When his mother was imprisoned and forced to abdicate the throne, James VI became king of Scotland in 1567 at one year of age. When Queen Elizabeth I of England died childless, a search was made for the next in line to the throne. It was discovered that James was a descendent of one of Henry VIII’s sisters, so he became the King of England in 1603. He is considered one of the most intellectual, yet controversial men to rule England.
He is best remembered for his authorizing and financing a translation of the scriptures we know as the King James Version of 1611. Just think; had his mother not gone to prison, or had not Elizabeth I died childless, or had he not been related to Henry VIII, the world may have never been blessed with the KJV Bible. Was this a coincidence or God working in the affairs of men?
I think God has done much to assure the preservation and spread of his Word. He wrote the first words of scripture with his own finger (Ex. 31:18), His word became flesh and lived among us (Jn. 1:14) and remains “living and active today (He. 4:12).” God’s Spirit used kings, shepherds, and fishermen to pen these mighty words, then used Kings, archeologists, and scholars to ensure their survival!
-Dennis Doughty
