The King James Version, is the oldest version of the Bible translated in 1611. Almost 400 years later, I was memorizing scripture in the words of an English Dialect that wasn't spoken in any other part of life but that of religion and Shakespearean Literature classes. I remember an Accapella Group AVB (Accapella Vocal Band) singing a song when I was about 12, with lyrics that were, "Growing Up in King James". I know of a church that has it printed on their sign, "1611 King James Version only."
I have long abandoned the KJV for the pleathora of other options. Generally I read the NIV, but also enjoy the CEV, The Message, and I'm sure there are others I just haven't gotten to yet. But I noted the evolution of my own life's study of the Bible when I ran into someone at Five Guys on Sunday night.
Corie had recommended dinner at Five Guys, and as we were eating, Pastor and Mrs. W. came into the restaurant. Pastor W. had been an influence on my life off and on for the better part of half my life. He was Pastor at the school I attended, preached in chapel (he had a magic lightbulb and flash paper which was cool), he taught me 6th grade math, took me out on his boat fishing one Saturday, and was even my boss for a summer.
I see him much less often these days, but seeing him makes many memories come back to me. Even memories of the KJV. I spoke with him Sunday night and told him about Corie being pregnant with our second child. I said, "Genesis 1, 'Be fruitful and multiply.'" I don't think he heard me, because he said a couple sentences later, "Genesis 1, 'Be fruitful and replenish the earth." That word Replenish caught my attention. It was a word from the KJV, and a word I don't read much these days.
I know you're learning that I'm a word person, so the word of the day is Replenish.
--Ben
2 comments:
I think you meant KJV is the oldest ENGLISH translation. I really don't like it at all, because it's so hard to understand vs. today's language.
I've always wondered how "KJV Only'ers" handled the billions of souls that don't even speak English?
Have you ever tried the Amplified Bible? It doesn't flow well, but attempts to add enough descriptive words as to make words/concepts that simply don't translate well into English more understandable.
As for the word 'replenish' - this is an interesting word. It has a ring of stewardship about it, like we have responsiblity for the health/welfare of the Earth itself.
Peace.
I don't know about all the billions who don't speak English, but . . . in the two countries I've lived in that weren't anglophone, there were KJV equivalents--the oldest translations--that were the "standard" and the newer translations were often ridiculed as not being "correct" enough. Same argument as in English, though. The old translation is out of date, (in both Arabic and French) and the newer translations are much closer to what people actually use in daily vocabulary.
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