King James I - THE LEGACY OF KING JAMES I/VI

When King James VI of Scotland also became King James I of England, the “United Kingdom” came into being. The Union of the Crowns Badge combined the Scottish Thistle and the Tudor Rose. King James used this to symbolize the union of his realm—an event whose consequences are still felt in the 21st-century. Image created by Sodacan; online via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

The debate over which English translation of The Bible is the best translation continues to this day. Many people believe the 1611 King James Version is the only accurate translation. Without question, the KJV is the lasting legacy of this Scottish/English king.

On the other hand, a distinction must be made between the King—who was a mere man with foibles and frailties—and The Bible translation which he authorized:

• King James made mistakes.

• Rumors about his personal life are not simply modern concoctions.

• Letters he wrote survive; they speak for themselves.

• Conclusions about the evidence—and its meaning—have been (and will be) debated for centuries.

But those issues—and facts about the man himself—fade into the background when they are compared with one overriding subject. King James authorized a treasure which remains as important today as it was four centuries ago.