While copyright law isn’t new to many in today’s digital world, it often surprises Christians how deeply it is ingrained in the Western church. Ninety-nine percent of the Bibles and Biblical discipleship tools in English are distributed using a closed, all-rights-reserved model, controlling translations into other languages and their distribution. And the world says it’s entirely legal.

This has caused a major imbalance in discipleship resources between the English-speaking church and the global church. There are more resources available in English than in all other languages in the world. Combined. That's over 7,000 languages. The global church needs Bibles and discipleship tools to foster spiritual growth and reach the lost. So why are these resources restricted? Fifty years ago, Richard Foster wrote, “If our goods are not available to the community when it is clearly right and good, then they are stolen goods.” [Celebration of Discipline.]

Should this be more widely discussed?

It’s fair to question whether the practice of all-rights-reserved even needs to be addressed. In Western culture, religious leaders might say, "Perhaps not." Consumers may respond differently. The minority language global church certainly would. Donors might also argue that the ethics of restricting access to content created with their donations deserve greater discussion.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world waits, hoping for unrestricted content from their brothers. How successful has the exploitation of copyrighted content been for Western church leaders? They are doing well. The health of the church and surrounding communities? Not so much. By adopting copyrights’ secular premise, religious leaders seem little different from the rest of the world or to the rest of the world.

Since copyright law doesn’t specify what an author must do with their works, a copyright owner alone decides which moral, ethical, or Biblical principles apply. Unique ethical standards and societal obligations drive Christians, and a person’s core beliefs will always influence how they manage possessions. It’s time for a discussion about copyright altruism and the social conscience of sharing within our church and ministry boardrooms. How an author, church, or organization exercises these rights always reflects their worldview on managing resources and possessions.

These restrictions are not an issue when writing a novel, a math book, a cookbook, or an instruction manual. The greater challenge arises when the writing is meant to serve the public good — or, even more directly, when sharing spiritual lessons we believe God wants us to communicate. If He truly wants us to share, then why are our works restricted? Are we writing or creating for our benefit or theirs? Does our work aim to serve a greater public good, or is it just for information or entertainment?

Copyright’s set of values

Copyright law has modern secular origins, so it’s no surprise that creating or defining a biblical apologetic for copyright is difficult at best. The roots of copyright law trace back to 17th-century conflicts over monetary control of secular writings; it was never rooted in theological debate or precedent. The purpose of copyright is to incentivize authors by giving them the chance to profit from their works, and government intervention has largely achieved this goal. But Christians rarely need money as motivation to produce Bibles, Bible studies, and discipleship tools.

Attempting to apply the secular concept of copyright in a biblical setting turns out to be a messy and fruitless endeavor. After all, if copyright (and the idea of all-rights-reserved) is biblical, then the principles should be relevant and followed throughout history from Genesis onward.

The Bible’s set of values

While the Bible may not explicitly address copyright, it does speak to the human heart and Godly practices. Isaiah looked forward to a future when both Jews and Gentiles would follow God’s ways. “He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” [Isa 2:3 niv] At that time, Isaiah predicted the Lord's word would go out, and I don’t think it will be prefaced with 'all-rights-reserved,' except by God Himself. No human author will get to claim credit for that. God's ways are notably different from those of man.

The widespread adoption of the all-rights-reserved licensing approach reveals a lot about the culture within the Western church. Modern secular copyright law and its licensing practices have never been part of historic, orthodox church doctrines or creeds, but the spiritual needs of the world have. Ironically (or tragically), no treatise exists by any religious leader or publisher claiming a biblical precedent for restricting discipleship tools. Why is that?

When establishing a guiding principle for managing our copyrighted works, believers must seek God’s ways. A biblical foundation is the only reliable source for setting standards for using our property rights, including copyright. The approach must be rooted in His ways rather than human tradition (Col 2:8). Developing a biblical ethic for our copyrighted works involves discerning what is acceptable to the Lord (Psa 19:14), what is pleasing in His sight (Eph 5:10), and responding in a manner worthy of the Lord (Col 1:10).

