The Word of God is Not Bound

I like to read about the Civil War. There are so many fascinating stories, people and event that took place during this tragic war. One thing that I always find fascinating is how the war impacted people in areas that I had not before considered, especially in the churches.

The following was published in the TENNESSEE BAPTIST, August 31, 1861 by J.R. Graves,that I was directed to by Pastor David Green.

The title of the article is The Word of God is Not Bound.

“The first set of plates for printing pocket Bibles and Testaments ever owned and worked in the South were laid upon the press of the Southwestern Publishing House last Wednesday, and it can now be said for the first time that the South is independent of the North for the Word of God. Lincoln no longer binds the Word of God.

These plates for the Bible and Testament have cost, including tariff, ($150), freight and other expenses connected with them, some $1250. More than one-half of this sum was contributed by the brethren and citizens of West Tennessee and North Alabama to us personally—to enable the Publishing House to print cheap Bibles and Testaments for the Confederate soldiers. There is not another set of plates on which a pocket Bible or pocket Testament can be printed in the Southern Confederacy to-day.

Believing that the balance for the plates will be contributed as a voluntary offering to the enterprise, the Southwestern Publishing House offers to print Bibles and Testaments for the Confederate army at the following rates:
Pocket Testaments.—Plain $12.50 per 100—15 cts. retail; Gilt Sides $15 per 100—20 cts. retail.
Pocket Bibles.--$7.50 to $12 per dozen, according to style and binding. Fine bound copies, with name in gilt letters, from $2 to $5 per copy. Let every community that has sent out a company forward each soldier a Bible or Testament, and a package of religious tracts—price 25 cents per package of 300 page.

Will all our exchanges in the South call attention to this enterprise, and to the fact that the Southwestern Publishing House offers to supply 100,000 Bibles and Testaments for the Confederate army at cost of material and labor?”

There were a few thoughts I had about this.

1. Baptists love God's Word.
2. Even in the midst of Civil War, God's people must care for souls.
3. Prior to higher textual criticism, when people spoke of the Bible they thought of the Word of God, not about translations.
4. The GREATEST need in any nations is Jesus Christ.