This article is a Twitter thread by Josh Barzon, author of The Forgotten Preface, and is reprinted in full with permission.

The KJV stands as one of the most influential English Bible translations in history—but there’s a hidden document in its legacy that few talk about: “The Forgotten Preface.”

This nearly ancient document holds incredible insights into the translation philosophy, purpose, and process behind the KJV. Let’s uncover some of these “forgotten facts” together.

In the summer of 1611, the King James Bible was unleashed upon the world, crafted by over 50 scholars across six committees. But here’s the twist: there’s a preface, a letter from the translators, that has disappeared from most printings. This preface is crucial to grasp the translators true intentions.

Forgotten Fact #1:

The KJV translators anticipated backlash. They knew their work would be “welcomed with suspicion instead of love, and with envy instead of thanks,” as stated in “from the translators to the reader.” They understood that introducing a new translation could be seen as an attack on established Bibles like the Bishops and Geneva Bible.

“Was there ever any project that involved something new, or a renewal, that did not endure many a storm of protest and opposition?” they asked, acknowledging the inevitable criticism.

Forgotten Fact #2:

Their aim was to bring the Bible into the common man’s language. They believed “the Scripture should speak as it did in the language of Canaan,” meaning it should be understood even by “the very ordinary person,” according to “from the translators to the reader.”

They argued against the religious elite’s disdain for vulgar (common) language, echoing William Tyndale’s wish to make the Bible accessible to plowboys.

Forgotten Fact #3:

The translators acknowledged the imperfection in translations. They cited the Septuagint, with its “clumsy translation choices,” yet still considered it “the Word of God.”

“Yet did any of the apostles condemn it? Condemn it? No, they used it,” they noted in “from the translators to the reader,” revealing their belief that God blesses even flawed translations for His purpose.

Forgotten Fact #4:

They went further, asserting that even the “poorest” (or meanest) translation still contains God’s Word. They stated in “from the translators to the reader,” “the very poorest translation of the Bible into English… contains the word of God, no, is the word of God.”

This highlights their view that the essence of divine truth transcends human limitations in translation.

Forgotten Fact #5:

Contrary to popular belief, they didn’t claim perfection for the KJV. They admitted, “There is no reason why the Word, when translated, should be denied to be the Word… even though some imperfections and blemishes may be found in the expression of it,” from “from the translators to the reader.”

They encouraged the use of marginal notes and multiple translations for a fuller understanding, rejecting dogmatism on any single translation. (For example, this one reads *1 Cor. 11:24- Many Greek copies have ‘gave thanks.’)

Forgotten Fact #6:

The KJV was built on the shoulders of previous translations, not created in a vacuum. They humbly acknowledged in “from the translators to the reader,” “If we, building upon the foundation of those who went before us… endeavor to improve that which they left so good, no man… has any reason to dislike us.”

Forgotten Fact #7:

The translators believed that the age of a translation doesn’t make it superior. The KJV translators knew their work would one day be as outdated as the Latin Vulgate. They faced criticism like, “Was their translation good before? Why do they mend it now?”

This reflects their understanding that translations must evolve with language to stay relevant.

Forgotten Fact #8:

The character of translators wasn’t their measure of a translation’s worth. They pointed out historical figures like Origen and Jerome, who despite their theological errors, contributed to biblical scholarship.

“Do we try men’s faith by their persons? We should try their persons by their faith,” they argued in “from the translators to the reader,” focusing on the message rather than the messenger.

Forgotten Fact #9:

They believed in textual criticism, understanding the need for comparing and choosing between variant readings. Their footnotes acknowledge manuscript differences, showing a commitment to scholarly integrity by providing readers with alternative interpretations where texts differed.

“Or, Diphath, as it is in some copies.

Or, Rodnim, according to some copies.“

“Or, Harid, as it is in some copies”

“This 36 verse is wanting in most of the Greek copies.”

Forgotten Fact #10:

They didn’t adhere strictly to word-for-word translation. They occasionally used dynamic equivalence, as seen in Romans 6:1-2 with “God forbid” for the Greek “let it not be.”

They questioned the need for rigid translation in “from the translators to the reader,” asking, “For is the kingdom of God a matter of words or syllables?” advocating for clarity over literalism.

Forgotten Fact #11:

Despite opposition, they stood firm in faith that their work was blessed by God. They ended their preface with a prayer for divine guidance in “from the translators to the reader,” confident that “He removes the scales from our eyes, the veil from our hearts,” to help readers understand and love His Word.

This shows their ultimate trust in God’s role in their translation efforts.

Conclusion:

The King James translators were visionaries, not idolaters of their own work. In an age where KJVOism unfortunately still exists, the preface is a death blow to that fringe and unbiblical doctrine. The translators believed in a living, accessible Word of God, adaptable to the changes of language and culture. Let’s respect their legacy by embracing this view of scripture.

If you enjoyed this thread, you can read about it in Barzan’s book The Forgotten Preface: Surprising Insights on the Translation Philosophy of the King James Translators.

Furthermore, if you would like a free a copy of this e-book, reach out to him directly at @JoshuaBarzon on X, and he will give you one.

Bonus interesting fact: Not only did the original 1611 of the KJV contain the Apocrypha, where it remained for hundreds of years until was removed in the 19th century, but Hebrews 11:35 has a reference to 2 Maccabees in the footnotes.

Additional Resources: Below are links to additional resources on this topic that would be very helpful if you are interested in learning more.

“The Forgotten Preface” by @JoshuaBarzon
a.co/d/5AJ1hlj
“Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible” by @mlward
a.co/d/il9w2Xh
“Scribes and Scripture” by @drjohnmeade and @pjgurry
a.co/d/jga6NlK
“Bible Translations for Everyone” by @timwildsmith
a.co/d/ePuDeXC
“The King James Only Controversy” by @HwsEleutheroi
a.co/d/0iYBbSm
“King James Onlyism” by Dr James Price
a.co/d/8F6NiIV