U.S. Congress Passes Resolution for the Importation of 20,000 Bibles

The U.S. Congress of 1777 issued an official resolution calling for the Committee on Commerce to import 20,000 Bibles. This came as a result of the war with England, when supplies of Bibles and other good were cut-off.

The law read, in part:

The use of the Bible is so universal and its importance so great that your committee refers the above to the consideration of Congress, and if Congress shall not think it expedient to order the importation of types and paper, the Committee recommends that Congress will order the Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 Bibles from Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different parts of the States of the Union.

One Nation Under God - America's Christian Heritage - The Continental Congress