In 1804, the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) was founded with the mission of making the Bible accessible worldwide. A century later, in 1904, the BFBS marked its 100th anniversary by instituting the first "Bible Day" on March 4th. This initiative quickly spread to other regions, and churches and Bible societies around the world adopted similar observances to honor the Bible.
The Bible and Bible Printing in China
Today, the Bible used in Chinese churches is based on the 1919 "Chinese Union Version" (CUV), but has been revised over time, particularly with the introduction of simplified characters and modern punctuation.
In the early 1980s, churches in China were still using the traditional version of the Bible printed in vertical, traditional Chinese characters. However, as modern reading habits shifted towards horizontal and simplified text, the vertical layout became less appealing.
In 1984, CCC&TSPM began a project to transform the traditional vertical, classical Chinese Bible into a simplified, horizontal format. Led by Rev. Shen Cheng'en, then Deputy Secretary General of TSPM and the editor-in-chief of Tianfeng magazine, this two-year project culminated in the publication of the first simplified New Testament with Psalms in 1986.
By 1989, the full simplified CUV Bible ( the New and Old Testaments) was completed and first printed by the Amity Printing Company, a joint venture established with the aid of the United Bible Societies (UBS), which had become a key partner in meeting the growing demand for Bibles.
In the mid-1990s, the Bible Publication Committee (now the Bible Ministry Committee) of CCC&TSPM, in collaboration with scholars from Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, revised the small titles in the Bible to ensure they aligned more closely with the original biblical texts, producing a Bible with uniquely Chinese characteristics.
After the Cultural Revolution, when the church was beginning to reassemble, there was a severe shortage of Bibles in China. Despite efforts by CCC&TSPM to print Bibles in locations like Shanghai, Nanjing, and Fujian, the demand far outpaced the supply. UBS supported the establishment of the Amity Printing Factory in Nanjing through the Amity Foundation, which is a non-profit initiative. The factory was later expanded into the modernized Amity Printing Company, a major center for Bible production in China.
Since 1988, Amity has printed over 80 million Bibles for Chinese churches, including versions in 11 ethnic minority languages and Braille, according to a 2021 report. In total, Amity has printed more than 280 million Bibles till now in various languages for Bible societies worldwide, making China one of the largest Bible exporters globally.
Bible Day in China
In 1995, the Bible Publication Committee officially designated the second Sunday of December (including the preceding Saturday) as the "Bible Day" in China. The day is dedicated to activities that inspire Christians to deepen their love and respect for the Bible, including Bible seminars, exhibitions, musical performances, prayer meetings, and voluntary donations.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of the "Chinese Union Bible" in 2019, Bible Day activities were revived with great enthusiasm. The Bible Ministry Committee suggested that churches across China focus on promoting Bible reading, prayer for Bible ministries, and contributions to ensure that more Christians, especially in impoverished regions, have access to Bibles.
From 2019 to 2024, the Bible Day themes were "Transcribe the Bible," "Read the Bible," "Sing the Bible," "Paint the Bible," "Live the Bible," and "Memorize the Bible" respectively. The celebrations saw activities such as Bible transcription contests, Bible reading in local dialects, Bible exhibitions showcasing rare Bibles, and performances of Scripture set to music.
In 2019, a significant Bible transcription event titled "The Word Endures Forever" was held in Hangzhou, where over 100 believers participated in a Bible copying event. In 2020, churches in Guangzhou organized Bible exhibitions, including rare Bibles like the 1894 "New Testament" presented as a birthday gift for Empress Dowager Cixi, drawing great interest from the public. That same year, the event in Guangzhou also featured Bible reading in regional dialects.
In 2021, the Fujian Theological Seminary choir performed the Psalms set to traditional Chinese rhythms. In 2022, the Bible Day theme art exhibition took place at the Jingling Church in Shanghai, where renowned artist Yu Jiade presented his works inspired by Scripture.
In 2023, a key event at the Trinity Church in Shanghai marked the launch of the "Gan Yi" Bible, a translation into the Gan Yi language, with Chinese side-by-side text, after 15 years of work. In 2024, the "Zaiwa—Chinese Bible" was launched, a translation completed over 11 years. The "Zaiwa" language is a Burmish language spoken in parts of southwest China and eastern Burma. The 2024 Bible Day celebrations included activities such as scroll copying, Bible verse memorization, and Bible quizzes.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Bible Day in China, and celebrations have already begun.
On September 5, 2025, the Beiyang Shutang Church in Taiyuan held an event with the theme "Pick Up Your Bible and Read It." On November 2, the Daxing Evangelical Church in Beijing held a special Thanksgiving service, including Bible verse competitions and testimonies. On November 9, 2025, Jincheng Church celebrated with a theme centered on "Knowing the Bible and Longing for Spiritual Growth." Shenzhen Buji Church held an "Art Experience" event as part of its Bible Day celebration, highlighting Bible-related books, art, and calligraphy.
