The King James Bible and its turbulent origins

Alister McGrath

I highly recommend In the Beginning – The Story of the King James Bible by Alister McGrath. I read it in 2001, and I don’t think it has ever been surpassed.

It may come as a surprise that this seminal translation was ordered by King James VI of Scotland who became King James I of England after taking the throne upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I.

The transition was fraught with danger and uncertainty as England and Scotland were enemies for the longest of times.

Mary Queen of Scots, the mother of James VI, was in fact executed by Queen Elizabeth I, her blood cousin.

A recent 2024 book on the transition from Tudor to Stuart by Susan Doran covers the area well.

Highly recommended.

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