Liberate the Word

Questions & Answers
about the Sunnyvale Statement ​

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The following is not part of the statement and need not be agreed to, it merely explains certain aspects of it.

Regarding the purpose of the statement ​

What’s the problem? ​

Most modern Bible publishers have placed legal restrictions on the copying, distributing, and translating of Scripture. This means that individuals and ministries often need to seek permission or pay licensing fees simply to include quotations of Scripture in ministry resources—even in regions where access is scarce or believers are persecuted. This practice places unnecessary barriers between people and Scripture and undermines the gospel’s call to freely share the good news. (See the legal restrictions for major translations.)

What harm has been done by the mainstream status quo of Bible licensing? ​

The “All Rights Reserved” approach to copyright for most Bible versions has caused measurable harm over the years, and continues to do so.

Under typical licenses, churches are not allowed to print significant portions of Scripture, and many are turned into lawbreakers unwittingly. Scripture does not reach as many people as it could because of restrictions, especially in low-resource languages. Legal red tape often prohibits audio bibles for people in oral cultures (75% of the world). Publishers often prohibit faithful uses of their texts for trivial reasons, such as “we do not license to individuals,” or “your Bible app isn’t innovative enough.”

Specific cases have been documented by us and others, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. Few Christians question the legitimacy of copyrighting Scripture, and so most simply accept the restrictions. When copyright is breached, most believers comply with cease-and-desist demands, so violations rarely escalate to litigation.

How can these limitations be significant if I’ve never faced them in my own ministry? ​

Most people in ministry will have already breached the licenses of modern translations on numerous occasions without realizing it. Trivial breaches include printing a passage of Scripture for others to study, or publicly reading all 13 verses of 2 John. Public readings are subject to copyright, and reproductions of entire books are forbidden by most Bible licenses.

Even if publishers don't respond to such uses, they still violate their licenses and may not be covered by fair use exemptions (which are only available in certain countries). This means that many ordinary uses of Scripture pastors take for granted are technically prohibited, and strict adherence to licenses would require abandoning many everyday uses of Scripture.

No. For centuries prior to the establishment of copyright law, Scripture was freely shared, copied, and translated without legal limitations. This open access facilitated widespread distribution of and engagement with the biblical text across cultures and generations, especially during the Reformation.

Aren’t there already some free translations available? ​

Yes, some translations are already freely available in English and other languages. But even though these free translations exist, it does not mean the need is met. God’s people should be free to share any translation and be able to select the best translation for their particular ministry. More importantly, many languages do not have a free translation available at all. Most minority languages have only one translation, for which distribution is restricted by copyright law.

Regarding the wording of the statement ​

Are you suggesting publishers must give bibles away for free? ​

No, it is permissible to charge for paper and ink. The issue this statement addresses is the sale and restriction of the Word itself. This is most often done today through copyright and licensing.

What do you mean by “lawful”? ​

This statement retains the use of “lawful” from historic confessions (such as the Westminster Confession of Faith) to refer to that which is consistent with God’s will. It refers to God’s authority, not merely human law. This may align with civil law, but it is not bound by it.

Why does this declaration permit adaptations of Scripture? ​

“Adaptations” is a technical term to refer to the creation of any derivative work. This includes translation, digitization, musical arrangements, etc. These are permissible provided they are lawful in the sight of God. The declaration affirms the liberty to make such adaptations; it does not itself determine which adaptations are lawful. It does not condone distortions of Scripture or misleading renderings.

Shouldn’t this apply only to Scripture in its original form? ​

No, Scripture affirms that faithful copies and translations are still the Word of God. The New Testament translates Old Testament Hebrew passages into Greek, demonstrating that the divine meaning and authority are preserved in faithful translations. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy likewise affirms that “copies and translations of Scripture are the Word of God to the extent that they faithfully represent the original” (Article X).

Faithful adaptations beyond translations also retain the divine quality of the original Word. Modern law reflects this principle in that derivative works remain subject to the copyright of the original. Similarly, since God is the author of Scripture, all faithful derivatives of his Word remain under his authority and are intended to be freely shared.

Christian teaching, which also retains a divine quality when based on Scripture, does not conflict with this statement. It simply implies analogous considerations for Christian teaching, which are outside the scope of this statement.

See also Adaptation & Inspiration.

At the heart of this statement is the belief that God has given his Word to his people, making claims to exclusive ownership of any form of it illegitimate. We are to submit to governing authorities (Rom 13:1, 1 Pet 2:13), but not when such submission would restrict the spread of God’s Word (Acts 4:19, 5:29).

Any genuine believer will affirm that it is right to share the gospel regardless of man’s consent. How ironic, then, would it be to suggest the gospel cannot be shared when it comes in the very words of Jesus himself, merely because a translator asserts copyright. History provides numerous examples, both ancient and modern, of believers sharing Scripture in ways declared unlawful by human authorities.

