The Bible Society of Brazil (SBB) recently achieved a historic milestone in biblical dissemination: the printing of 200 million Bibles and New Testaments.
In 2011, SBB celebrated the printing of its first 100 million copies. Just over a decade later, that figure has doubled to 200 million. This remarkable growth reflects the increasing demand for the Bible and the enduring impact of the organization’s work, which is part of a global network of Bible Societies dedicated to translating, printing, and distributing the Scriptures.
The history of the Bible Society of Brazil reflects a rich diversity of Bible translations. Over the years, editions have been produced in 87 languages and exported to 122 countries. This dissemination work includes study Bibles, thematic Bibles, bilingual and multilingual editions, as well as Braille and indigenous language versions.
In 2023, 152 million copies of the Bible were distributed worldwide, with Brazil leading the way at 32 million copies. Additionally, SBB is one of the main Bible printers supplying all of Latin America. It is the only printing company dedicated exclusively to producing Bibles and New Testaments. Notably, a complete Bible is printed every three seconds on average.
Of the 200 million copies printed, 70% were Bibles that stayed in Brazil, while the other 30%—around 60 million Bibles—were sent abroad as "seeds" to other countries. As Erni Walter Seibert explained, “if one Bible reaches only one person, 200 million copies will reach 200 million people.” He clarified that, typically, “one Bible reaches more than one person,” as it is often shared and read by multiple individuals.
SBB will promote the theme “Bible: The Reference - Reconciliation in Family and Society,” emphasizing Scripture’s essential role in fostering peace and understanding in times of conflict. As part of this mission, in 2022, the Bible Society sent 100,000 New Testaments in Ukrainian to Ukraine to bring comfort and hope amid the war. This effort underscores SBB’s commitment to spreading the Word of God even amid challenging circumstances.
On November 7, a service of thanksgiving was held to celebrate the achievement. SBB launched a special interlinear edition for the event to commemorate the 200 million Bibles printed. The edition includes the New King James Version, the New Translation in Today’s Language, as well as the Stuttgart Hebrew Bible and the Greek New Testament. With this release, SBB provides Brazilian readers with unique access to the original texts in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, ensuring faithful and accessible translations for deeper study.
The Bible Society of Brazil states that its aim is to ensure that the Bible serves as a transformative agent in the life of each individual, promoting spiritual, cultural, and social development. Each year, the organization provides over 400,000 services and supports 350,000 people in socially vulnerable situations, including children, prisoners, hospitalized patients, people with disabilities, and individuals struggling with addiction.
Correction Nov. 20, 2024: The article previously incorrectly stated that three Bibles are printed every second. Instead, it is one Bible every three seconds.
Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
