You'll often be told that the Bible is the best-selling book ever written, but is this true? I'm not here to talk about the Bible or whether it's true, I just want to know if the Bible is the best-selling book ever, and if it isn't, which book is?
First of all, this is a broad claim. By whose numbers is the Bible number 1? Is it on the New York Times bestseller list? Does Amazon keep tabs on this? Are the Gideons inflating the sales numbers? I was kidding about that last one, but this statement raises a lot of questions.
Who was the first to make this claim and why did they say it? Was it meant to be just an off-handed comment that was mixed up and taken literally, or do more copies of the Bible sell than any other book? And in what countries (if any) is this true? And when was this research done? And who carried it out?
Any help at all you have to offer is appreciated, but try to stay on topic, y'all.
2006-12-28 05:11:13 · 12 answers · asked by Jeff 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books
This link is to Wickpedia where is lists the Bible as the number 1 best selling book in the world.
2006-12-28 10:42:57 · answer #1 · answered by Honey W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question. If you keep in mind that there are about 450 translations of the bible, that helps one to understand how this would be possible, also the fact that it's the only book that has been popular for over 2,000 years. Then take the fact that people all over the globe of nearly all languages have a bible. I don't have the name of a survey team for ya, but hopefully this answer helps. Keep in mind though that although the bible has been widely distributed, in most homes it has only collected dust. Two thousand years + hundreds of translations + God's will that people learn the truth about him = best-selling book of all time, maybe not topping the list in 2006, but certainly for all time. Interestingly, in most bibles, God's name has been removed. That certainly wouldn't serve God's purpose! Check your forward or Ps. 83:18 and it will tell you that God's name is Jehovah. That's not too off topic for you I hope!!!
2006-12-28 14:15:46 · answer #2 · answered by AMEWzing 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is. Remember that Bibles are distributed in massive numbers by Missionary organizations all over the world. It is also available on every thinkable media, like Cd's, DVDs etc. The biggest concern is, I don't know how many of these Bibles are actually read. However, may many people in "closed" countries are longing for the Word of God, but cannot get access to a Bible. Pity.
Another reason is the massive tempo at which new translations become available. We have most probably more than 15 Bibles in our house.
2006-12-28 13:20:36 · answer #3 · answered by Willy B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is tricky as the other answers have spelled out. It has been translated and revised, it has branched off for different religions and covers more ground with the single title of "The Bible"
also, since it was the first book ever published with a print machine, as well as the only book to really be copied in monestaries... it has it's advantages to current literature.
So all those combined with the rise in American churches and the ever desire to spread 'the word' it will continue to sell as an effective tool in our society, as well as accross the globes in forms of Hebrew Bibles and the Muslim Quran which contains the stories of the Old testament in the christian version.
Mainly... it is a varied tool with the same general title selling everywhere.
I hope I asnwered and didn't get sidetracked... i hate that : ]
2006-12-28 13:43:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
looking into it but my initial response is that most copies is not the same as most sold
WELL it is but only because of the time span it has never been the best selling in any year since books became a commodity as opposed to a rarity ( the church controlled what was printed in the early days of the printing press ) - and the best selling copyrighted book is Guinness book of world records
oh yea that would be the King James Edition - second would be the Koran
2006-12-28 13:15:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, theoretically, a lot of religions in the world are based off of the Bible and its many testaments. Over the thousands of years of man's existence, religion was very important, so a lot of copies of the Bible were made. It sold a lot over many years. This is actually unfair in realistic comparison. If the Bible sold only over the same amount of time as other books, it wouldn't top the list.
2006-12-28 13:22:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I admit that I personally have no information to back it up, but that would be my guess. Considering how much of Earth's population is Cristian and not to mention all the new testaments they have as well. Sorry for not giving an idea of who it is that counts, but maybe I had some hint of how many there are.
By the way, not that this matters, but I also hear the The Diary of Anne Frank was the second.
2006-12-28 13:18:08 · answer #7 · answered by Brandy 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The bible was written long before any other book around right now, so I would have to say yes.
2006-12-28 13:17:17 · answer #8 · answered by ♥ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to Google, there are over 100 million Bibles sold every year.
2006-12-28 13:23:58 · answer #9 · answered by theprez7 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, let's see...it has been in print since the reign of King James I of England and has never been out of print. I'm referring to the e King James version that is now available in God knows how many translations.
Billions of copies have been sold. I've heard over 4-5 billion to ballpark it.
2006-12-28 13:33:01 · answer #10 · answered by reeses30135 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