The words of God

IF the Almighty had sent down the injunction to be fruitful and to multiply to what is commonly called the Bible, his word could not have been more adequately fulfilled.

Now, after centuries of different editions of the Bible, comes the first batch of studies published to coincide with the 400th anniversary, this year, of the King James Version (KJV), of 1611, also known as the authorised version. The anniversary has a significance beyond Christian communities; it embraces Judaism and aspects of Islam, and reflects international religious developments over four centuries. This is the Bible on which Barack Obama took his presidential oath of office, using a copy on which Abraham Lincoln had done the same in 1861.

It is also the edition acknowledged as the finest expression of the English language.