HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
In an attempt to produce the most correct translation of the Bible, King James scoured the country in search of the absolute best cadre of Hebrew and Greek translators he could assemble. The group of scholars (somewhere between 47 and 54 depending on the scholastic literature you might read) were very intelligent men with accolades that have been scrutinized for over 400 years. The translation was completed and made available to all and is regarded as the most accurate translation of the Bible to date. It is good then, and surely an inspired decision, that King James made this happen. I am thankful and sure he has received his glory...
...but...
...I do not understand the need for such an overly ingratiating dedicatory note to King James. It rubs me a little wrong because it continually refers to the King in a reverent manner as though he deserves recognition and stature kin to that of the very being for which the Bible centers, even Jesus Christ. It sure does skirt the boundary of blasphemy mighty close. I appreciate that this kind of ingratiation might have been necessary in order to sufficiently complete the task of producing what we have today but I can't get past the idea that King James was okay with the grandiose verbiage used to thank him.
Anyway, if it was necessary, so be it. A small price to pay for bringing forth this work out of obscurity and making it accessible to all...
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY
-Excerpt from paragraph 5
...So that if, on the one side, we shall be traduced by Popish Persons at home or abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are poor instruments to make God's holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness...Traduced means: to speak maliciously or falsely of; defame
The idea that the translators of the Bible knew of the oppression and slander they were up against, that the Catholic Church did not want the book readily available to the public, and that much would be done to rebuke its production, is quite relevant to us as latter-day-saints; we too have a book that has been met with much malignancy and bad press, we too have a witness of Jesus Christ brought forth out of darkness, a companion to the Bible - the Book of Mormon.
Both books have been brought forth as tools to assist in the redemption of all mankind; but, if you choose not to open them, read and study them, then you are keeping yourself, "...in ignorance and darkness." Don't be that guy!
~Kipling
Next: Genesis 1-7
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