May 2, 2011, marks the 400^th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, viewed by many as the most significant piece of literature in the English language.

But the impact of the most popular book ever sold goes well beyond language and religion, says Houston attorney W. Mark Lanier of The Lanier Law Firm.

"Placing the Bible in common vernacular put the study of Judeo-Christian ethics and history into the hands of all who read, and it had a tremendous impact on religion, law, culture and the English language."

Lanier points out that the King James Bible’s impact can be seen in law, such as the concept of punitive damages from Exodus; culture, by spreading common morality; and government, by setting out 'inalienable rights' and other principles supporting the American Revolution.

Lanier is uniquely qualified to opine on Biblical history based on his previous studies of biblical languages at David Lipscomb University and his longtime role as the instructor for a Biblical literacy class regularly attended by more than 600 people at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston.

He recently established the Lanier Theological Library at his Houston home. The library, which has been featured by the Houston Chronicle and Super Lawyers, houses a comprehensive collection of materials related to the study of Scripture and Christianity. The library also contains several private collections from some of the world’s most notable religious scholars.