God speaks to our practices

Possessions – Copyright law states that you own your writing if it’s considered “original.” But Scripture says, “Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all!” [1 Chr 29:12 bsb] It begins with God, not with us. Ecclesiastes explains that there is nothing new under the sun. [Ecc 1:9] We are not the self-made creative geniuses we often think we are, but rather products of a Creator who acts according to His will, not ours. The Lord explained through Haggai that “The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of Hosts.” [Hag 2:8] We should approach ownership (including “our” copyrights) with an attitude that recognizes it isn’t truly ours anyway.

Finances – This is a simple reminder of the lessons most of us have learned from Scripture. Being rich toward God is more important than storing up treasure for ourselves, Luke 12:21. As Moses points out, money can distort our thinking. “Do not take a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and distort the words of the righteous.” [Deu 16:19 net] Our actions can cause us to stray from His ways if we’re not paying attention. Not heeding His word comes with consequences. “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.” [Pro 28:20 bsb]

Materialism – No one will argue in favor of materialism, but there's no denying that the church today struggles with it among its members and even its leaders. James warned that “Your gold and your silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you…” [Jam 5:3 nrsv]. The challenge of materialism is as old as history itself. The book of Ecclesiastes highlights a common flaw in the human heart that drives today’s market-driven economy. “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing.” [Ecc 1:8 nrsv] Both media and business empires are built on the idea that we never have enough. Social media and corporate marketing departments are well aware of this.

Conformity – This is challenging because we live in a secular world. The struggle to conform to worldly values has existed since the fall, and the Lord often addressed this issue. When confronted by the religious leaders of His time, the Scribes and Pharisees, Jesus called them hypocrites because they introduced secular practices into sacred ones. In Mark 7:7, He said Isaiah specifically prophesied about them, “They worship me in vain, their teachings are merely human rules.” [niv] With money as its primary focus, secular copyright law must be navigated carefully.

Sharing is a vital part of the Christian faith, as emphasized in teachings from the Old Testament, by John the Baptist, Jesus, and His apostles. John emphasizes that Jesus’ life demonstrated this. Our response should mirror His example. “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” [1 Joh 3:17 niv] It’s why John the Baptist told those seeking baptism of repentance, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” [Luk 3:11 nlt] This principle of sharing has led to the establishment of many notable parachurch organizations over the past century.

Caring – In Scripture, the principle of caring for our brothers, the poor, the needy, and foreigners is comprehensive but not overwhelming. Jesus emphasized that it’s about others – “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” [Joh 15:13 bsb] Paul emphasizes that caring should extend to everyone, not just our brothers. “So then, whenever we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of the faith.” [Gal 6:10 net] One of the last directives of Jesus to Peter was, “Feed (take care of) my sheep.” [Joh 21:16]

Should our practices matter?

In 1948, A.W. Tozer wrote, “The world is perishing for the lack of the knowledge of God.” [The Pursuit of God] Does anyone really care how the Church handles copyright law? Certainly, if it affects the perishing or the needy within the global church. Does the global church have the right to access and translate the Scriptures without the West’s preapproval? We need to be careful that secular thinking doesn’t cloud our biblical worldview. Perhaps it’s time to rethink the whole concept of all-rights-reserved as we go into all the world to make disciples.

Bruce Erickson 2025

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A PDF copy of this post is available at https://www.academia.edu/143522585/Should_the_Church_s_Copyright_Practices_Matter

It also made me think about the “preface” in most books we read. A preface is usually described as an opening statement by the author that explains what’s to come. Sometimes it is used to thank others; often, it discusses the purpose and background of the work. But more simply, it is the author's introductory remarks.

