Why Is the 1611 King James Bible Called the “Authorized Version”?

The 1611 King James Bible is called the “Authorized Version,” but this is misleading because King James never officially declared it the only Bible. He only authorized the translation work. The title came later, by tradition, not by law. The translators themselves said their work was not perfect, and other Bibles were also God’s Word. King James  approved the project, not the Bible as “the only authorized Word of God.”

No church council declared. The KJV is the official Bible of Christianity. All other translations are false

1. King James never officially “authorized” the KJV as the only Bible

There is no official document from King James that says:

• This is the only Bible churches must use

• All other Bibles are forbidden

• This Bible is perfect

• This Bible is inspired again in 1611

Nothing like that exists.

The earlier Bishops’ Bible continued to be used for many years even after the KJV was printed.

So calling it the “Authorized Version” makes it sound like the king declared it the official Bible—but he did not.

2. The name “Authorized Version” was added long after 1611

The original 1611 Bible did not call itself the “Authorized Version.”

That name started appearing more than 100 years later, in the 1700s.

The translators never used that term.
King James never used that term.
It came from later tradition.

3. What King James actually “authorized”

King James only authorized the translation work—the project itself.

He gave permission to:

• Form the translation committees

• Begin translating

• Print the new Bible

• Allow it to be read in churches

This does not mean he declared it the only approved Bible.

So:

He authorized the translation work, not the final translation as the only Bible.

4. The KJV became popular by use, not by law

The KJV became well-known because:

• Churches of England began reading it publicly

• It was printed in huge numbers

• It eventually replaced older English Bibles

• People loved its style and language

Its influence came from popularity, not from any royal command.

5. Why the word “Authorized” misleads people today

Many KJV-Only supporters think:

• God specially authorized it

• The king declared it perfect

• It is the only right Bible

• All others are corrupt

But this is not true.

The title “Authorized Version” gives a false impression.

6. The KJV translators did NOT believe their work was perfect

In the original 1611 Preface, they wrote:

Original 1611 Quote (Exact Wording)

“We never thought from the beginning, that we should need to make a new Translation, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one; but to make a good one better, or out of many good ones, one principal good one.”

— The Translators to the Reader, King James Bible (1611)
(Attributed chiefly to Miles Smith, one of the final editors)

This directly shows that the translators were not KJV-Only.