Printing and Modern Bibles — Printing and Publishing

Bible Societies Expand Distribution

AD 1804 onward

Bible societies organized large-scale translation, printing, and inexpensive distribution across national and denominational boundaries.

Full Account

The British and Foreign Bible Society was founded in 1804, followed by the American Bible Society in 1816 and many related organizations. New printing methods and cooperative funding supported enormous press runs and missionary translation. Bible societies sometimes debated which books, notes, or source texts should be used, but they shared the purpose of making Scripture broadly available.

Historical Significance

Bible societies helped move the Bible from a costly possession toward a book available to ordinary families and readers around the world.

People, Places and Sources

Key people: Thomas Charles; William Wilberforce; Elias Boudinot; Bible society translators
Key places: London; New York; global mission fields
Languages: English, German, French, Spanish
Scripture: Habakkuk 2:14