The World’s bestselling book of all time, the Bible. Let’s learn some amazing Bible facts and be in awe of this most sought-after book guided by the Hand of God.
It is estimated over 100 million bibles are printed each year. In the United States alone, 20 million Bibles are sold each year.
In addition, Bible Apps have become a prevalent form of Bible access. There were 600 million searches for the YouVersion Bible App.
Who, What, Where, When?
- Written by 40 authors (to include: kings, scholars, shepherds, farmers and fisherman) over a span of 1400 years.
- Written on three different continents, mostly in Asia. (modern day Israel)
- The first widespread edition of the Bible was assembled by Saint Jerome in A.D. 400. It was a Latin version.
- The first English translation Bible was completed in 1382, and attributed to John Wycliffe.
- By the 5th century, both western and eastern churches universally accepted all 66 books of the Bible we have today.
Odd Facts
- Dogs are mentioned 14 times in the Bible and lions 55 times.
- The Bible is the most “shoplifted” book. Who would have thought?
- The exact middle of the Bible is Psalm 118:8. There are 549 chapters before this passage and 549 chapters after.
What the Research States About Bible Reading
Despite a lot of printing, buying, and downloading, according to statistics from Lifeway Research, the frequency of reading the Bible among adults in the United States in 2020 was only 8%.
Lifeway Research adds; more than half of Americans have read little or none of the Bible. Scott McConnell, Executive Director of Lifeway Research, states,” The only time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it.”
Additional research states, “the number one reason for not reading the Bible is, “I don’t prioritize it.”
So, What’s the Purpose of all these facts?
- Offer you a challenge to prioritize Bible reading.
- Show God’s amazing Hand and the great lengths He went to provide His wonderful Word to the World.
- Build faithful foundations through Bible reading and Bible study that result in strong workers for Christ.
On a personal note. I, too, once struggled with consistent Bible reading until a dear wise friend of mine told me so sweetly and sternly, “You only do the things each day that you want to do.” I was mortified that my Bible reading was lumped in with things I did not desire to do.
I grappled with the reality of this statement for a good long time and prayed for the Holy Spirit to convict me on this and restore my desire for God’s Word. I now lead a full, joyous, loving time with my Father each day.
Has your daily Bible reading become a relegated task and undesirable?
Steps to Grow Bible Engagement
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to ignite a desire for God’s Word within your heart, mind, and soul.
- Try to read every day, even if you have to sit with your Bible opened and no reading takes place, just go through the motions of building a place and time. Soon, you too will be drawn into Bible reading.
- Attach your new habit of daily Bible reading to an existing habit. This helps build consistency.
- Start with a Devotional or begin a Bible Study to ignite growth and knowledge of God’s Word.
- Seek an accountability friend; you can encourage one another.
I would love to hear about your Bible reading journey, any challenges you have faced, or what you have found to be beneficial.
Resources:
Lifeway Research: Americans Are Fond of the Bible, Don’t Actually Read