The Authorized King Jame Bible version has come down a notch or two in popularity in the religious world. Language has changed radically in the last four centuries, so it’s understandable why people prefer modern language translations or paraphrased editions. 

My parents were in the die-hard Authorized King James Only group and many debates on the topic easily became heated. I learned not to bring the subject up during our visits. I would have placed money down of their willingness to be martyrs for the King James only stance. 

My point with my parents and the KJV only tribe has always been language was meant to be understood and if God wrote it, wouldn’t he want us to understand it? What other purpose to the Bible would there be?

Consequently, all my childhood scripture learning was King James, and I memorized quite a bit. I was in the AWANA Club just to get out of the house every Wednesday night at our church. AWANA involved activities for kids and tons of scripture memorization. But I digress.  

Since I became an adult no one tells me what Bible to read, I have explored several options. But for some reason I always go back and compare to my roots. I spent time pondering why this might be and I have deduced that the many verses in the KJV, waxes poetic and dramatic next to a few modern language publications. 

For example, the KJV of Ephesians 3:21 reads, “to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” The New Living Translation reads “Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all the generations forever and ever!” 

“World without end” packs a harder dramatic punch for a chapter ending in my book. (Pun intended.)

Or how about the passage when the mob comes to arrest Jesus in the garden in John 18:5-6? Jesus is asked if he’s the one they are looking for and Jesus answers “I am he.” The hunters literally “went backward and fell to the ground.” (KJV). 

The same passage in The Message simply says the crowd was “taken aback.” One reaction was visceral and the other an emotional response. Just saying. Just an observation into my past and present––I like other people’s drama. I am a writer after all. 

INCIDENTALS: The sale of Bibles in the USA has increased 41% since 2019 until October 2024, according to Google. It remains the overall bestselling book of all time, with the New International Version named most popular modern English of those sales and King James near top of the list.