Bible Exhibition held at Kottayam

Thiruvananthapuram – The Bible Society of India (BSI) Kerala Auxiliary had organized a Bible exhibition at Kottayam, Kerala, from December 16 to 18 as part of its golden jubilee celebrations.

According to Bible Society Auxiliary Secretary Rev. Dr. Samuel T. Varghese, Bibles in various shapes, types and sizes were on display and were made available at discounted rates.

The Bible Society of India (Kerala Auxiliary) was established in 1956 with the motto, ''A Bible for every Christian home in Kerala.''

St. Mathew’s Gospel was the first book printed in Kerala in 1824. The man behind this movement was Rev. Benjamin Bailey who built Kerala’s first printing press and called it after the Church Mission Society – CMS Press.

The New Testament was printed in 1829 and the whole Bible in 1841. Dr. Herman Gundart, a German missionary, who worked in Basel Mission based at Tellicherry in north Kerala, released the New Testament in 1854 and Old Testament in 1859.

In 1871, a common Translation Committee was formed by the Bible Society with representation of all major Churches and different translation groups and published the present Bible – ''Sathya Vedapusthakam'' in regional language in 1910.