Examine the opening remarks in any Bible and most religious books. There is always a preface to the preface, but it’s hidden in fine print and sets the stage for the writing that follows with language something like this:

© 2004 by Jon Q. Author, or Megabig Publisher. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, photocopy, recording) without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Granted, some try to soften the harshness of the language by including an exception for brief quotations in printed reviews (something allowed by fair use provisions anyway), often adding a paragraph gratuitously permitting the use of up to 500 words or 250 verses (or some similar amount), as long as the total quote stays within their percentage guideline. (Remember, they have the secular government-granted rights to do so.) Although this wording varies slightly, publishers all have compliance departments that seek out “copyright infringement." You are welcome to use their version or work, but share it only according to their standards.

Comically (or tragically), those comments are in very small print before the table of contents and before what the author then boldly claims is the REAL preface. You know the routine. Now, why would an author or publisher print an all-rights-reserved introduction to a book that aims to build up the church, encourage, admonish, and promote greater understanding of Scripture? Do you think that language might work against the book’s purpose, the message of the gospel, or the mission of the church?

These all-rights-reserved statements haven't been legally required for nearly 50 years. So, why do they still appear? The author or copyright owner is choosing to assert that the world has granted them a right—one that, while new in history, is now THEIR right, and they’re giving you fair warning—“Only I have the right to copy, distribute, perform publicly, or create derivatives of my work. You don't. Read my book, but don’t share it without my permission.” Weird. But the benefits of copying and widely distributing the Bible and discipleship content are immeasurable. And what are the risks? Are there any?

There might be a better way. Luther's preface to his Wittenberg Hymnal didn’t include any warnings or a restrictive licensing statement. Instead:

[Paul] “exhorted the Colossians to sing spiritual songs and Psalms heartily unto the Lord so that God’s Word and Christian teaching might be instilled and implanted in many ways. Therefore I, too, in order to make a start and to give an incentive to those who can do better, have with the help of others compiled several hymns, so that the holy gospel which now by the grace of God has arisen anew may be noised and spread abroad.”

Luther’s was a preface without restrictions, to encourage that his hymns “may be noised and spread abroad.”

Luther’s goal was similar to Paul’s: “…that the Lord’s message may spread quickly and be honored.” [2 Thes 3:1 net] Of course, in both cases, the secular world had not yet developed the concept of copyright, so the church grew rapidly through the teachings and unrestricted writings of Paul and the apostles, and the Reformation spread under Luther without the burden of all-rights-reserved. Amazing.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.” [Isa 52:7 bsb] Spreading the Word globally has always been the Church's mission—a calling given to the Church long before governments created laws that allow believers and non-believers alike to claim ownership of the Scriptures. Acts 6:7 – “The word of God kept on spreading…” Relying on worldly methods to carry out the Church's mission has led to unintended consequences. The good news is that this restrictive approach can easily change because authors have full control over their works. They can revise their approach as they see fit. Proverbs 15:7 – “The lips of the wise spread knowledge…” You can share the Word within the framework of secular law because no law anywhere requires you to restrict copyrighted works. Follow your heart. Remain committed to helping others and ensure that everyone has access to discipleship resources in their own language, free from the artificial restrictions often imposed by the Western Church.

Bruce Erickson 2025

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This question needs an answer, but people are really asking two questions: why is the Bible copyrighted, and why is my Bible restricted? The simple answer to the copyright question is: it is automatically copyrighted under modern secular law. Copyright didn’t come from a choice or collusion among Bible Societies. It is a function of the law.

The Bible is copyrighted automatically as a function of copyright law. The essence of copyright law is that anything an author or artist creates that is original and fixed in some form (like written or recorded) is automatically copyrighted. In simple terms, “if you create it, you own it.” Therefore, most of a person’s emails, texts, photos, videos, notes, and social media posts are automatically protected by copyright. You don't need to apply for a copyright; it exists as soon as a work is fixed in a tangible form. No modern translation of the Bible required a copyright application. They were automatically copyrighted the moment they were created.

