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The commission of the King James Bible took place in 1604 at the Hampton Court Conference near London. The first edition appeared in 1611. The King James version remains one of the greatest read books in the English tongue. It has affected our language and thought categories, and although produced in England for English churches, it played a special role in the historical development of America. Even today, many consider the King James Bible the ultimate translation in English and will allow none other for use in church or personal devotions. However, the story behind the creation of this Bible translation is little known and reveals an amazing interplay of faith and politics, church and state.

Many people today look to the King James Bible as the only source. Others see that King James version as a valuable resource but it is no different in its origination than the translations that are done today. The reason that most Christians do not rely solely on the King James version is that it too was translated to be readable for the people of the day. Yes when James ordered a new translation it was to be accurate and true to the originals, and he appointed fifty of the nation's finest language scholars and approved rules for carefully checking the results but James also wanted a popular translation. He insisted that the translation use old familiar terms and names and be readable in the idiom of the day.

Today we still love using the various translations of the Bible to get a deeper understanding of the truths of God.