Decline of the King James Version

Alter Robert’s chapter about the regression of the King James Bible was very intriguing because of his comparison to dialect and syntax that is being lost in the vernacular of modernity. When reading the King James Version, one can notice that the language is different than the dialect we use today. For example, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 in the King James Version says, “3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God”. In comparison, the New Revised Standard Version says, “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God”. The King James Version may be confusing to many people by using words similar to comforteth and tribulation instead of comforts and troubles. Therefore, it is apparent why people would prefer the version that has a clearer dialect than the King James Version, which has an aged language.

            One could argue that because people prefer to read modern or common language, the King James Version is not as popular. As a result, one can understand that the Bible needs to keep up with modernity in order for the Bible to still live on. The King James Version is a more direct translation from Hebrew and Greek, but the modern reader probably prefers clearer translations similar to the New Revised Standard Version.