This is not to say breaching the copyright of existing editions of Scripture is the right course of action, especially when suitable alternatives are available. For English speakers, the Berean Standard Bible is one good alternative to commercial translations commonly used today.

This is principally a theological matter, and the statement only addresses the illegitimacy of restrictions on Scripture. It does not address how believers should respond to such restrictions, as godly application will depend on the laws and circumstances each believer faces.

To avoid all doubt, the Sunnyvale Statement does not itself advocate for violating any civil laws such as copyright.

Regarding objections to the statement ​

What is the Scriptural basis for this statement? ​

This is principally a statement of belief, so explanation and elaboration are not included, as is common in such declarations. The authors of this statement have spent years studying and writing on this topic, and an extensive collection of resources is available in the links below for further study. For ease of reference, the following passages are particularly relevant:

Paul declares that “the word of God is not bound” (2 Tim 2:9), showing that restricting it in any way opposes God’s will. Jesus commanded his disciples to freely give what they had freely received (Matt 10:8), referring to the message they were to preach, which also became Scripture. Paul contrasted himself with those “who peddle the word of God” (2 Cor 2:17), commercializing their teaching and restricting access to it for payment. When human authorities demanded that the apostles stop spreading teaching about Jesus, they responded, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 4:19, 5:29).

These accounts underscore the sacred nature of God’s Word. Scripture is holy (Rom 1:2) and must not be treated as a commercial product to be controlled or sold, regardless of intention.

Please see the links below for many resources that go into more depth.

Don’t Bible translators deserve their wages? ​

Absolutely. Those who labor in Bible translation should be generously supported (1 Tim 5:18). However, fair compensation does not require restricting access to work via legal walls or paywalls. There are sustainable models that both honor the work of translators and allow the Word of God to be freely shared. The free generosity of God’s people (donations and offerings) is a feasible model that has supported the work of churches, ministries, and many Bible translators, since the early church.

Isn’t copyright necessary to protect the integrity of the text? ​

Only God can protect the integrity of his Word, and he did so for thousands of years before copyright law existed. While concerns about textual accuracy are valid, copyright law does not and cannot sovereignly protect the purity of Scripture as bad actors may ignore it anyway. Ultimately we must trust God to guard his Word, and the historical and global witness of the Church shows that the free sharing of Scripture can coexist with faithful transmission. It is best for Scripture to be dedicated to the public domain so that it may be used as a base for further refinement and/or translation to other languages.

See also:

Don’t publishers have a responsibility to protect the text of the Bible? ​

While this is often assumed, no. One can publish the Bible without being saddled with a responsibility to prevent others from misusing it. Besides, if this were really their only concern, why don’t they use a license that allows copying without modification? The “all rights reserved” approach betrays additional motives.

This question confuses the notion of trademark with copyright. Copyright does not prevent someone from falsely claiming that one translation is another; there are other laws that deal with false advertising. For example, the World English Bible (WEB) is in the public domain, but its name is trademarked, ensuring that modified versions cannot falsely use the WEB name. For other translations like the KJV, there is no trademark in most jurisdictions, yet this poses no serious threat to its integrity.

Why not just encourage the free sharing of Scripture, rather than insist upon it? ​

This statement is primarily a theological declaration rather than a response to contemporary issues. The free sharing of Scripture is not commended merely because it is useful or advantageous, but because Jesus himself commands it (Matt 10:8). To withhold his Word, or to treat it as a product to be controlled, is not merely unwise—it is disobedience. The issue is, therefore, not one of convenience or efficiency, but of faithfulness to God’s will.

Regarding the origin of the statement ​

Who is behind this? ​

This effort is led by the creators of sellingJesus.org, copy.church, and thedoreanprinciple.org. They have substantial combined experience in Bible translation, Bible app development, publishing, pastoral ministry, and global missions. Selling Jesus provides educational resources that confront the monetization of ministry, while copy.church documents how copyright laws are used to restrict the sharing of Scripture and ministry resources. The Dorean Principle is a biblical response to the commercialization of Christianity. They share the common message that ministry should be supported, not sold.

When you sign this declaration, you are only agreeing to the preamble and affirmations, not this Q&A or our other resources.

Is anyone else doing anything about this? ​

Yes. Some publishers are responding to these concerns. Biblica, for example, has made many of its contemporary translations available for free use under open licenses. Other voices within the Christian community are also calling for a reexamination of current copyright policies to better reflect biblical values and the global need for access to Scripture.

How can I help? ​

You can support this movement by signing the statement, sharing it with others, and raising awareness in your community, church, or ministry organization. Encourage Bible publishers to reconsider their policies in light of biblical principles and advocate for translations that are open to all.

Where can I learn more? ​

You can start with the following resources:

For statistics, see:

See also the following websites:

 

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All original content is freely given and dedicated to the public domain.
We do not give legal advice.