Textual Traditions and Copyright: An Observation on Modern Bible Versions

Discussions about Bible translation often focus on manuscripts, theology, or readability. Less frequently discussed—but increasingly relevant—is the issue of copyright. When one surveys the landscape of Greek New Testament texts and the English translations and versions derived from them, an interesting pattern emerges.

This post is not an argument for one textual tradition over another, but an observation about ownership, access, and control.

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Greek Minority Texts and Modern Copyright

The Greek minority text tradition—often associated with the Alexandrian text-type—forms the basis of most modern critical editions of the Greek New Testament, such as:

• Nestle-Aland (NA)

• United Bible Societies (UBS)

These editions are the product of modern scholarly committees, revised regularly, and published by academic presses. As such, they are fully protected by copyright. Access typically requires purchasing printed editions or licensed digital versions, and reproduction is restricted.

Most modern English translations are based primarily on these minority-text critical editions, including:

• NIV

• AMP

• LSB

• NKJV

• NLT

• ESV

• CSB

• NASB

• NRSV / NRSVue

…And many more

These translations are likewise under copyright, often tightly controlled. Permissions are required for quotation beyond a limited number of verses, and publishers retain legal authority over formatting, distribution, and reproduction.

Example of Modern Translation Licensing (Zondervan, NIV by Biblica, Inc.):

Summary of Gratis Use Guidelines

“Text from the NIV or NiRV Bible may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio), up to and inclusive of 500 verses or less without written permission, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible, nor do verses quoted account for 25% or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted, and the verses are not being quoted in a commentary or other biblical reference work. This permission is contingent upon an appropriate copyright acknowledgment.”

Source: Zondervan, “NIV & NIrV Permissions”, Summary of Gratis Use Guidelines.

(Zondervan Publishing House, permissions page)

In short, the minority-text stream is largely mediated through modern institutional ownership.

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Greek Majority Texts and the Public Domain

By contrast, the Greek majority text tradition—often referred to as the Byzantine or Traditional Text—has a different historical footprint.

Major printed forms of the majority text include:

• Erasmus’ Greek New Testament

• Stephanus’ editions

• Beza’s editions

• Scrivener’s reconstruction of the Textus Receptus

These texts were published centuries ago and therefore reside firmly in the public domain. They are freely accessible, reproducible, and distributable without restriction.

English translations based upon this stream likewise tend to be public domain, including:

• The King James Version

• Earlier English Bibles (Tyndale, Geneva, Coverdale)

While spelling, formatting, and modernization projects may be copyrighted, the translations themselves remain legally unowned.

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Why This Pattern Exists

The explanation is largely historical and legal.

• Modern critical texts are collaborative academic products, subject to copyright law.

• Older texts and translations predate modern copyright frameworks.

• New translations are expensive to produce and publishers protect their investments through licensing.

• Public-domain texts, by definition, cannot be reclaimed or restricted.

This does not automatically imply malicious intent, nor does it invalidate modern scholarship. It simply reflects the realities of modern publishing.

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A Practical Difference

The result, however, is tangible:

• Modern versions are licensed.

• Traditional versions are inherited.

• Modern texts are owned.

• Older texts are received.

One must ask whether this affects how Scripture is accessed, memorized, preached, or preserved across generations.

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A Closing Reflection

It is worth noting the irony.

The most ancient English Bibles in continuous use are free to every man, woman, and child without permission or fee. Most modern versions, by contrast, require legal approval for extended quotation or distribution.

Men may own modern versions by law.

But the English Scriptures that shaped the world, endured persecution, and outlived empires belong to no corporation.

They belong to God—and to His people.