Written by G. W. and D. E. Anderson.

As many Christians are aware, most books published are protected under copyright, 'the exclusive legal right granted for a specified period to an author, designer, etc., or another appointed person, to print, publish, perform, film, or record original literary, artistic, or musical material.'¹ The book from which this definition is taken is copyrighted; thus, it is necessary to indicate from what source the information came and to take care not to alter the meaning. This is because copyright serves two purposes: to give credit to the author or designer, and to protect the material from being altered by other persons.

Bibles, also, are copyrighted. Some, such as the New King James Version, have only the copyright symbol followed by the holder of the copyright to indicate its status. Others have more precise statements of copyright. The New International Version contains the statement,

The NIV text may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of one thousand (1,000) verses without express written permission of the publisher, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for 50% of the total work in which they are quoted. .. . When quotations from the NIV are used in non-saleable media, such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, transparencies or similar media, the initials (NIV) may be used at the end of each quotation. Quotations and/or reprints in excess of one thousand (1,000) verses, or other permission requests, must be directed and approved in writing by Zondervan Bible Publishers.²

The New American Standard Version contains a copyright statement which is almost word-for-word the same as that above.³

One of the arguments which is used by those attempting to discredit the modern versions of the Scriptures is that these new versions have a stated copyright which, in the minds of some Christians, means that men have control of God’s Word. These Christians believe that the Word of God cannot be bound by man’s law but that it is the exclusive right of God and of His people to have it published and to use it as desired. It is often stated by these people that the Authorised (King James) Version 1611 is the Word of God⁴ and therefore is not and cannot be copyrighted. Several people have written to the Trinitarian Bible Society, complaining about the reference on the title verso (the page after the title page on which copyright information is given) of the Society’s English Authorised Version Bibles. The version the Authorised Version states,

All rights in respect of the Authorised (King James) Version of the Holy Bible are vested in the Crown in the United Kingdom and controlled by Royal Letters Patent. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature, without written permission.

This cannot be correct, they say, because the Authorised Version cannot be copyrighted.

God's copyright

The basic principle of copyright and the Word of God is not something new. In at least three places in the Bible itself God makes it very clear that He does not permit anyone to tamper with His Word. What He has written, He wants kept pure; men do not have the right or privilege of changing the Word of God to suit their own ideas or whims.

'Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you' (Deuteronomy 4.2).

'Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar' (Proverbs 30.5-6).

'For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book' (Revelation 22.18-19).

Thus, the principle of God protecting His Word by direct commands not to add to or take away from His Word establishes the principle of copyright.

The copyrighted Authorised Version

Dennis Forbes, Publishing Director for Reference and Bibles of Cambridge University Press, states,

It is sometimes assumed that the Authorized (King James) Version is unprotected. In fact, it enjoys special and perpetual status outside the law of copyright. The rights in this Bible (and in the Book of Common Prayer) in the United Kingdom belong to the Sovereign. They are controlled on behalf of the Crown in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the holder of letters patent, The Queen’s Printer. This office has been specifically linked with the right to produce the Bible since at least 1577 and the present holder is Cambridge University Press.⁵

The law permits no-one else to print, publish or import copies of all or part of the Authorized (King James) Version or the Book of Common Prayer without the permission of The Queen’s Printer.⁶

The Royal letters patent are 'an open document from a sovereign or government conferring a patent or other right.'⁷ As would be expected, this type of copyright is available only in countries, such as the United Kingdom, which have a monarchy.

Other countries, such as the United States of America, have copyright which is given by the government. Such copyright, however, gives the same limitations and serves the same purposes.

The work of the Authorised Version translators, in translating the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek into English, has therefore enjoyed the protection of a Royal copyright throughout its history. The Authorised Version was produced in accordance with the wishes of the English King in 1611⁸ and was protected by the Crown. Thus, the letters patent have been a great advantage to the people of God in English-speaking countries. The letters patent have provided for a uniformity of the text of the Authorised Version throughout the centuries. Individual printers, churches, denominations, and publishers have not been allowed to amend, change, or revise the Authorised Version, or in any way tamper with its text.