This is due to a change in copyright law in 1909 in the U.S. that awarded translators a copyright over their translations of public domain texts. This legal shift was a significant victory for publishers, enabling them to profit from works in the public domain, and there is no record of religious leaders opposing this change. Since all Bible versions are translations from Hebrew, Greek, or other languages, the translated versions would now be considered “owned” under copyright law, even though their source texts are in the public domain. The Bible’s copyright didn’t originate from any noble purpose or biblical teaching; it resulted from changes in modern secular law.

You will find little help from Christian publishers and authors in explaining the “Why?” There are websites that claim Bible versions are copyrighted to ensure translators are fairly paid for their hard work. No, Bible versions are automatically copyrighted by law. And copyright does not guarantee that anyone gets paid. You will also hear religious leaders incorrectly say that copyright prevents bad translations. But copyright can’t do that and never has been able to. Copyright can’t and doesn’t prevent heresy. It wasn’t designed to.

So, why are most Bibles restricted? Because the owners of Bible translations intentionally chose to restrict them. Don’t confuse copyright with restrictions and the all-rights-reserved approach used by authors and publishers. No law anywhere in the world requires an author or translator to restrict their copyrighted work in any way. Authors choose to impose restrictions. Man’s ways can be peculiar at times. God’s ways are not. “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD.” [Isa 55: 8, bsb].

As we consider others’ access to our created content, consider Elihu’s approach – “Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.” [Job 34:4 niv] We certainly don’t need to rely on man’s ways when we can know God’s ways. As David asked of the Lord, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.” [Psa 25:4 niv] Imagine what the world would be like if, in 1909, the Western church had refused to pattern itself after the ways of the world and instead made Bibles and discipleship resources available without restrictions.

Bruce Erickson © 2025

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A pdf copy of this post can be found here - https://www.academia.edu/130474949/Why_is_the_Bible_copyrighted

[i] Chain cites 'copyright law' in refusing to print images of Bible verses, woman says. By Jana Winter, Fox News. Nov 21, 2015.

Why do I feel the weight of responsibility and even empathy so easily for some and not others? Is it the context, the closeness of the person who is hurting, or their experiences that mirror my own more closely? Do I feel compassion more intensely when it's my family?

It is the very essence of God's nature to care deeply for those in need—those who struggle to care for themselves: children, widows, and orphans. Embrace Paul’s wisdom: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, especially to those in the family of faith." (Gal 6:10)

However, there is often a blind spot in our practice of empathy in a crucial area. It is with my brothers and sisters in the 3,500+ language groups worldwide who still lack complete scriptures in their native tongue. We can easily overlook their appalling lack of Biblical resources while we enjoy abundant content ourselves. More than half of the world's languages still lack a translation of God's word—unthinkable in this digital age.

In 1890, A.B. Simpson penned the words to the poem "A Missionary Cry."

A hundred thousand souls a day,

Are passing one by one away,

In Christless guilt and gloom.

Without one ray of hope or light,

With future dark as endless night,

They're passing to their doom.

It's still just as accurate today; only the numbers are higher. Men, women, and children are dying without hope, never hearing or seeing the precious words of our God in their mother tongue. Don't they deserve better?

Meanwhile, our practice of adopting modern secular copyright laws to claim God's word as our intellectual property often causes unnecessary delays in translating the Bible for those who have nothing. I doubt the Global Church finds our Western secular notions of copyright and our need for control amusing. Should a language group need permission from the West to use our translations as a source for translating God's word into their language? Will bad things really happen if we don't control them? Or will we see the kind of revivals that characterized the earlier days of rapid Bible translation in Church history? I suspect the global church would welcome free and open Bible translations that are without restrictions. And put them to good use.

For now, we might ask ourselves these questions:

• Do we feel enough compassion for the lost to be willing to give up the control and financial gains the world promises in exchange for eternal riches?

• Can we recognize someone with spiritual needs and be moved by the same emotion we feel when we see their physical needs?

• Do we still have the same empathy and concern when it costs us something?

The world is lost, and time is short for those facing a Christless eternity. “They're passing to their doom.” But Jesus came to offer hope and a path to the lost. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Lk 19:10) The message we, as believers, share is one that cannot be contained by all the laws of the world. It's time we turn to God's Word to learn what He says about these possessions we call copyright, instead of just living by the world’s standards. The Global Church deserves that.

