Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, or the German Bible Society, is a religious foundation regulated by public law and based in the Möhringen district of Stuttgart. Its work combines publishing, biblical scholarship, Bible distribution, and public-facing Bible ministry. The organization publishes the Bible in its original languages, in German and other translations, and in formats intended for academic, ecclesial, educational, family, and general readership. It also publishes the Apocrypha, reference works, scholarly editions, commentaries, concordances, and other materials used in biblical studies. The Society’s institutional history reflects the development of organized Bible distribution in German-speaking Protestantism. Its longer lineage is associated with the Canstein Bible Institution, founded in 1710, one of the earliest organizations established to make printed Bibles more broadly available. In the twentieth century, independent regional Bible societies joined together in 1965 as the Protestant Bible Organisation. In 1981, that organization merged with the German Bible Foundation, which represented Bible societies associated with Protestant churches in the German states, creating the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft in its current form. Publishing is a central part of the organization’s activities. Its catalogue has included more than 700 books and related products, including approximately 300 Bible editions. Its best-known German-language publishing areas include Martin Luther’s Bible translation and the Good News Bible, alongside children’s Bibles, study Bibles, electronic editions, and versions designed for different reading contexts. The Society is also associated with major scholarly base texts used internationally in Bible translation and New Testament research, including Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and Novum Testamentum Graece, commonly known as the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament. Other publications have covered the Stuttgart Vulgate, biblical concordances, textual studies, and commentaries on early Christian writings such as the Gospel of Thomas. The organization’s ministry extends beyond selling or distributing books. Its stated purpose is to make the Bible accessible and to communicate its message. Historically, this mission emphasized physical distribution; more recently, it has also involved digital access, online reference resources, and new ways of engaging with biblical texts. Regional Bible societies play an important role in this work, with a network of offices supporting local activity in Germany. The Society also cooperates with Bible societies around the world to support translation, publication, and distribution in people’s mother tongues at prices intended to remain accessible. Since 1975, its World Bible Support initiative has raised funds in Germany for Bible projects in less wealthy countries. The Society is connected to the wider United Bible Societies movement, which coordinates Bible-related work across national organizations. Its German governance structure includes a general assembly, a board, and a management team. The general assembly brings together representatives of regional Bible societies, free churches, Christian organizations, and individual members. The board oversees the fulfillment of the foundation’s responsibilities, while management implements policy and directs operational work. The Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft also participates in ecumenical and church-related activities. Together with the Catholic Bible Society, it operates or supports the Stuttgart-based travel organization Biblische Reisen, which arranges study journeys to Israel and other locations important to Christianity and religious history. Through its publishing catalogue, distribution work, digital resources, international partnerships, and fundraising, the Society occupies a position between a specialist religious publisher, a Bible-distribution organization, and a public religious foundation.

The institutional roots of the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft reach back to the early modern movement for affordable and widely available Bible publication. A particularly important predecessor was the Canstein Bible Institution, founded in 1710. It helped establish the principle that Bible production and distribution could be organized systematically so that printed scriptures reached a broader public. In the modern period, Bible distribution in Germany was supported by a number of regional societies connected with Protestant churches. These organizations operated in different territories and developed local networks for publishing, fundraising, and distributing Bibles. In 1965, independent regional Bible societies came together in the Protestant Bible Organisation, creating a more coordinated framework for Bible work in West Germany and the wider German Protestant environment. The current Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft was established in 1981 through the union of the Protestant Bible Organisation and the German Bible Foundation. The latter represented Bible societies associated with the Protestant churches of the German states. The merger created a national foundation with responsibility for both publishing and the promotion of Bible access. The Society subsequently became based in Stuttgart, where its publishing and administrative work has been organized. Publishing has remained one of the Society’s defining functions. Its catalogue has encompassed more than 700 books and related products, including around 300 Bible editions. German-language editions such as the Martin Luther Bible and the Good News Bible have been important components of its distribution activity. The catalogue also includes children’s editions, study and reference Bibles, electronic products, and versions adapted to different audiences and formats. In addition to translations, the Society publishes the Apocrypha and a broad range of academic material in biblical studies. The organization has also played a role in the production and distribution of scholarly source texts used by researchers and translators worldwide. Its publishing programme includes Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, an important edition of the Hebrew Bible text, and Novum Testamentum Graece, the critical Greek New Testament edition associated with the Nestle-Aland tradition. Other titles and editions connected with its catalogue include the Stuttgart Vulgate, Hebrew and Greek concordances, and commentaries on early Christian literature. These publications give the Society a role that extends beyond devotional publishing into the infrastructure of modern biblical scholarship. Bible ministry is the second major part of the foundation’s work. The organization’s constitutional purpose is not limited to producing books; it also seeks to communicate the Bible’s message and make the scriptures available. Earlier approaches placed particular emphasis on distributing physical Bibles. The Society’s more contemporary understanding includes digital resources, online reference material, and other forms of access suited to changing patterns of reading and religious engagement. Regional Bible societies, operating through a network of offices, help carry this work into local church and community settings. The German Bible Society is part of a global network of Bible societies. It cooperates with the United Bible Societies and other national organizations on translation, publication, and distribution. The stated aim of this international work is to make the Bible available in people’s own languages and at prices that can be afforded locally. Through World Bible Support, launched in 1975, the Society has solicited donations in Germany for Bible projects in countries with fewer financial resources. Governance is organized through a general assembly, a board, and a management team. The general assembly includes representatives of 23 regional Bible societies, 14 free churches and Christian organizations, and individual participants, according to the organization’s described structure. The board is responsible for ensuring that the foundation’s statutory duties are fulfilled and for supervising its activities. Operational policy is implemented by the management team, led by the General Secretary and supported by commercial management. The Society also has an ecumenical dimension. In cooperation with the Catholic Bible Society, it is associated with Biblische Reisen, a Stuttgart-based travel organization offering study tours to Israel and other locations significant to Christianity and religious life. This partnership reflects the Society’s position within Germany’s broader Christian publishing, educational, and service landscape. Today, the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft remains an active religious foundation whose work spans Bible publishing, textual scholarship, distribution, digital access, fundraising, and international cooperation.

