The King James Version (KJV) and the Catholic Bible are two major English translations of the Bible. The KJV is a Protestant translation that was completed in 1611 by a group of scholars commissioned by King James I of England. The Catholic Bible refers to Bibles translated from the original languages into English with the imprimatur of the Catholic Church. There are some notable differences between the KJV and Catholic Bibles due to variations in translation philosophies and source texts.
Background of the King James Bible
The KJV, also known as the Authorized Version, was commissioned by King James I of England in 1604 and published in 1611 by the Church of England. King James hoped this new translation would replace previous English translations, including the Bishop’s Bible of 1568, the Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Geneva Bible of 1560. The goal was to have a new translation that was accessible to the common people and free of any controversial annotations that existed in previous Bibles.
Forty-seven scholars were divided into six committees at Oxford, Cambridge, and Westminster to undertake the translation work. They referred to Hebrew and Greek source texts to create an accurate English translation. The KJV became the standard Bible used in many Protestant churches for hundreds of years and has had a profound impact on the development of the English language.
Background of the Catholic Bible
The term “Catholic Bible” refers to several English translations of the Bible that have been approved by the Catholic Church. The Catholic Bible includes all 73 books of the Catholic canon, including seven deuterocanonical books and additional passages not found in Protestant Bibles.
Some key Catholic Bible translations include:
- Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB): Translated from the Latin Vulgate between 1582-1610. The Old Testament was completed in Douay, France, and the New Testament in Rheims, France.
- Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE): Published in 1965. A revision of the Revised Standard Version (Protestant version) to conform to Catholic teaching.
- New American Bible (NAB): Published in 1970. Created by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
- New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE): Published in 1989. A Catholic edition of the New Revised Standard Version.
The Douay-Rheims translation served as the standard Catholic English Bible for over 200 years until the mid-20th century. Subsequent Catholic Bibles have aimed to use newer manuscript discoveries and provide more accessible English translations while remaining faithful to Catholic doctrine.
Differences in Source Texts and Canon
One major difference between the KJV and Catholic Bibles is in the source texts used for translation. The KJV New Testament is based on a Greek text called the Textus Receptus. The Textus Receptus was compiled by Desiderius Erasmus in the 16th century from a handful of Greek manuscripts available at that time.
In contrast, modern Catholic Bibles utilize older Greek manuscripts like the Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus discovered in the 19th and 20th centuries. Catholic Bibles also reference the Vulgate Latin Bible. These older manuscripts and critical editing methods have allowed scholars to produce translations that more accurately reflect the original texts.
The contents of the Protestant and Catholic canons also differ. The KJV contains 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament for a total of 66 books. Catholic Bibles have 46 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament for a total of 73 books.
The 39 books of the Protestant Old Testament correspond to the Jewish Hebrew canon. However, the Catholic Old Testament contains 7 additional deuterocanonical books included in the Greek Septuagint but excluded by the Jews from the Hebrew canon in the first century AD. These include Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch. The deuterocanonical books are interspersed throughout the Old Testament in Catholic Bibles.
Translation Philosophy
The KJV translators used an approach known as formal equivalence. Their goal was to adhere as closely as possible to the wording of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. This allows readers to see an English representation of the structure and wording of the original languages. The result is a more literal, word-for-word translation style.
Modern Catholic Bibles like the New American Bible use a translation philosophy called dynamic equivalence. Rather than formal word-for-word translation, the goal is to capture the thought and meaning of the original texts in natural, idiomatic English. This makes the translation more readable and accessible to a contemporary audience.
Some linguistic scholars argue that dynamic equivalence better conveys the meaning and intent of the original writings into modern language. However, more literal translations like the KJV allow readers to connect closely with the structure and phrasing of the original languages.
Differences in Specific Verses
The variations in source texts and translation philosophy lead to notable differences between the KJV and Catholic Bibles. Here are some examples of verses that differ:
Isaiah 7:14 – Virgin Birth Prophecy
| Bible Version | Text |
|---|---|
| KJV | Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. |
| Catholic Bibles (RSV-CE, NAB) | Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. |
The KJV uses the term “virgin” while Catholic Bibles use “young woman”. This is because the Hebrew word “almah” can mean either “virgin” or “young woman”. The Septuagint uses the Greek word “parthenos” meaning specifically “virgin”. The KJV relies on the Septuagint, while modern Catholic translations went directly to the Hebrew source.
John 3:16 – Begotten Son
| Bible Version | Text |
|---|---|
| KJV | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. |
| Catholic Bibles (RSV-CE, NRSV-CE) | For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. |
The KJV uses “only begotten Son” while modern Catholic translations use “only Son”. “Only begotten” does not exist in the original Greek manuscripts. It is influenced by the Vulgate’s “unigenitum” derived from the Textus Receptus compilation.
John 1:17 – Law through Moses / Grace and Truth through Jesus
| Bible Version | Text |
|---|---|
| KJV | For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. |
| Catholic Bibles (RSV-CE, NRSV-CE) | The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. |
The KJV suggests a contrast between law/Moses and grace/Jesus, while the Catholic Bibles translate this in a smoother way that grace and truth came through Christ as well as the law coming through Moses.
Acts 8:37 – Confession before Baptism
| Bible Version | Text |
|---|---|
| KJV | And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. |
| Catholic Bibles | Verse omitted |
This verse describing the Ethiopian eunuch confessing belief in Christ before baptism appears in the KJV but is omitted from modern Catholic translations. It does not appear in the oldest Greek manuscripts.
1 John 5:7-8 – Comma Johanneum
| Bible Version | Text |
|---|---|
| KJV | For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. |
| Catholic Bibles | There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. |
The italicized portion known as the Comma Johanneum supporting the doctrine of the Trinity appears in the KJV but is excluded from modern Catholic translations. It does not appear in the oldest Greek manuscripts.
Exodus 20:4 (Deuteronomy 5:8) – Graven Images
| Bible Version | Text |
|---|---|
| KJV | Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. |
| Catholic Bibles (DRB, RSV-CE) | Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth. |
The Catholic Bibles translate this commandment in Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8 differently than the KJV. The Catholic translation allows for statues and images for religious purposes as long as they are not worshipped as gods. The KJV wording was strongly anti-Catholic.
Matthew 6:13 – A Concluding Doxology
| Bible Version | Text |
|---|---|
| KJV | And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. |
| Catholic Bibles | And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
The doxology at the end of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:13 is included in the KJV but excluded from most modern Catholic translations since it is not present in the earliest manuscripts.
Romans 3:28 – Justification by Faith
| Bible Version | Text |
|---|---|
| KJV | Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. |
| DRB | For we account a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law. |
| RSV-CE | For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. |
The KJV omitted the word “alone” after faith, aligning more closely with Catholic doctrine on the role of faith and works in salvation. Modern Catholic Bibles also include this additional wording.
Conclusion
In summary, while the King James Version and Catholic Bibles share the vast majority of content and message, there are some important distinctions:
- The KJV uses the Textus Receptus as the source text for the New Testament, while Catholic Bibles use older Greek manuscripts.
- Catholic Bibles include 7 additional deuterocanonical books as part of the Old Testament.
- The KJV is a more literal, word-for-word translation while Catholic Bibles aim for dynamic equivalence.
- Specific verses differ based on variations in source texts and theological perspectives.
Understanding these differences allows readers to gain deeper insight into the Bible’s complex origins and appreciation for the thought that has gone into producing English translations. While modern scholarship continues to enhance our understanding of the biblical texts, the core messages of Christian faith and God’s revelation remain unchanged. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit guides each believer in understanding and applying Scripture, regardless of the particular translation.