FTGF Lesson 267 | Assessing the Printed History of the King James Text (First American Printing)

Summary: This lesson examines the historical and textual development of the King James Bible in America, focusing on the first complete English Bible printed on American shores in 1782 by Robert Aitken. The teaching addresses the colonial period's dependence on British Bible imports, the obstacles preventing American printing (including crown copyright and economic factors), and the circumstances that led to the first American printing during the Revolutionary War. The lesson challenges modern claims that minor spelling variations in American printings constitute textual corruption, demonstrating that orthographic differences existed from the very first American edition while maintaining doctrinal integrity. The teaching emphasizes that these spelling variations (such as "establish" vs "stablish," "thoroughly" vs "throughly") represent linguistic adaptation rather than theological compromise, and that demanding absolute uniformity in spelling would falsely invalidate millions of legitimate King James Bibles used by faithful Christians throughout American history.

Chapters
Chapter 1: The Colonial Period and Obstacles to Bible Printing
0:00 - 7:00
We examine why no English Bibles were printed in colonial America due to crown copyright restrictions and economic impracticality.
Chapter 2: The Revolutionary War and the Bible Shortage Crisis
7:00 - 15:00
We learn how the War of Independence created a Bible shortage that led Presbyterian clergymen to petition Congress for American Bible production.
Chapter 3: Robert Aitken's Pioneering Bible Publication
15:00 - 23:00
We examine Robert Aitken's entrepreneurial effort to print the first English New Testament and complete Bible in America despite wartime challenges.
Chapter 4: Textual Variations and the "Establish" Controversy
23:00 - 35:00
We investigate the textual and spelling differences in Aitken's Bible compared to British editions, particularly the establish versus stablish controversy.

Key Points:
No King James Bible was printed in America during the colonial period due to crown copyright restrictions and economic factors.
British Bibles were abundant, cheap (as low as one shilling), and of higher quality than colonial printers could produce.
The American Revolution cut off Bible supply from Britain, creating severe shortages by 1777.
The Continental Congress initially attempted to import 20,000 Bibles from Europe but had to flee Philadelphia before implementation.
Robert Aitken first printed English New Testaments (1777-1781) before publishing the first complete Bible in 1782.
Aitken's 1782 Bible received Congressional approval and endorsement after examination by chaplains.
Aitken's text did not conform exactly to the 1769 Blainey Oxford text but represented a mixed text with both Oxford and Cambridge readings.
Spelling variations appeared immediately in the first American printing (establish/stablish, thoroughly/throughly, razor with s/z).
Aitken's financial venture ultimately failed when peace allowed cheaper British imports to flood the market again.
Only 50 extant copies of Aitken's 1782 Bible are known to exist today.

PDF Notes

From This Generation For Ever Complete Class (GLBC Website Format)
https://gracelifebiblechurch.com/sermon-category/from-this-generation-for-ever/

GRACE LIFE BIBLE CHURCH INFORMATION & RESOURCES

Join us live from Grace Life Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI, on YouTube or Facebook every Sunday at 9:00 and 10:40am Eastern Time.
https://gracelifebiblechurch.com/grace-life-bible-church-live-stream/

Visit Grace Life Bible Church online.
https://gracelifebiblechurch.com/

Follow Grace Life Bible Church on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Grace-Life-Bible-Church-198054163567994

Grace Life Press
https://gracelifepress.com/

Find us on Rumble
https://rumble.com/c/c-621625

Grace History Project
http://gracehistoryproject.blogspot.com/

The Day of the Lord Project
http://thedayofthelordproject.blogspot.com/

The Gospels Project
http://thegospelsproject.blogspot.com/

Why Use the King James Bible Resource Page
https://gracelifebiblechurch.com/why-use-the-kjv/

Keywords
#KingJamesBible
#BibleHistory
#AmericanBible
#RobertAitken
#1782Bible
#ColonialAmerica
#ContinentalCongress
#BiblePrinting
#TextualHistory
#AmericanRevolution
#BlaneyRevision
#OxfordBible
#CambridgeBible
#ThomasCurtis
#BibleOrthography
#BiblicalManuscripts
#Establish
#Stablish
#CrownCopyright
#PrintPatent
#BibleTransmission
#ScripturePreservation
#BiblePublishing
#PhiladelphiaBible
#FirstAmericanBible