Congress of the Confederation (September 10, 1782) in response to the need for Bibles, Congress endorsed Robert Aitken of Philadelphia to print a Bible. Robert Aitken was the publisher of The Pennsylvania Magazine, as well as the Journals of Congress. In colonial America, it was illegal to print the Bible without a license from the King, and the King had only granted licenses to printers in England.
When the Revolutionary War interrupted trade with the King's authorized printer of the King James Authorized Bible, there was a shortage in America of Bibles, which were used in courts of justice, churches, schools, and the arts.
On January 21, 1781, Robert Aitken had petitioned Congress for approval to print "a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools."
Robert Aitken's Bible became known as the Bible of the Revolution. The following Endorsement of Congress was printed on its front page.
<Whereupon, Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled... recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize [Robert Aitken] to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper.> 1782CC001
--
American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1782CC001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Congress of the Confederation, September 10, 1782, under the Articles of Confederation, a committee granted approval to a request, January 21, 1781, for Robert Aitken of Philadelphia, to print an edition of the Bible, known as Bible of the Revolution. Journals of the Continental Congress 1774-1798 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1907), Vol. VIII pp. 731-735; Vol. XXIII, p. 574. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1987), p. 96. Memorial of Robert Aitken to Congress, 21 January, 1781, obtained from National Archives, Washington D.C. "Our Christian Heritage," Letter from Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, NH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), p. 4. Bible for the Revolution (NY: Arno Press, 1782, reprinted 1968), cover page.