- 1526
Tyndale’s New Testament
Tyndale’s English New Testament was printed from his translation of the Greek. His work influenced later English Bibles, including the KJB.
Library of Congress · collection history ↗What to look for
Read the Library of Congress account of the surviving 1526 edition and Tyndale’s influence.
- 1535
Coverdale’s Bible
Coverdale’s Bible brought the complete English Bible into print. Yale links a photographic reprint of a surviving copy.
Yale Library · Coverdale Bible record ↗What to look for
Distinguish the date of the original Bible from the date of the photographic reprint you open.
- 1540
A Great Bible edition
Yale provides access to a 1540 Great Bible, an example of the English Bible prepared for use in churches.
Yale Library · digitized edition ↗What to look for
Open the Great Bible entry in Yale’s guide and inspect the edition identified there.
- 1560
The Geneva Bible
Cambridge’s collection identifies a 1560 Geneva Bible with numbered verses. English Bible history includes several translations in use before 1611.
Cambridge University Library · collection catalogue ↗What to look for
Find the Geneva entry in the collection table. Yale separately links a later 1578 copy.
- 1568
The Bishops’ Bible
The Bishops’ Bible was produced for the Church of England. It was one of the predecessors used in the work that led to the KJB.
Yale Library · Bishops’ Bible record ↗What to look for
Yale’s guide links the text and identifies the 1568 edition.
- 1604
The King James translation is commissioned
The project that produced the King James Bible was commissioned in 1604. Commissioning and publication are different milestones.
Yale Library · Authorized Version record ↗What to look for
Compare the commission date with the 1611 publication date in the library record.
- 1611
The King James Bible is published
The KJB appears in print. Its translators’ own preface explains their use of earlier work and the reasons for some alternative readings in the margins.
The Translators to the Reader · historical text ↗What to look for
Read the translators’ account of their work, rather than relying only on later descriptions of it.
Open the 1611 title-page image and its description ↗
A title page identifies a publication. To check a disputed verse, inspect the passage and the evidence for its wording too.
Follow the preservation study →While the Bible was being translated
The 1605 Gunpowder Plot targeted King James, who had commissioned the translation the year before.
Behind the Mask: Guy Fawkes, King James and the Bible →History · Challenges past and future
Questions from Bible history
The King James Bible stands within a history of translation and careful study. The records help us examine its history. Our conviction in preservation and the historical evidence should each be stated plainly.
What did the translators say?
Their own preface describes their use of earlier work and alternative readings. Read their explanation alongside later claims about the translation.
Explore the full history →Why do the editions differ?
Identify the passage, edition and footnote. A difference is clear evidence of different wording; the reason for that difference needs its own examination.
Compare the words →How should we test a new claim?
Ask for the source, its context and the actual reading. Treat a summary as a starting point. Keep an unverified claim open until the record can be checked.
Use the source library →Publication dates are historical facts. The case for preservation is theological. The origin of an individual disputed reading may still require careful argument.