On this day... CS Lewis destroyed the KJVO movement

FSSL

FSSL

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On this day in 1961, C.S. Lewis destroyed the KJVO movement when he wrote: "A modern translation is for most purposes far more useful than the Authorized [i.e., King James] Version." In an essay titled "Modern Translations of the Bible," Lewis says:

The Authorized Version...is no longer modern English: the meaning of words have changed. The same antique glamour which has made it (in the superficial sense) so 'beautiful,' so 'sacred,' so 'comforting,' and so 'inspiring,' has also made it in many places unintelligible.... The truth is that if we are to have a translation at all we must have periodical re-translation. There is no such thing as translating a book into another language once and for all, for a language is a changing thing."
 
When I start basing which Bible I read based on anything CS Lewis says, then I'll become a Catholic.
 
Twisted said:
When I start basing which Bible I read based on anything CS Lewis says, then I'll become a Catholic.
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Why? Lewis was an Anglican (like the godly geniuses who translated the KJV).
 
FSSL said:
On this day in 1961, C.S. Lewis destroyed the KJVO movement when he wrote: "A modern translation is for most purposes far more useful than the Authorized [i.e., King James] Version." In an essay titled "Modern Translations of the Bible," Lewis says:

The Authorized Version...is no longer modern English: the meaning of words have changed. The same antique glamour which has made it (in the superficial sense) so 'beautiful,' so 'sacred,' so 'comforting,' and so 'inspiring,' has also made it in many places unintelligible.... The truth is that if we are to have a translation at all we must have periodical re-translation. There is no such thing as translating a book into another language once and for all, for a language is a changing thing."
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This doesn't fit the topic; this is merely Lewis' opinion, and he is not authoritative.

I think the KJV is a masterpiece of translation; majestic, elegant, and yet simple, while still getting across what God said.

It is true that some words (about 140, as I recall) have significantly changed meaning, but I'll still take it over the other versions that have surfaced.
 
Walt said:
FSSL said:
On this day in 1961, C.S. Lewis destroyed the KJVO movement when he wrote: "A modern translation is for most purposes far more useful than the Authorized [i.e., King James] Version." In an essay titled "Modern Translations of the Bible," Lewis says:

The Authorized Version...is no longer modern English: the meaning of words have changed. The same antique glamour which has made it (in the superficial sense) so 'beautiful,' so 'sacred,' so 'comforting,' and so 'inspiring,' has also made it in many places unintelligible.... The truth is that if we are to have a translation at all we must have periodical re-translation. There is no such thing as translating a book into another language once and for all, for a language is a changing thing."
Click to expand...

This doesn't fit the topic; this is merely Lewis' opinion, and he is not authoritative.

I think the KJV is a masterpiece of translation; majestic, elegant, and yet simple, while still getting across what God said.

It is true that some words (about 140, as I recall) have significantly changed meaning, but I'll still take it over the other versions that have surfaced.
Click to expand...

Ditto that!
 
Walt said:
This doesn't fit the topic; this is merely Lewis' opinion, and he is not authoritative.

I think the KJV is a masterpiece of translation; majestic, elegant, and yet simple, while still getting across what God said.
Click to expand...

"Majestic," "elegant," and "simple" are also matters of opinion rather than fact. How do you measure "majestic"?
 
Ransom said:
Walt said:
This doesn't fit the topic; this is merely Lewis' opinion, and he is not authoritative.

I think the KJV is a masterpiece of translation; majestic, elegant, and yet simple, while still getting across what God said.
Click to expand...

"Majestic," "elegant," and "simple" are also matters of opinion rather than fact. How do you measure "majestic"?
Click to expand...

Well, sort of true... I think that for many decades it was clearly understood that that the KJV was a masterpiece of majestic language. 

"Simple" also has various ways to measure -- how many polysyllabic words are used versus monosyllabic words?  There are other tests, but the KJV is very readable, overall.

"Elegant" is probably the most opinion-oriented word.
 
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