The Bible is the inspired Word of God, divinely revealed to men through the prophets and apostles. As 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” However, while the original biblical manuscripts themselves are not copyrighted, most modern Bible translations do contain copyright notices.
There are several reasons why copyrights exist on modern Bible translations:
Recognition of Work and Investment
Creating a new translation of the Bible requires a monumental amount of scholarship, time, and resources. Teams of biblical language experts, translators, and scholars invest years of their lives working to faithfully communicate God’s Word into modern languages. Copyrights acknowledge the hard work and investment that goes into making a translation.
For instance, the English Standard Version (ESV) translation involved over 100 scholars and took over 10 years to complete. The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) took a team of 100 scholars nearly 10 years as well. Without copyright protection, publishers would have little incentive to fund the costs of new translations.
Preventing Unauthorized Changes
Copyright law prohibits people from making unauthorized changes to a translation or improperly distributing it. This protects the integrity of the text and prevents distortions of God’s Word. The ESV publishers state that their copyright prevents changing the text “without the rigorous scholarly testing, review, and approval required to preserve the ESV as a faithful Bible translation.”
2 Corinthians 2:17 warns against those who “peddle the word of God for profit.” Copyright prevents people from illegally modifying a translation for their own personal gain.
Funding Ongoing Translation Work
Responsible publishers use the proceeds from Bible sales to fund additional ministry work, including new translation projects, printing costs, and distributing Bibles to people who could not otherwise afford them. Non-profit Bible societies provide Bibles around the world relying in part on revenue from copyrighted translations.
For example, Crossway, the non-profit publisher of the ESV, gives away thousands of Bibles annually and reinvests proceeds from sales into translating the ESV into dozens of languages. Copyright law provides the funding model to support spreading the Word of God worldwide.
Protecting a Publisher’s Investment
A new Bible translation represents a major financial investment for a publisher. In addition to translation costs, the publisher bears expenses for editing, design, marketing, printing, distribution, and other ongoing ministry efforts. A copyright allows cost recovery for the publisher’s investment into bringing God’s Word to people around the world.
Without copyright protection, any publisher could reprint and sell a translation without contributing to its development and propagation costs. This could hinder quality Bible translation work in the future.
Standard Legal Practice
Copyrights are universally applied to books, music, and content creation of all kinds throughout the publishing world. Religious or sacred texts are not exempt. Applying copyright to the Bible puts it in the same category as other publications. Copyrights simply grant publishers exclusive rights to multiply and distribute content they invested in creating.
Acknowledging Divine Ownership
Bible publishers recognize that Scripture comes from God Himself. Copyright law allows publishers to protect the integrity of their Bibles while acknowledging that God remains the ultimate owner and authority over His Word. As the ESV publishers state, “The ESV Bible still remains inherently and inviolably God’s Word.”
Bible copyrights are not a claim to own or change Scripture itself. Rather, they protect invested work on particular translations, which God uses to spread His eternal Word. The divine purposes and power of Scripture stand above any copyright law.
Covering Legal Liabilities
In today’s litigious culture, copyright coverage provides legal protection and allows Bible publishers to avoid costly lawsuits. Defending against potential allegations of misuse brings peace of mind to focus on ministry over legal wranglings.
The Bible’s unique status as the holy Word of God does not override the need for copyright in a legal sense. Copyright allows publishers to undertake the God-given task of Bible translation and distribution without undue financial and legal liability.
Enabling Worldwide Distribution
Copyright law provides the means for publishers to translate, print, and distribute the Bible globally in many languages. Trusted Bible publishers rely on copyright to make God’s Word available both digitally and in printed form nearly anywhere in the world.
Widespread Bible distribution aids evangelism and discipleship and brings glory to God. Copyright legislation effectively facilitates this kingdom-building work across the world’s diverse cultures and regions.
Honoring Content Creators
The Bible’s timeless truths originate from God, but its expression in various languages required extensive labor by dedicated translation teams. Copyrights recognize the creativity, skills, and efforts of those involved in translating Scripture. Their work deserves legal protection and honor.
Galatians 6:6 instructs, “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.” Copyright law enables us to share the blessings of God’s Word with those who labor to translate it for our benefit.
Fulfilling Civic Responsibility
The Bible instructs believers to obey governing authorities (Romans 13:1) and be good citizens by respecting civil laws. Securing legal copyright shows due regard for civil legal standards governing published content. It exhibits integrity as law-abiding members of society.
