. It is a simple translation doing justice both to the original and to the best possible spoken English. I think the occasions when it is appropriate to use this version today are few. Meanings of words change, better texts of the original Hebrew and Greek texts are now available, it can feel by many too inaccessible. But all contemporary versions stand under its judgement and I long for a renewal of spoken English that will allow a contemporary translation with the virtues for today that the Authorised Version had in its time. I strongly recommend Adam Niciolson's fine book. Christopher Morgan-Jones |