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Hillside Parish Magazine

October 2011

From the vicar

This year is the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible which, with the Book of Common Prayer, is one of the great pillars of the Church of England. If you grew up with the Authorised Version you will understand how it has become part of you because you were steeped in it (in his article the Dean says “soused”) at school and in church. It is what people meant when they talked about “the Bible” because there was nothing else and its words and phrases have become part of the English language.  

Now there are many versions of the Bible to choose from. But why is that? And which is best? Any Bible written in English is a compromise – because the original texts are written in Hebrew and Greek and there are some fragments which are in Aramaic. So any English Bible is a translation and faces all the questions which that raises. Over the centuries translators’ skills have improved and more original texts have become available, calling into question the accuracy of older versions. Also the meaning of words changes over time and our ability to understand an old translation is reduced unless we also become familiar with the language in which it is written.

  Over the last 200 years a great deal of energy has gone into many translations of the Bible so that the Gospel could be read and understood in local languages. As the mission of the Church extended to every continent the Bible was translated into hundreds of languages and dialects and this process continues today. Alongside this work comes the awareness that there is also a need to keep up with changes in western language and culture and to maintain the Church’s mission to new generations in this country, leading to new translations of the Bible into modern English.  

So if your aim is accuracy and understanding then go for one of these Bibles – New English, Jerusalem, New Revised Standard, New International, Good News, the Message. But if you prefer the soaring phrases and traditional language then you will look to the King James Bible.  

In our worship in the benefice we tend to use Common Worship for our services and modern English versions of the Bible for our readings because we are trying to grow our churches and our congregations. But there is still a place for the traditional language of the King James version and the Book of Common Prayer where people know and treasure them. Worship engages us body, mind and spirit and each needs to be nourished.  

So let us give thanks for the majesty of the King James Bible and also for the clarity of more modern translations, praying that however we hear “the Word of the Lord” it may inflame our hearts and our minds and draw us closer to God and to one another.  

With my prayers

Ian Houghton