Pennsylvania state lawmaker Stephanie Borowicz (R) plans to introduce a resolution making September 12 “The Day of the Bible” for the state.
“This date holds significant historical and spiritual relevance. On September 12, 1782, the United States Congress, while meeting in Philadelphia during the American Revolutionary War, officially authorized the publication of the first complete English-language Bible printed in America—the Aitken Bible, also known as The Bible of the Revolution,” Borowicz said in a statement. “This marked a profound moment in American history, linking the foundational ideals of liberty and faith.”
She described that the Aitken Bible is “not only as a religious text but as a symbol of national perseverance and unity at a time when Americans were fighting for independence and self-governance.” Borowicz further noted that the Bible’s congressional endorsement emphasizes “how deeply rooted spiritual values were in the formation of our republic.”
The resolution would recognize the Bible’s influence on the United States and the culture of Pennsylvania, the representative’s memo explains. It would also honor the “historic role Pennsylvania played in the Bible’s publication and preservation” as well as encourage citizens and schools to reflect on the Bible’s role in “promoting the values of justice, redemption, personal responsibility, and compassion.”
Monica Varner, Collections Manager in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress, wrote in a blog post that the Aitken Bible was a “landmark moment” for book history in the United States. Vaner described the book as representing “not only its publisher’s piety, but the country’s burgeoning cultural identity detached from that of Britain’s, as well as an intrepid side-stepping of the embargo affecting the importation of books.”