Bruce Erickson – 2025

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[A PDF copy of this post is available at https://www.academia.edu/130180881/_As_we_have_opportunity_and_the_100_000]

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Copyright protections are pervasive, covering nearly all works created by authors and artists, including books, letters, photographs, paintings, music, software code, videos, recordings, and other forms of expression. Copyright happens automatically and lasts for an absurdly long time: the life of the author, plus 70 years in most countries. Understanding the basics of copyright law matters if you wish to share your work in the church. It also matters if your writing includes quotes or incorporates the work of others.

So why does copyright even exist, and how did its restrictions enter the church? Perhaps Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press in the 1400s was responsible. Mass production, at least at that time, made books available at a fraction of the cost and to a much broader audience. It may also have been influenced by Martin Luther, whose writings, printed in Germany, were distributed on a massive scale partly because there were no copyright controls. His and others' “unprotected” works triggered the Reformation and a spiritual revolution.

As printing technology advanced, writers sought to control and exploit their work. Yet, it was the publishers who held that control. However, authors eventually prevailed when copyright laws were established in England in 1708, in the U.S. in 1790, and soon after in other parts of the world. Finally, the dream of writing as a source of income was a reality—for some. Today, most countries have laws that provide copyright protection. Under modern secular copyright law, the protection is immediate, certain, and guaranteed, even for Bible translations.

The church, especially in the West, was influenced and captivated by this approach. It uncritically adopted modern secular copyright values, a troubling development. The American Standard Version (ASV) began playing the “all-rights-reserved” card in 1901. Religious leaders quickly followed suit, limiting and exploiting their works, leading to the emergence of modern Christian publishing. Consequently, most modern Bible translations and discipleship training resources are released with the "all rights reserved” warning. Today, the way the church manages its copyrighted content differs very little from that of the world. The Western church’s embrace of the world's philosophy on copyright often results in an emphasis on monetizing its donor-funded content, limiting access to Bible translations and discipleship tools in thousands of minority languages.

Yes, authors have a legal right to exploit and restrict their work. But is that always the right or best choice? Must a right always be exercised? Paul said not always. “But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. (1 Cor 9:12-BSB). Our practices reflect our beliefs in Biblical teaching on possessions (1 Chr 29:12), motivations (Psa 73:28, Mat 5:16), finances (Luk 12:21), sharing (1 Joh 3:17), and how we care for others (Rom 12:13). Copyright law provides authors and artists the opportunity to share or restrict. This should be a topic of discussion in our seminaries and among religious leaders. Discovering God’s ways for our property (in this case, Intellectual Property) regarding the legitimacy of an all-rights-reserved approach versus sharing should always be included in our reasoning and reflected in our choices.

Bruce Erickson © 2025

A copy of this post is available as a PDF at https://www.academia.edu/130014066/Copyrights_Implications_for_the_Church_and_Its_Mission

The world of content production and copyright is often stimulating, challenging, and at times confusing. As you create content for distribution, you enter a realm where almost everything is restricted by licensing agreements. It seems that, as a society, we are hesitant to share for fear of losing potential revenue streams, even though the earnings for most authors are minimal. Authors can easily lose sight of the true purpose behind their creations: the public good and their sincere desire to bless and help others.

These posts address various legal, ethical, and licensing questions involved in creating content for distribution. We hope they assist individuals seeking to understand the fundamental principles of copyright and licensing, while also providing insights into trademarks and their significance in this process. Although this site does not offer legal advice, you will find articles, white papers, and resources that help clarify aspects of copyright law related to content creation. We believe that the public good and the call to disciple others inspire creativity. For leaders and shepherds burdened for others, witnessing lives change provides the greatest incentive to create and is far more rewarding than any material gain.

