A Fake Paradise

The making of King James Bible is greatly influenced by the politics of the time period. James had received the English throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth. It was a time of opportunity, where everyone struggled to assure their position in a new kingdom. This text, as any, is greatly influenced by its context, “It is the product of its time and bears the marks of its making. It is a deeply political book.” (Prologue, xiii). Even if it’s all based on previous texts and if it is meant to be ambiguous, it carries biased arguments influenced by the political background in the life of King James. In the spring of 1603 when the death of Elizabeth seemed close, England was in the middle of a crisis where everyone was looking towards a new ruler to help the kingdom take advantage of its power, which Queen Elizabeth had failed to do in her last years. England was at war with Spain, and James was the way to put an end to this conflict which was holding back the development of England as a power. It was also a new life for James, who had been king of a powerless kingdom in the midst of corruption and treason, “Like a poor man wandering about 40 years in the wilderness and barren soyle, and now arrived at the Land Of Promise.” (chapter one, page 6). Everyone made believe James England was a paradise full of richness and free of any troubles; a perfect kingdom. James believed this and he let all this cover get into his head, forgetting what it really was. He was a greatly intellectual man, and when he assumed the throne one of his first tasks was to unite England and Scotland under one rule. He adopted the motto of Beati Pacificy, Blessed are the Peacemakers. He presented himself as a fair person that wanted peace and harmony, but even with this theme for his kingdom he let power get into his head, and was able to execute people without a trial. He knighted hundreds and spread gold everywhere, as if he really lived in paradise. People where able to make him believe what they wanted, that he had arrived into a perfect place, but it was far from perfect. It was a world full of corruption where everyone looked for their personal benefit behind the kings back. And this happens all the time, when things seem to be what they are not. It is always a must to investigate completely and to be sure of where you are before you take important decisions. This fake image and the political life in which James was thrown into is the background of the text, and all this affects and decides The Making of King James Bible.