Robert Aitken printed the first Bible in the United States in 1782.
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Robert Aitken, a Scottish-born printer, is credited with printing the first Bible in the United States in 1782. Aitken’s Bible, commonly known as the “Aitken Bible,” played a significant role in the development of the American printing industry and the preservation of religious texts in the newfound nation.
Here are some interesting facts about Robert Aitken and the first Bible printing in the United States:
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Robert Aitken: Robert Aitken was born in Dalkeith, Scotland, in 1734 and immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1769. He established himself as a successful printer and bookseller, running the Aitken & Son print shop in Philadelphia.
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Aitken’s commitment to the Bible: Aitken was a devout Presbyterian who strongly believed in the spread of Christianity. The scarcity of Bibles in the fledgling United States, coupled with his religious convictions, led him to undertake the enormous task of printing the first Bible within the country’s borders.
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The Congressional endorsement: Aitken sought approval and financial support from the Continental Congress for his ambitious Bible printing project. On September 11, 1782, the Continental Congress passed a resolution endorsing his efforts, stating, “Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled…recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States.”
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The Aitken Bible: Aitken’s Bible, officially titled “The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: Newly Translated Out of the Original Tongues,” was printed in English using the King James Version. It consisted of two volumes, with around 1,200 pages in total, featuring delicate craftsmanship and a simple yet elegant design.
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Importance of the Aitken Bible: The Aitken Bible holds great historical significance as it symbolizes the early efforts to establish national unity and promote religion in the United States. It became one of the first Bibles to be printed in America, marking a milestone in the country’s quest for religious independence and cultural identity.
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Thomas Jefferson’s recognition: Thomas Jefferson, one of the key founding fathers of the United States, regarded the Aitken Bible highly. In a letter to Aitken in 1803, Jefferson expressed his appreciation, saying, “I have examined his edition of the Bible, and am satisfied that no religious doctrine is founded on an error in his work.”
In summary, Robert Aitken’s printing of the first Bible in the United States was a significant achievement that garnered congressional endorsement and played a notable role in the nation’s history and religious development. His dedication to spreading Christianity and providing access to the scriptures within the young nation left a lasting impact.
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Robert Aitken’s Bible |
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You might discover the answer to “Who printed the first Bible in the United States?” in this video
This video explores the story of the first Bible ever printed in America, which was translated into the Algonquin language by Reverend John Elliott and his Algonquin apprentices. Printed in 1662 and 1663, the Elliott Indian Bible aimed to educate Native Americans. However, during King Philip’s War, many copies were destroyed. Despite this, the American Antiquarian Society now holds a rare copy of the first edition.
View the further responses I located
The first Bible printed in AmericaThe first bible published in North America was the so-called “Eliot Bible” which was printed in 1663 at Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Gutenberg Bible. Gutenberg Bible of the New York Public Library. Bought by James Lenox in 1847, it was the first copy to be acquired by a United States citizen. The Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or the B42) was the earliest major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe.
The first Bible printed in the English language in the United States was the Aitken Bible, published by Robert Aitken, a Philadelphia printer and bookseller, in 1782.
On this day in history, September 12, 1782, Congress authorizes the first printing of the Bible in North America by Philadelphia publisher, Robert Aitken.
The first full-length English Bible printed in America was printed by Robert Aitken in 1782, according to exhibit notes for the Library of Congress’ Bible Collection.
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The Gutenberg Bible was printed in Mainz in 1455 by Johann Gutenberg and his associates, Johann Fust and Peter Schoeffer.
The first complete English Bible printed in America was published in 1782 by Robert Aitken. Up until the American Revolution, all Bibles in English had been imported to the Colonies from England.
Intro. William Tyndale’s Bible was the first English language Bible to appear in print. During the 1500s, the very idea of an English language Bible was shocking and subversive. This is because, for centuries, the English Church had been governed from Rome, and church services were by law conducted in Latin.