If you regularly read the Bible - either for study, religious guidance, or any other reason - you likely have a favorite version of the text. In today’s popular mobile apps that allow readers to browse the book, you can often choose your favorite translation. However, with all of the many versions of the text currently available, the most popular and most commonly-chosen version worldwide is still the King James version.

Why is it so popular? Because this version of the Bible is so much more than a simple translation. Check out these facts about the world’s favorite iteration of the Holy Bible:

The King James Version of the Bible is the Best-Selling English Book of All Time

This is a fact that may not come as a surprise to many, but the KJV Bible is the best-selling English language book of all time. This includes the many famous fiction texts, self-help books, and celebrity biographies that have topped the bestsellers list over the years. No matter how many of these popular books are sold, they simply cannot compete with the world’s favorite version of God’s word.

The KJV Bible Has Changed the Way We Speak Forever

You may know that many common English phrases originate in the Bible, but did you know that these phrases come from the King James version of the text, specifically? It’s true; many common turns of phrase that people around the world use every day came from the KJV, even those used by people who have never so much as cracked open a Bible! It is amazing how much this single holy text has influenced the entire world over the centuries that it has been available in this translation!

The King James Bible is Poetry, Prose, Education, and Instruction - All in One

Perhaps one of the reasons that the King James Bible continues to endure as one of the most popular and widely-used versions of the Christian Bible is because of its uniquely beautiful yet practical style. It’s true that the style of the KJV Bible can be difficult for younger or newer English speakers to decipher. Its formality has made it a point of parody for centuries. However, that formality - and the beauty of the language used - has also made it an enduring symbol of the religion itself.

Formality hasn’t just lent the text a stylistic beauty that makes the prose and poetry alike sing like music to the reader. It has also lent it credibility that has made it the most revered version of the text ever published. Those who like a traditional interpretation of the Biblical text cling to the KJV as their preferred translation. Those who appreciate the Bible as literature do the same. In this way, it is perhaps one of the most unifying elements of the modern church!

No matter whether you read the Bible as a student, consulted it during your personal religious journey of discovery, or read it daily as part of your spiritual life, the King James Bible makes a strong case for being the version you choose!