The King James Bible was published in 1611, making this the year for its 400th anniversary! Many believe that the actual date was May 2, 1611. Work on the translation began in 1604. Here is one account of the events leading up to its publication:

“Soon after King James assumed the throne of England in 1603, Puritan church leaders sent the King a petition to reform the Church of England. Over sixty years earlier, King Henry VIII had separated the Church of England from the Roman Church and made the English monarch head of the English Church. The English Church continued many of the rituals and practices of the Roman Church.

“The Puritans wanted to purify the Church so its teachings and liturgy followed the Bible more closely. In response to their petition, King James called a conference of leading churchmen and theologians to meet at Hampton Court, a royal palace fifteen miles from London, in January 1604. The Puritan  petitioners sought ‘a due and godly reformation’ in the Church of England.

“Believing the church government of bishops as well as some church practices and the liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer were ‘not agreeable to the Scriptures,’ they encouraged the planting in all churches of good pastors who could preach the Scriptures. They were optimistic that King James, who considered himself a scholar and something of a theologian, would move forward the Church’s reformation. In concluding their address to the king, they quoted Mordecai’s words to Esther, ‘Who knoweth whether you are come to the kingdom for such a time?’

“However, during the three days of the Hampton Court Conference, the King gave little support to the petitioned reforms and favored few changes in the ecclesiastical order. King James fully supported the established bishops, believing they were necessary supports to his own throne. He feared the abolition of the one would lead to the abolition of the monarchy itself. King James was determined to make the Puritans conform to the established church, ‘or else I will harrie them out of the land, or else do worse.’

“Though the King would not accept Puritan reforms, he did accept an almost off-handed comment made by Dr. Rainolds, the Puritan spokesman. When Dr. Rainolds mentioned a new translation of the Bible might be in order, since the translations approved under earlier monarchs were ‘corrupt and not answerable to the original,’ the King became interested. He gave an order for a new Bible translation, ‘to be done by the best learned of both the Universities.’ In almost  a footnote to the Hampton Court Conference, King James set in motion the project for translating a Bible into English. The sponsorship of this translation, which came to bear the King’s name, today is King James’ most memorable accomplishment.”

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