Actually, I don’t think that’s not how it happened.  Let’s start at the beginning.  Over 2500 years ago, Rabbis started assembling the books to be considered for the Hebrew Bible (we know it as the Old Testament).  Fast forward a couple hundred years to around 100 BC and the Hebrew Bible was completed.  Next was the writing of the New Testament around 49 AD.  By 100 AD it was completed.  Fast forward again to 382 AD and Pope Damasus I was concerned that the original texts of the Bible were written in Hebrew and Greek.  You see, Latin was the official language of Rome.  So, Pope Damasus I wanted a translation in Latin for all of the churches in the Roman Empire.  So, he commissioned Jerome of Sidon (later known as Saint Jerome) to create this Bible in common Latin so that the people would be able to read the Bible on their own.  Jerome took 23 years, researched all of the original texts and created the Latin Vulgate. It was such a good translation that copies of it were referenced for the next 1000 years.

This leads us to that time in history, the Middle Ages.  With the recent collapse of the Roman Empire, the Church became more powerful.  There wasn’t an education system so, only the clergy and nobles were educated.  Apart from Rome, they were the only people able to read Latin.  Since, the printing press wasn’t invented yet, all copies of the Latin Vulgate were handwritten.  So, after 1000 years, the Latin Vulgate had accumulated many errors in its copies.  This meant that people were getting guidance from Priests who, for many, were referencing corrupt text. Unfortunately, there were also some unscrupulous Priests who were using this to their advantage.  They sold writs known as indulgences, promising a shorter stay in purgatory.  Some even sold fake splinters of Christ’s cross, a saint’s finger or toe, a vial of water from the Holy Land which were said to bring good luck or ward off misfortune.  This was also when the Crusades occurred, which killed hundreds of people in what the Church claimed was God’s will.  Questioning or non-compliance with the Church was punishable by execution.  “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” – Lord Acton 1887.

Fortunately, after the Middle Ages, in 1539, King Henry VIII commissioned Myles Coverdale to publish his English translation as the “Great Bible”.  It was distributed to all of the churches in England, with copies printed for the common folk.  This is the first-time people could study the Bible, on their own, without fear of persecution.  Just to be clear, King Henry VIII didn’t do this because he wanted to control the people, he did it because the Pope would not grant him a divorce.  So, out of spite, he started the Church of England which needed an English Bible. 

This finally brings us to King James I of England.  In 1604 the Protestant clergy wanted a new translation, written for the common people with scriptural references for word clarification.  The King commissioned 50 scholars to study the various translations from 1605 – 1606.  1607-1609 the work was assembled.  1610 it went to press with the first copies being printed in 1611.  We know this as the King James Version of today.

So, even though the Latin Vulgate was corrupted and allowed hundreds of people to be abused, it was not written for that purpose.  Pope Damasus I, King Henry VIII and King James I each commissioned a Bible to be used by the common people.  Because of this, each of us have ability to read the Bible and verify what is being taught to us.  Most people have chosen to never open a bible.  Not only does this choice limit their spiritual growth but it leaves them vulnerable to false teachings.  God created you for a specific purpose.  He gave you a mind and a book to help guide you.  It’s just a choice.