In a press release this morning, Crossway CEO Josh Dennis has announced that the flagship English Standard Version (ESV) will be dedicated to the public domain. Beaming with joy, Dennis summarized the board’s decision, “This decision not only removes financial and legal barriers to Bible translation but also empowers scholars, ministries, and laymen worldwide to study and spread God’s Word more freely.” In a world where access to Scripture is limited by copyright restrictions, this decision is an act of extraordinary faithfulness.

One of the greatest challenges in global Bible translation has been the need for permissions and licensing fees. Bureaucratic nightmares tend to hamper the process, but the decision to release the ESV into the public domain is an act of stewardship that reflects a deep commitment to the Great Commission. As more people gain access to Scripture in their own language, the impact of this generosity will ripple across generations.

Even apart from translation, Bible study software often is unable to ship versions like the ESV due to licensing issues. Even when sufficient funding exists, publishers refuse to work with smaller players in order to avoid the hassle. Additionally, scholars may develop commentaries and ministers may now develop Bible study materials without concerns over copyright restrictions.

Crossway’s action is a reminder that God’s Word is not bound—it is meant to go forth freely to every nation, tribe, and tongue (Matt. 10:8; 2 Cor. 2:17). This is truly a reason for thanksgiving, or at least it would be if we were announcing this on any other day of the year.

To learn about why the Word of God should be distributed without copyright restrictions, please see Bible Publishers - Stewards or Gatekeepers? For a modern public domain translation of the Scriptures that is available right now, check out the Berean Standard Bible.