Popularity of the King James Version (KJV) ...

Popularity of the King James Version (KJV) ...

Will the popularity (and widespread use) of the KJV diminish as older Christians pass away?

Or will it continue to be widely used, even for future generations?

 

It should still be used by future generations. It's New Testament Text is better than almost all other Modern Bibles. That is to say The Greek Text used by the KJV Translators is more accurate than most if not just about all New Translations. Even if the language of the KJV is obsolete, it is still necessary to use because of it's high degree of accuracy to the Original Greek Manuscripts.

 

Free from copyright is something. ;)

 

Sady, I think it will eventually fade into obscurity. Oh, it will still be around for comparison, etc. but not in common use. I know that most of the younger people in my church use something/anything other than the KJV, and most think I'm silly to still use it. The ESV seems to be the "latest, greatest, most popular" Bible in my church, and most have switched to that version. We even changed our children's ministry material from the NKJV to the ESV. I don't really understand why. Personally, I'll stick with my KJV.

 

I agree that it "should" still be used. But I wonder if it "will" still be used. Hmmmmm ...

 

Around 10 years ago, when I did a lot more itinerant preaching than I do now, I used to visit about 6 churches that used the KJV. Of these, 3 have now closed, two have switched to the NKJV and one, having called a Pastor, doesn't ask me to preach any more.
There are still some KJV churches in Britain that attract quite big congregations, but most are struggling. Language has changed. Read Song of Solomon 5:4. Bowel movements mean something quite different today to what they meant then! :eek:

 

Yes, and Philippians 4:6. Imagine believing you should "be careful for nothing."

 

Although, better the ESV than the NIV, eh? ;)

 

Yes, an important issue in our country, actually.

I had a Kinko's employee try to stop me from making a copy of pages from the KJV. I had to explain that the KJV is in the "public domain."

 

Yes, and people will be unaware of the KJV's tremendous influence on our culture.

 

She’s not my queen! :Roflmao

(I actually knew that, and from what I remember it’s status is a little more complex than normal copyright because the Crown is involved … but it is free to quote and print in the US and most of the world without the need to pay royalties. That is a real benefit that will not go away and will probably keep the KJV in print for a long time.)

 

Yes, rather like "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare."

 

Do you think they will start to bind them together? Sort of a “greatest hits of the Elizabethan Era”. :)

 

Could be! After all, the KJV is taught in "The Bible as Literature" classes in college, even now. :)

 

Fortunately, my copy of the KJV (published by Zondervan) actually stated on the copyright page that the KJV was in the public domain, in the United States, so he allowed me to proceed. :) (This was after approval from the store manager, by the way.)

 

Fantastic! I look forward to reading it. :)