Copyright – a quick overview

The short version: You create it; you own it. The extended version: Copyright is the protection that governments provide for original works of authorship. It is a modern, secular right that grants authors, composers, and artists exclusive rights to exploit their work. This right is automatic, occurring when an idea is expressed (or fixed) in a tangible form. In most countries, copyright lasts for the author's lifetime plus 70 years. Although there is no “international” copyright law, copyright between countries is broadly similar, as most adhere to the Berne Convention with its common standards.

Receiving copyright protection

Copyright law today differs significantly from what it was in the late 1700s. Initially, individuals had to apply for copyright protection, which was only available for published content, and the protection lasted for a period of 12 to 18 years. Now, the right is automatic and begins when the original expression is written down, typed, drawn, or recorded. It’s that simple. There is no requirement to publish the work, and no registration is necessary to obtain a copyright.

So, who owns the work that a person creates? The maxim in copyright – “you create it, you own it” is true most of the time. Unless considered a work-made-for-hire exception, an author or artist owns everything they create (but only according to precise standards). Employers typically own the work of their employees; however, content created by volunteers for a church or organization is generally owned by those volunteers as authors. When someone copies or otherwise takes advantage of another person’s works without permission, it is referred to as infringement, and the law provides legal remedies to authors whose works have been infringed.

What is copyrightable

The rules defining what is copyrightable encompass various categories, including literary works, musical works (including lyrics), dramatic works, pantomimes and choreographies, pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works, movies (even those made with a cellphone), and sound recordings. Authors hold specific rights in all these categories: to restrict copying, control derivatives, control distribution, permit or refuse public performances and public displays, and to control digital copies.

Data and facts do not receive copyright protection since they exist globally and are not regarded as being created by anyone. Additionally, an author’s efforts or hard work alone usually do not result in copyright protection in most countries. Lastly, when a work enters the public domain, it becomes available without restrictions.

Public Domain (PD) and “fair use”

Public domain refers to works that lack copyright protection, typically because they have exceeded the copyright term. Anyone can copy, distribute, create derivative works, or otherwise use public domain content. Regarding Fair Use, it is not a right but a defense against infringement and is often suggested as a solution without a clear understanding of its legal limitations. Caution, knowledge, and legal advice should precede any claim of fair use.

The question of quality

Copyright of a work neither references, implies, nor guarantees its quality or virtue. Copyright does not discriminate based on quality. Once the content is fixed in a tangible format, it receives protection, regardless of its merit. Instead, copyright has always focused on the financial benefits of the protected content, ensuring that only the author can exploit the work. Copyright doesn’t stop dreadful, inappropriate, or heretical works.

The author controls their work, not copyright law.

Finally, it is essential to note that copyright law does not dictate what authors must do with their works. An author, artist, or composer can choose to control their work or opt to share it freely. The “All Rights Reserved” statement found inside the front cover of most books, including those about Biblical matters, reflects a deliberate choice made by the authors. Copyright law doesn’t restrict anything; rather, it enables the authors to restrict, limit, and impose rules on their work, and it allows authors to be as generous as they wish.

It’s not publishers or lawyers who mandate All Rights Reserved. Authors alone can share or restrict. Only the owner of a work has the authority to decide which permissions to grant or to whom they wish to license, assign, or sell them. Copyright law grants them that power.

The author’s responsibility

While this modern, government-sanctioned, secular right may seem appealing, another dimension is added for Christian believers. Biblical teaching should guide the decision to limit or generously share biblical training content. Moses says, "Do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord…" (Deu 6:18). Jesus reminds us to limit or share in the same way we would desire others to do for us (or our family – Mat 7:12). He directs us to stop hiding our lamp (Mar 4:21) and emphasizes that our duty to rescue is greater than our duty to self (Luk 10:37). Sharing is foundational to Scripture, contrasting with the "All Rights Reserved" approach of modern copyright law for secular content. To share or to restrict – choose wisely.

Bruce Erickson © 2025

[A PDF copy of this post is available at https://www.academia.edu/129858193/Copyright_Quick_Overview]

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