The Making of the King James Bible

The year 2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the creation of the famed King James version of the Bible. Produced by the Christian History Institute, filmmaker Jerry Griffith's documentary combines dramatic re-enactments, scholarly interviews, and voiceover narration to examine the sometimes violent controversy in 17th-century England over the three major translations of the Bible then in use: the Latin version favored by Catholics, the Rheims New Testament, and the Geneva Bible. When John Rainolds, a leader in the Puritan church, proposed a new translation, King James gave his blessing, and 47 scholars were tasked with creating what turned out to be the highly influential King James Bible, still widely used today. The film details the painstaking deliberations and scholarship that went into the effort, highlighting specific passages to illustrate the challenges involved in resolving contentious differences. For example, some versions of the passage “Love is patient, love is kind” from Corinthians used the word “charity” in place of “love,” which changes both the meaning and its implications. In the end, the undertaking produced one of the greatest religious works (and a sterling example of English literature). DVD extras include in-depth interviews with biblical scholars Ward Allen, Leonard Greenspoon, and Adam Nicolson. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Block)