The Book, the Scholars, and Kings: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow – My Thoughts on the Movie King James Bible: The Book That Changed the World by David Starkey

 

What I remembered most from the movie is how the young Scottish king, James VI, inherited the English throne from Queen Elizabeth I, his cousin, and made the significant decision to commission, or at least allow, a new translation of the Bible. His aim was to bring unity between different Christian factions in England—mainly the Anglicans/monarchy supporters and the Puritans/reformists. King James’ diligent supervision and the rigorous scholarship from both sides ultimately led to the completion of the King James Bible, a work that has become well known throughout the Western world.

The first thing that struck me while watching the movie was how much more of a drama it felt like than a documentary. I also noticed that King James wasn't portrayed as appropriately aged towards the later years of his life, with little attention to makeup or prosthetics to reflect the passage of time. Despite my slight criticisms of the production value, there were moments in the film that touched me deeply—particularly the scenes portraying the King’s education under the great George Buchanan. In that era, having such an education—being taught in literature, history, and political theory, all intertwined with a strict Calvinist reading of the Bible—was indeed a privilege beyond imagination.

Now, I don’t profess to be a Calvinist or a strict Protestant. In fact, I find Calvinism quite extreme in its approach. But I have to give credit where it’s due. To me, the Protestant Reformation was like inventing the wheel during the Stone Age. Sure, in our modern era, we might not want to go back to horse-drawn carts, but I can still appreciate that the wheel was not just a revolutionary development for its time, but a necessary one for our time.

At times, I wondered if I was being too critical while watching. The film often felt like propaganda, as if it was shouting: “Please know that King James was a hero, a flawless hero, who brought all of us together.” The Anglican bishops were portrayed as sly, almost weasel-like, while the Puritans came across as more reasonable but still not as wise or righteous as the great monarch himself. It seemed like James I of England, "God’s Chosen Ruler," was being presented as the one who swooped in to save the day.

On the other hand, I also recognized that some of my reactions were influenced by my own personal biases. I kept asking myself, “Why not just stick with the Geneva Bible? So what if there are some marginal notes that challenge the monarchy?” But then I had to remind myself that I was thinking with my 21st-century brain and reacting with my 21st-century heart. Just as I am a product of my time, King James was a product of his. And for the era, he was undoubtedly a superb and wise Scholar-King who left us with a significant piece of history, even if he didn’t live to see the full impact of it.

Watching this movie made me think about how we are all products of our upbringing, our culture, and the circumstances we live in. In King James’ time, the creation of the King James Bible was a monumental achievement, and in our own time, we continue to build on that legacy. One thing we share, no matter the era, is that we are all children of God, co-heirs with Christ, Priest-Kings of the Kingdom of Heaven, and called to be scholars in our own right.

I remember during a time of prayer, I felt the Holy Spirit say to me, “You are a scholar!” At first, I couldn’t accept it—I thought the idea was absurd because I didn’t have the right credentials. But then I discovered that the original meaning of the word “scholar” is simply “a student,” and that I could fully believe. I am definitely a student, and I always strive to be one. I believe that we are all called to be students, learning and growing in our relationship with God, guided by the Holy Spirit. Even if the knowledge we gain in our lifetime is seen by future generations as outdated or limited, it will still have played its part in advancing the kingdom of heaven, one glorious transformation at a time.