Two Southern Baptist seminary professors say the growth could be driven by a younger population searching for truth.
The new data from B&H Publishing comes some two weeks after The Wall Street Journal released data from Circana BookScan reporting Bible sales up 22 percent in the U.S. compared to the same time frame last year. By comparison, book sales in 2023 were up only 1 percent compared to the same time frame the previous year.
Andy McLean, publisher of Bibles and Reference for Lifeway Christian Resources — the parent company of B&H — said the current era is the “golden age in Bible publishing.”
McLean told Baptist Press, “It’s an interesting time. We’ve seen a general increase in the last two or three years with the Bible market. There are a lot of unique types of Bibles out there helping people in different ways understand the meaning of Scripture, and that’s an encouraging thing.”
Tommy Doughty, assistant professor of theology and Christian worldview at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, suggested that Gen Z may be driving the interest in Scripture.
He told Baptist Press, “Rather than the internet-driven popular culture they have been drowning in, I wouldn’t be surprised if many are beginning to look for real-life answers now that they are faced with social and career decisions.“
And Jeff Audirsch, professor of Biblical studies at New Orleans Seminary, said, “The younger generation is searching for truth. Adding, “and they know where to find it.”