• 2010

  General Secretary changes

  [1]Deutsche Bibelgesellschaften.wikipedia.org

  Klaus Sturm succeeded Jan-A. Bühner as General Secretary.

• 1981

  Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft established

  [1]Deutsche Bibelgesellschaften.wikipedia.org

  The Protestant Bible Organisation merged with the German Bible Foundation, forming the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

• 1975

  World Bible Support begins

  [1]Deutsche Bibelgesellschaften.wikipedia.org

  The Society began raising funds in Germany for Bible projects in less wealthy countries.

• 1965

  Regional Bible societies establish the Protestant Bible Organisation

  [1]Deutsche Bibelgesellschaften.wikipedia.org

  Independent regional Bible societies joined together in a national Protestant Bible organization.

• 1710

  Canstein Bible Institution founded

  [1]Deutsche Bibelgesellschaften.wikipedia.org

  The Canstein Bible Institution was founded, providing an important historical precursor to later organized Bible distribution in Germany.

A Protestant-rooted, ecumenically engaged Bible publisher and religious foundation combining accessible Bible distribution with scholarly publishing, translation support, digital resources, and international Bible ministry.

• German Bible translation

  Martin Luther Bible

  A major German Protestant Bible translation associated with Martin Luther and one of the principal Bible editions distributed by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. It serves church, personal reading, educational, and liturgical audiences and is available in multiple physical and digital formats.

• German Bible translation

  Good News Bible

  A contemporary German Bible translation intended to communicate biblical texts in accessible modern language. It is among the Society’s prominent distribution editions and is offered for general readers, churches, education, and devotional use.

• Scholarly Hebrew Bible edition

  Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia

  A scholarly edition of the Hebrew Bible published through the Society’s academic programme. It is used by biblical scholars, translators, students, and institutions as a major reference text for work on the Hebrew scriptures.

• Scholarly Greek New Testament edition

  Novum Testamentum Graece

  The critical Greek New Testament commonly identified with the Nestle-Aland edition. It is an internationally recognized base text for New Testament scholarship and Bible translation, forming one of the Society’s most important academic publishing lines.

• Religious education

  Children's Bibles

  Illustrated and age-oriented Bible publications designed to introduce biblical narratives and themes to children. These editions broaden the Society’s reach beyond academic and church readers and support family and educational use.

• Digital reference resource

  Online Bible dictionary

  An online dictionary of biblical terms and subjects compiled with contributions from subject specialists. It represents the Society’s effort to provide digital access to Bible-related information in addition to printed publications.

• 1975World Bible Support

  Germany · International Bible-project markets

  A fundraising initiative that collects support in Germany for Bible translation, publication, and distribution projects in countries with fewer financial resources.

  Outcome. The initiative became a continuing channel for international Bible-access support.

  Source

• 2010

  General Secretary successionOther

  Background

  Jan-A. Bühner had served as General Secretary since 1997.

  Action taken

  Klaus Sturm succeeded Bühner as General Secretary.

  Aftermath

  The change placed Sturm at the head of the Society’s management team; the available reference does not provide further details about the transition.

  Source

• 1981

  Merger creates the Deutsche BibelgesellschaftM&A

  Background

  German Protestant Bible work was organized through the Protestant Bible Organisation and the German Bible Foundation, alongside regional Bible societies.

  Action taken

  The Protestant Bible Organisation joined with the German Bible Foundation to establish the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

  Aftermath

  The merger created a national foundation combining Bible publishing, distribution, and Bible-ministry functions.

  Source

1. 1Deutsche Bibelgesellschaften.wikipedia.org
2. 2Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft official websitedie-bibel.de