King James Bible
In our secular age, some might think it surprising how much interest there still is in the Bible, as the celebrations in 2011 for the 4th centenary (400 years) of the King James Version (KJV), sometimes referred to as the Authorized Version (AV), clearly showed. Even those who do not believe in Christianity continue to be fascinated by the Bible’s presence.
The Bible in Western Culture
For believers, the Bible is often seen as inspired by God and having a high level of authority in matters of belief and practice. For non-believers, the Bible is a central document of western culture – it continues to interest many readers as a collection of major literary works. The history of these works, and of how they have been disseminated and interpreted, is a central part of the history of western literature.
A History of the Bible: The Story of the World’s Most Influential Book