The Word Up

October 2, 11:34 AMChristian Literature ExaminerHollee J. Chadwick

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Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Gone with the Wind, War and Peace, To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye—all books that have sold millions of copies. Which of these books is number one on the Top Ten Bestsellers List of all time? None of these come even close to the sales numbers of the Bible.

According to the Internet Public Library, the Word of God in its many translations and paraphrases is the bestselling book ever.

"No one really knows how many copies of the Bible have been printed, sold, or distributed. The Bible Society's attempt to calculate the number printed between 1816 and 1975 produced the figure of 2,458,000,000. A more recent survey, for the years up to 1992, put it closer to 6,000,000,000 in more than 2,000 languages and dialects. Whatever the precise figure, the Bible is by far the bestselling book of all time." 

In April, 2008, both Reuter’s and Yahoo Buzz reported that in a Harris poll of 2,513 adults, when it comes to literary pursuits in the United States, most people agree on at least one thing--the most popular book is the Bible.

According to Joel Fotinos, founder and publisher of the Putnam Praise publishing program, "The Bible is still the best-selling overall book in the country, in many different translations. I think this country's history is steeped in it and so is its present," he said, adding that nearly every candidate for public office in the United States winds up quoting the Bible. The media constantly reference (it). Every year Jesus is on the cover of Time and Newsweek ... it is the foundational book of our culture."

Notably, the Bible is topping the bestseller list in non-King James English speaking countries as well. Hannah Gardner, Foreign Correspondent for The National, a new “Indianised” Bible published by the Catholic Church, is topping book sales charts:

The New Community Bible is written in simplified English designed to appeal to a wider audience, and shows the Virgin Mary dressed in a sari and Joseph in a loincloth and a pagri, which is similar to a turban. Mahatma Gandhi, India’s independence leader, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta also feature in the lengthy notes that appear on each page to explain the text to Indian readers. The Bible uses passages from Hindu scriptures, such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and Sanskrit words such as Moksha–meaning salvation–in its notes, so newcomers do not feel alienated by new concepts and vocabulary.

“I am sure this Bible, made in India and for Indians, will bring the word of God closer to millions of our people, not only Christians,” Oswald Gracias, the archbishop of Mumbai, said at a ceremony to bless the book on its release on June 28.

Which book is number 10 on the Top Ten Bestsellers List of all time? Again, according to the Internet Public Library, it is In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? by Rev. Charles Monroe Sheldon.

"Although virtually unknown today, American clergyman Charles Sheldon (1857-1946) achieved fame and fortune with this 1896 instructive religious treatise on moral dilemmas."