There are editions of the Bible in various languages, such as Luther’s German version, which have been changed many, many times over the years (albeit for good reasons on some occasions). Although many of these editions differ from one another, they are still published under the name ‘Luther’. Thus it would be possible to have a translation in a given language in which numerous differing editions of a particular Bible were present in a single congregation. In contrast, in the English language the Royal letters patent have protected the Authorised Version, so that each edition which is issued today contains the same text.

Privilege and Responsibility

One area in which the Royal letters patent have not inhibited the publication of uncorrupted copies of the Word of God is in the use of the Apocrypha. It is mandated by the Trinitarian Bible Society’s Constitution that the Apocrypha be excluded as not being part of God’s Word. Although the Authorised Version of 1611 and all of its subsequent official editions were published with the Apocrypha, the Trinitarian Bible Society publishes editions of the Authorised Version which do not contain the Apocrypha. Thus, although the Society does not hold, nor is it responsible for, the letters patent, it enjoys the benefit of this form of copyright.

God in His providence has provided the Royal letters patent and has protected the Authorised Version from so many changes which could have corrupted the text immeasurably. As a previous Secretary of the Trinitarian Bible Society has stated, 'We should therefore be very thankful that in the mystery of providence what may at first sight appear restrictive has been used of God to ensure that we have a faithful and reliable translation of the original languages available in a definitive form in the latter part of the 20th century in the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Australia, Africa, India, and wherever the English language is spoken.'

This does not mean that Christians are limited in their use of the Authorised Version, as they would be with other translations. As Mr. Forbes adds, 'The Permissions Department of Cambridge University Press receives a great number of requests to quote extracts from the AV. Consent is freely given in every case, with the request that it should be acknowledged.'⁹ Thus, the Royal letters patent should not be viewed as restrictive but as, from a human standpoint, in the providence of God a protection to the text of the Authorised Version which they are required to continue to make available.

God’s continuing provision

Since 1831 the Trinitarian Bible Society has been granted permission by the privileged press, in accordance with the Royal letters patent, to publish the Word of God. We have done this in accordance with the requirements of British law, in order to follow God’s law as stated in Romans 13. As well, the Trinitarian Bible Society follows the principle of copyright in its translations in languages other than English. This protects the Word of God from the eventualities of Christian organizations, churches, denominations, or individuals changing the translation without the permission of the Society. It ensures that people cannot 'make it their own version', but must abide by the will of the translators of the particular version of the Scriptures. In the use of copyright, the Society does not attempt to restrict the circulation or use of the Word of God, but by copyright it maintains the integrity of the text and translation which in the will of God its resources—financial, editorial, and prayerful—has produced. We thank God for His providence in copyright law. By it the Authorised Version will continue to have its standard of excellence and pre-eminence maintained as we continue into the next century.

Endnotes

1. R. E. Allen, ed., The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English (Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1990), p. 255.

2. The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI, USA: Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1984), title verso.

3. The Holy Bible: New American Standard (Nashville, TN, USA: Holman Bible Publishers, 1977), title verso.

4. The text of the Authorised Version in use today is not the 1611 edition. The 1611 was revised in 1629 and 1638 at Cambridge, and in 1762 by F. S. Paris, and finally in 1769 by Dr. Benjamin Blayney. This revision by Dr. Blayney, called the Oxford Standard Edition, incorporated all of the official changes made in the first 158 years of publication and was the last edition of the Authorised Version to be officially authorised by the Crown, and is the edition in use today.

5. Dennis Porbes, 'Did the Almighty intend His book to be copyrighted?', European Christian Bookstore Journal, April 1992, p. 21.

6. Ibid.

7. Allen, p. 871.

8. For additional information regarding the origin of the Authorised Version, please see the Society’s article no. 101, 'The English Bible: Its Origin, Preservation and Blessing'.

9. Forbes, p. 21.