The Nation's Most Popular BookWhen the Romans left Britain in the fifth century, the only Bibles available were written in Latin. Over the centuries, parts of the Bible were translated into English, but just before the close of the fourteenth century John Wycliffe translated the whole Bible. From that time the Bible changed society more than ever before.
The first complete Bible in Welsh (1588) had an immense influence on the development of the Welsh language. Gaelic Bibles had a similar influence in both Ireland and Scotland. The Authorised (King James) Version was published in 1611 and remained the standard English Bible for more than 300 years. During the twentieth century many new Bible translations have become available. It is still the nations best selling book.
Each year the UK division of Gideons International places almost one million Bibles or New Testaments in hospital and hotel lockers and in prisons and schools.
Four of the largest British charities that distribute Bibles freely throughout the world spend between them nearly fourteen million pounds each year.
Hundreds of Christians from Britain are working full-time to make sure that millions of people across the world will soon have the Bible in their own language. The complete Bible is currently available in 366 languages! Did you say that?
All over the English speaking world people use phrases that come straight out of the Bible - often without realising it!
Here are a few of many:
'Do to others what you would have them do to you'
'Turn the other cheek'
'The blind leading the blind'
'Pride goes before a fall'
Some of the Bible characters have also become part of our daily conversation. We speak of:
The patience of Job
David and Goliath
The wisdom of Solomon
Daniel in the den of lions
A Judas - someone who betrays a friend Click Here to find out more
Copyright Day One Publications, used with permission | 
