In the Beginning – The story of the King James Bible and how it changed a Nation, a Language and a Culture (book review)

Title :- In the Beginning – The story of the King James Bible and how it changed a Nation, a Language and a Culture.
By :- Alister McGrath
Published :- Hodder & Stoughton, London, Sydney, Auckland (2001) Paperback (320 pages)
Outline;- Martin Luther made the reading of the bible morally possible and translated it into his common German for it to be read by the publicly. The Gutenberg printing press made the bible available to first the learned gentry, and then to the people. This contributed to the coming out of the Dark Ages into the Renaissance of the mid 15th Century. Bibles were one of the first books to be printed with universal great demand, and Holland printing presses were developing English versions for smuggling into England. The English language itself was evolving, with Chaucer and other authors making it popular across the social spectrum. King James set up a group of clergy to put together a standard text that would be seen as English, rather than various imported variations. This would also add credence to the King. It took much time and effort, The old testament was taken largely from the Jewish / Hebrew texts, and the New Testament relied heavily upon the oldest Latin and aromatic texts. In doing so the priest translators & compilers learnt of the very human nature of the New Testament. There are many twists and turn reflecting various parties political, financial and spiritual agenda’s, but the book came out the winner. The British Empire later spread the book throughout the world. A good read.
Some interesting excerpts;
• “ Martin Luther [1483 – 1546] is widely regarded as one of the most significant of the reformers…… after Luther’s baptism his father Hans Luder moved the following year to the neighboring town of Mansfield, where he established a small copper mining business.”
• In reference to the politicking over the competing Geneva bible…”Samuel Johnson once remarked that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”