The Bible is a holy scripture of Christianity. It is a group of religious texts describing the history of the earth from its beginning to the spread of religion worldwide. A Bible contains two parts, The Old Testament and The New Testament, which are further divided into different books. The two most popular versions of the Bible are the King James Bible ( also known as the King James Version) and the Geneva Bible.
King James Bible vs Geneva Bible
The main difference between the King James Bible and the Geneva Bible is that the King James Bible, also called the Authorized Bible, was published in 1611 under King James after he declared the Geneva Bible seditious and incorrect while the Geneva Bible, also known as the Breeches Bible, was published by a group of protestant scholars in exile from England in 1560. Both these Bibles are two different English translations of the Bible for the Church of England.
The King James Version is considered one of the most important religious scriptures of all time, not only for its most widely accepted portrayal of Christianity but also for its ability to spread the English language worldwide. This Bible was commissioned and published in 1604 and 1611 respectively for the Church of England after its predecessor, the Breeches Bible, was considered unorthodox.
The Geneva Bible is also an English translation of the Holy Bible published in Geneva in 1560 by a group of protestants in exile. They worked under the directions of scholars and priests. This Bible is also one of the most historic translations into English. It portrays Protestantism. It was used by great scholars and thinkers and was one of the Bibles taken to America on the famous ship, the Mayflower.
Comparison Table Between King James Bible and Geneva Bible
| Parameters of comparison | King James Bible | Geneva Bible |
| History | The King James Bible is a translation of the Holy Bible for the Church Of England. It was commissioned and published under the sponsorship of King James because he believed that the revolutionary Geneva Bible was seditious. | The Geneva Bible is another translation of the Holy Bible published by a group of protestants in exile. They worked under Miles Coverdale, John Knox, and John Calvin. |
| Published by | The King James Version was commissioned and published under King James, the first. | The Geneva Bible was published by a group of protestants in exile from England working under several scholars. |
| Publishing year | The King James Bible was published in the year 1611. | The Geneva Bible was published in 1560, 15 years before the King James Version. |
| Books and volumes | There are 80 books that are part of the complete King James Version; 36 in the Old Testament, 14 in the Apocrypha and 27 in the New Testament. | The Geneva Bible, like most other bibles, contained two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. It also had an Apocrypha, but it was separated from the rest of the text. |
| Use | The King James Bible is the most commonly used version of the Holy Bible today. | The Geneva Bible’s use is widespread, but it is not as recognized as the King James Version. |
What is King James Bible?
The King James Bible is a translation of the Christian scripture, the Holy Bible, for England’s church. It was commissioned and published under King James, the first.
The King James Version is celebrated as the most important religious scripture of all time for its most widely accepted ideals and values of Christianity.
This Bible was commissioned and published in 1604 and 1611, respectively, for the Church of England after the Geneva Bible, which was considered unorthodox and mutinous. It consists, as usual, of an Old Testament, New Testament, and an Apocrypha. It is the most widely used and best-known Bible in the world today.
We found the best deal(s) on Amazon for you
| # | Preview | Product | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
| KJV Holy Bible, Giant Print Full-Size, Antiqued Brown Faux Leather w/Ribbon Marker, Red Letter,… | Check Price on Amazon |
What is Geneva Bible?
Also known as the ‘Breeches Bible,’ the Geneva Bible is an English translation of the Holy Bible published in 1560 by a group of protestants in exile from England and Scotland. They worked under the directions of scholars like Miles Coverdale, John Knox, and John Calvin.
This Bible is also one of the most important religious scripture in history to be translated into English, preceding the King James Version by 51 years. Great scholars like William Shakespeare, Oliver Cromwell, and John Donne used this Bible due to its reputation as the most important bible of 16th English Protestantism.
King James despised the revolutionary Geneva Bible because he thought it was anarchical. He thought the Bible’s notes threatened his authority and kingship. He described it as the antichrist. Paranoid, he outlawed the Geneva bible and ordered a new translation. This translation came to be known as the King James Bible.
We found the best deal(s) on Amazon for you
| # | Preview | Product | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
| The Geneva Bible: The Bible of the Protestant Reformation | Check Price on Amazon |
Main Differences Between King James Bible and Geneva Bible
The two versions of the Holy Bible are quite similar to each other and have their characteristic differences. Examination of these differences helps us draw the following conclusions.
- The King James Bible was translated in 1611. It was commissioned and published under the sponsorship of King James, the first. The Geneva Bible is another translation of the Holy Bible published by a group of protestants in exile. They worked under Miles Coverdale, John Knox, and John Calvin.
- The Geneva Bible is considered more direct and modern as compared to the King James Version. It also contained marginal notes that the King James Bible did not have.
- The King James Version was considered religiously correct. In contrast, the Geneva Bible was considered nihilistic.
- The King James Bible was published in 1611, and the Geneva Bible was published in 1560.
- The King James Bible is the most widely used version of the Holy Bible today, but the Geneva Bible is not as recognized as the King James Version.
Conclusion
As the primary difference between the King James Bible and the Geneva Bible has been explained, it becomes clear that both the translations of The Holy Bible have their own characteristic differences.
The King James Bible is an English translation of The Holy Bible for the Church Of England. It was commissioned and published under the order of King James. The Geneva Bible is another translation of the Holy Bible published by a group of men in exile from Scotland.
References
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=2DwA0f6cXgoC&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=King+James+Bible+vs+Geneva+Bible&ots=bsDa7gDCZa&sig=WvjSzzq1IFa-Xks8xRDrhYb9aRg
- https://slife.org/authorized-king-james-version/
Last update on 2022-03-31 / Amazon Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API