On May 9th, American Bible Society celebrates 75 years of United Bible Societies. This global fellowship has grown to include more than 150 Bible societies—including American Bible Society—in 240 nations and territories, making it one of the largest Bible-centered organizations in the world.
Answering the Cry for God’s Word
In 1946, delegates from 13 nations met at the small Elfinsward Conference Centre in England. World War II had been over for less than a year, and each country represented at the conference was still reeling from the devastating consequences of the deadliest conflict in history. Many attendees shared their personal experiences from the war, which included distributing Bibles in secret in Poland or being imprisoned by the Gestapo in Berlin. Yet each attendee testified to the power of God’s Word, which brought them hope and comfort even in the face of suffering.
As they looked at the world around them, these Bible society delegates shared the distinct “consciousness that the heart hunger of multitudes was crying out for that which the Word of God could alone provide.” Each delegate saw the need for God’s Word in their own nation and longed to see the Bible available to every person on earth. “The world needs remaking,” said Bishop Eivind Berggrav from Norway, who had been imprisoned for his faith during the war. “There is not much hope in the world, but there is very much hope in the Bible.”
The delegates resolved to unite their ministry efforts and form United Bible Societies, which would be dedicated to meeting the need for God’s Word in every nation. They looked forward to the future, “believing that in a time of rebuilding of the nations, a wider distribution of the Holy Scriptures and a greater use of them [would] be the most valuable contribution which [could] be made.”
Uniting Bible Societies Around the Bible
Bible societies have existed since 1804, when the British and Foreign Bible Society was established and inspired the creation of multiple societies around the world. However, for the next 140 years, each Bible society primarily focused on spreading the gospel in its own nation. Since 1946, the mission of United Bible Societies—to fulfil the Great Commission by bringing God’s Word to every nation, tribe, and language—has unified Christians across denominations, confessions, and faith traditions. Through interconfessional collaboration and innovation, Bible translation and distribution have accelerated.
In its earliest years, United Bible Societies led the way in developing new translation processes that relied on native speakers and cultural contextualization to create a faithful yet accessible translation for each audience. That tradition has continued today, with more than 70% of all Scripture translations in the world completed by United Bible Societies and its partners.
In addition, United Bible Societies has leveraged its global community to distribute God’s Word in multiple formats, including print, Braille, Sign Language, audio, and digital through resources like The Digital Bible Library and YouVersion. These distribution efforts are often combined with holistic literacy initiatives, which provide Bible-based materials and programs to churches and partners and serve more than 100,000 people each year.
United Bible Societies is committed not only to sharing the Word of God, but also to equipping local churches with a broad range of ministry resources. It empowers pastors and leaders by supporting church planting efforts and contextualizing resources for individual communities. In addition, United Bible Societies advocates for the Bible in every context, proclaiming the relevance of God’s Word for our everyday lives.
Celebrating 75 Years of Serving Together
From the aftermath of World War II until today, United Bible Societies has remained a leader in Bible ministry. We at American Bible Society thank God for the work he has accomplished through our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world and look forward to the day when all people have the chance to encounter the hope of his Word.
Blog Sources
“Elfinsward: Conference of Bible Societies.” 1946. The British and Foreign Bible Society. American Bible Society Archives.
“United Bible Societies: 70 Years.” Timeline. 2016. United Bible Societies.
“Decade Articles.” 1940-1970. United Bible Societies.
