The King James Bible

Course Description

Often considered the most influential book ever published, the King James Version of the Bible (1611) is a monumental cultural achievement. It encapsulates the Renaissance spirit of eloquence, and four hundred years after its publication, it remains the most frequently used translation of the Bible in the English-speaking world, especially in America. Given the historical, political, literary, and cultural prominence of this translation, this course takes a transdisciplinary approach to understanding how the book came into existence and what accounts for its popularity. The course begins by studying the complex history of how this translation came to be commissioned, who the translators were, how the translation was accomplished, and the politics involved in the translation. The course then critically studies the structures and styles of the KJB, with particular focus on examining genres and performing close readings of texts, as well as considering the political work often attributed to the text (i.e., how the book has been used to enslave and emancipate enslaved people, how it has been used to create and maintain patriarchy, etc). The course ends by paying particular attention to the history of the KJB in the United States, as we discuss the so-called "KJB-Only Movement." Therefore, rather than studying Jewish or Christian theology, this course aims to introduce students to issues surrounding the material book history of the KJB, its immense literary aesthetic, and its cultural influence.

Code

UH 243

Credits

3

Subject

UH