1 Peter 2:13 calls Christians to “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.” Obtaining copyrights represents submission to institutions like copyright law for the glory of God.
Appreciating Intellectual Property
Copyright law recognizes the rights content creators have to their intellectual property. Though God inspired Scripture, its expression in various languages and precise words involves much intellectual work. Copyrights acknowledge the particular intellectual property Bible translators and publishers have invested in their published editions.
Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” While the ideas come from God, precise expression still requires diligent intellectual effort worthy of honor and protection.
Trusting God’s Providence
God in His sovereignty allows copyright law to exist and Bible publishers to utilize it. Christians can trust that God allows copyrights on Bibles to ultimately advance His purposes on earth. As Proverbs 16:9 states, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”
Bible copyrights provide a prudent means of spreading Scripture that publishers prayerfully implement as the Lord leads. His providence guides how copyrighted Bibles can maximally bring people to salvation in Jesus Christ.
Respecting Laws of the Land
The Bible tells believers to respect the laws and customs of the lands where they reside. Ecclesiastes 8:2 states, “I counsel you to keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.” Copyright law represents the law and tradition of the countries where Bibles are published and distributed.
Securing legal copyright shows deference to national laws governing published works in various lands. It allows building God’s kingdom within different legal frameworks.
Utilizing Available Legal Options
Copyright exists as a legal option Bible publishers can utilize to responsibly publish and distribute Scripture. Christian integrity involves obeying authorities (Titus 3:1) and using lawful means to accomplish God’s work here on earth.
Bible publishers use available legal provisions like copyright to wisely and effectively publish God’s Word in a fallen world. This prudent use of law serves the divine purposes of Scripture.
Preventing Misrepresentation
Unfortunately, people sometimes misrepresent Scripture to others, twisting it to malicious ends contrary to God’s truth. Copyright law aids in preventing willful misuse and misrepresentation of a translation by those wishing to distort the Bible’s meaning.
1 Timothy 1:3 instructs us to “charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine.” Copyright prohibits unauthorized changes that could introduce false doctrines not faithful to the original translation.
Resisting Scripture Exploitation
As the world grows increasingly secular, some seek to exploit the Bible for entertainment value in ways that dishonor God. Copyright helps Christian publishers maintain standards on how different translations are represented in various media contexts.
Copyright prevents misusing translations in a profane manner not aligning with their holy purpose (2 Timothy 2:16). It helps ensure translations remain oriented toward God’s glory.
Exercising Stewardship
The Bible teaches that Christians are to be wise stewards who handle money and possessions in a responsible manner (Luke 16:2). Securing copyright represents prudent financial and legal stewardship by Bible publishers.
It allows them to use translations in a sustainable way to cover expenses and foster continued Bible publication efforts that spread God’s eternal Word.
Partnering in God’s Mission
Copyright allows publishers to partner with the church in God’s mission of gospel proclamation and making disciples worldwide (Matthew 28:19). It provides a framework to empower outreach through responsible Bible publication aimed at bringing salvation through Christ.
Bible copyrighting furthers God’s plan of redemption and spiritual harvest by facilitating translation, printing and distribution around the world.
Advancing Religious Freedom
Copyright law upholds religious freedom and tolerance by granting publishers rights concerning sacred texts like the Bible. It represents free governments accommodating spiritual sources of meaning and moral authority like Scripture.
This advances the biblical values of diversity, freedom of belief, and respect for timeless truth, in a pluralistic world.
Protecting Truth From Error
Copyright law aids the cause of biblical truth and its transmission from generation to generation. Heresies often spread through unauthorized alterations to sacred texts. Copyright prohibits manipulating the Bible’s content to introduce false doctrines.
By helping to keep translations doctrinally pure, copyright serves God’s purpose of conveying theological truth and enforcing it against error. It is a means of defending eternal revelation against temporal misrepresentation.
Conclusion
Modern Bible translations contain copyrights for many valid reasons. While the Word of God itself transcends any copyright law, copyrights are crucial to facilitating the organized worldwide work of Bible translation, publishing, and distribution. Copyrights help guard Scripture’s integrity and provide legal protection and structure for publishers to undertake the costly labor of Bible translation.
When utilized appropriately, copyrights provide a practical means of spreading God’s Word across cultures for His glory. They represent a lawful and orderly way of honoring those who invest intellectual and financial capital into the sacred enterprise of making Scripture accessible worldwide. Through His sovereignty, God can use even something common like copyright law to advance His eternal purposes in redeeming human hearts and lives.