{"id":32602,"date":"2022-09-10T16:15:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/majority-of-american-bible-readers-still-prefer-king-james-version\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:15:58","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:15:58","slug":"majority-of-american-bible-readers-still-prefer-king-james-version","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/majority-of-american-bible-readers-still-prefer-king-james-version\/","title":{"rendered":"Majority of American Bible Readers Still Prefer King James Version"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Bob Smietana<\/em><\/p>\n

When it comes to the Bible, King James still rules.<\/p>\n

The venerable KVJ, now 403 years old, is the favorite Bible of more than half (55 percent) of American Bible readers, according to \u201cThe Bible in American Life,\u201d\u00a0a new report from the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture.<\/p>\n

Researchers found that about half of Americans say they\u2019ve read the Bible in the last year.<\/p>\n

Among self-described Bible readers, 55 percent say they prefer the KJV, well ahead of the second-most-read-version\u2014the New International Version at 19 percent.<\/p>\n

About 40 percent of congregations use the KJV in worship.<\/p>\n

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\u201cClearly, then, the King James Bible is far from dead,\u201d researchers wrote.
Jeremy Howard, Publisher of English Bibles and Reference Books\u00a0with B&H Publishing, says one reason for the popularity of the King James Version is that it was the first English translation to be widely disseminated. Churches began using it and stuck with it because it met the needs of believers.
Then there\u2019s the language.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter than any other Bible translation, the KJV conveys a sense of majesty and formality,\u201d he said. \u201cThe language is beautiful and mysterious to modern readers. The KJV is completely outside our experience. This may actually serve to sober the reader, inviting them into serious engagement with the text of Scripture.\u201d<\/p>\n

Howard said more contemporary translations serve an important role in the church. But so does the King James Version.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe deep things of God and the human condition invite the use of the best imagery and beauty language has to offer,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is a place for simple, clear English that reflects contemporary usage.\u201d<\/p>\n

He explained why that might be case “Just as you would not want an English professor from the 17th century to teach your child how to write, you may not want a KJV translator to teach your child’s\u00a0Sunday\u00a0School class due to the language barrier,\u201d he said. \u201cBut for the Bible reader who wants to be moved not just by timeless truths but by timeless beauty, the KJV is the obvious choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The study did find that King James fans were less likely to read the Bible weekly.<\/p>\n

Seventy percent of those who read the NIV do so weekly. That number drops to just over half (54 percent) for KJV readers.<\/p>\n

Among the study\u2019s other findings:<\/p>\n