The story of the English Bible spans more than 13 centuries of fascinating history. In that period, the English language formed and developed. As the language spoken by the people changed, so did the language of the English Bible. For much of that time, religion and politics were intertwined to the extent that the coming of a new British monarch affected the fortunes of English Scripture. Religion also affected language, as the debate over Latin roots and Anglo-Saxon roots reflected the conflict between Roman Catholics and Protestants. The passions of the Reformation era, the struggles between Protestants and Roman Catholics, as well as the conflicts among Puritans and the established church in England, have all contributed to the shape and style of our English Bibles.

For English-speaking Protestants, the beloved King James Version long claimed priority, and that version substantially shaped how people throughout the English-speaking world spoke and wrote. But the English language continued to grow. This, along with the new discoveries in biblical studies, challenged the preeminence of the KJV. A number of modern language translations came from the pens of several biblical scholars in the first decades of the 20th century. Their efforts set a new standard that has been followed by subsequent translations.

Today there are a wider variety of English translations than ever before. Some of these continue the King James tradition, while others take a different approach. Protestant, Roman Catholics, and Jewish translators are all active, and they are working together in a cooperative spirit that would have amazed their forebears.