Is King James Bible Catholic?

The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is an English translation commissioned by King James I and completed in 1611 by a team of 54 scholars. The KJV is considered one of the most influential and widely read Bible translations in history. But there has been some confusion over whether the KJV is a Protestant or Catholic translation.

Quick Answers

In short, the King James Bible is a Protestant translation. Here are some key points:

• King James I was the head of the Church of England, which had broken away from the Roman Catholic Church during the Protestant Reformation.
• The scholars who did the translation were members of the Church of England and Puritans, both Protestant groups.
• The source texts used were Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, not the Latin Vulgate used by Catholics.
• The KJV lacks the Apocryphal books that are included in Catholic Bibles.
• The translation includes many Protestant doctrinal biases not accepted by Catholics.
• The KJV was never an official Bible for any Catholic groups, but was widely used by Protestants.

So while the KJV has had a profound impact across denominations, it was clearly produced by and for Protestants, not Catholics. The history and origins of this translation make its Protestant identity quite clear.

Translation Process and Translators

To better understand the Protestant background of the KJV, it’s helpful to look at the translation process and translators involved:

• King James I was the head of the Church of England, which had broken away from papal authority during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.
• The 54 scholars who translated the KJV were members of the Church of England and Puritans, both Protestant groups. Many were clergy or professors at Oxford and Cambridge.
• There were no Catholics or Catholic institutions involved in the translation work.
• The translators relied heavily on previous English Protestant translations, like those of William Tyndale and John Wycliffe, and on Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, not the Latin Vulgate used by Catholics.

So the very people behind the KJV held Protestant theological views and came from thoroughly Protestant backgrounds in the universities and Church of England.

Contents of Translation

In addition to the translators, the contents of the KJV also reveal its Protestant identity when compared to Catholic Bibles:

• The KJV Old Testament follows the same order and canon of 39 books as Jewish and Protestant Bibles. Catholic Old Testaments have additional books known as the Apocrypha.
• The KJV lacks the Apocryphal books present in Catholic Bibles. King James specifically prohibited their inclusion.
• The translation contains many subtle doctrinal biases that match Protestant theology but differ from Catholic perspectives. Some examples:
  • Using “congregation” instead of “church”
  • Using “repentance” instead of “penance”
  • Emphasis on faith alone, not works

So the contents of the KJV, from the excluded Apocrypha to doctrinal slants, show it was never intended for Catholic use but rather as a Protestant Bible.

Reception and Use

Looking at the reception and use of the King James Bible further confirms its exclusively Protestant heritage:

• It was widely promoted and used throughout the Protestant world, especially in England and its colonies.
• Early editions included anti-Catholic notes and commentary reflecting Protestant biases.
• Catholic authorities rejected it and prohibited its use for centuries due to the Protestant origins and content.
• It was never approved or adopted by any Catholic groups as an official or authorized text.
• Modern Catholic editions of the Bible use the New Vulgate in Latin or translations approved by the Vatican.
• The KJV did, however, influence Catholic translations in English, like the Douay-Rheims Bible, due to its literary style.

So while the KJV had a broad cultural impact beyond Protestantism, it was only officially embraced by Protestant churches and viewed with suspicion by Catholic leadership.

King James Version Today

While the King James Version retains enormous popularity today, especially among more conservative Protestants, its distinctly Protestant origins remain unchanged:

• Most mainstream Protestant denominations continue to utilize and formally approve the KJV, while Catholics do not.
• Some Protestant churches, like Anglican and Baptist, have the KJV in the pews or use it liturgically alongside more modern translations.
• The KJV remains widely cherished by Protestants for its literary value and historic significance.
• Modern Catholic churches almost exclusively use translations approved by Catholic authorities, like the New American Bible or Jerusalem Bible.
• The KJV is generally not preferred by contemporary Catholics and does not hold the same traditional or sentimental value for them.

So in the 21st century, the King James Bible certainly maintains a special place in Protestant Christianity, while remaining outside the Catholic tradition.

Conclusion

The King James Version arose from a specific Protestant context of 16th and 17th century England that shaped its creation and contents. From its inception under King James I through to present times, it has been embraced as a Protestant Bible, not a Catholic one. The KJV’s history, translators, contents, reception, and ongoing use all point clearly to its origins and place as one of the most influential Protestant Bibles ever produced. While having an impact across wider Christendom, the King James Bible remains a fundamentally Protestant work.