Thailand Bible Society

Thailand Bible Society is a non-denominational Christian organization focused on making the Bible and selected books of the Bible available in Thailand. Its work includes Bible translation, publication, and distribution, with Thai-language editions forming the central part of its publishing activity. The organization is a member of the United Bible Societies Association, linking it to the wider international network of Bible societies while retaining a specifically Thai operating focus. The Society's organized work dates back to 1828, reflecting the early history of Protestant Bible translation and circulation in Thailand. A portion of the Bible in Thai was first published in 1834 by Baptist missionary John Taylor Jones. The New Testament followed in 1843, marking an important step toward making Christian scripture available in the Thai language. The first complete Thai Bible was published in 1893. These earlier translation and printing efforts established the historical foundation for the Society's later institutional role. The Thailand Bible Society was officially established in 1966. Since then, it has served as a national Bible agency involved in producing and distributing Thai-language scriptures. Its activities are centered on Bible editions rather than on a broad commercial publishing catalogue. The Society's output includes complete Bibles, New Testaments, and selected biblical books, although the available reference material does not provide a full catalogue of editions, formats, or distribution channels. A major publishing milestone was the Thai Standard Version, first issued by the Thailand Bible Society in 1971. The translation was subsequently revised, updated, and republished in 2011, demonstrating the Society's continuing role in maintaining contemporary Thai-language scripture resources. The revision also illustrates the practical need for Bible translations to be periodically reviewed so that language and presentation remain accessible to current readers. The Society's distribution work has measurable historical evidence. In 2005, it distributed 43,740 copies of the Bible and 9,629 copies of the New Testament in Thai. These figures indicate a substantial national distribution operation, although they should not be treated as current annual volumes. The available sources do not identify revenue, staffing, current leadership, ownership structure, or detailed present-day programmes. Accordingly, the Society is best characterized as a Thailand-focused Christian scripture publisher and distribution organization whose identity is grounded in translation, publication, and access to biblical texts rather than in commercial consumer branding.

The history of the Thailand Bible Society is rooted in the early development of Bible translation and publication in Thailand. Organized Bible-related work associated with the Society's historical tradition began in 1828, well before the organization received its formal institutional designation. During the nineteenth century, Christian missionaries and translators worked to make biblical texts available in Thai, helping establish the linguistic and publishing foundations on which later Bible-society activity would be built. In 1834, Baptist missionary John Taylor Jones published part of the Bible in Thai. The first Thai New Testament was printed in 1843. These publications represented significant stages in the process of adapting Christian scripture for Thai readers, moving from partial biblical texts to a complete New Testament. The first full Bible in Thai appeared in 1893, creating a complete Thai-language scripture resource and marking an important milestone in the history of Christianity and religious publishing in the country. The Thailand Bible Society was officially established in 1966. Its institutional mission was to support the translation, publication, and distribution of the Bible and selected biblical books in Thailand. As a non-denominational organization, it operates across denominational boundaries rather than as the publishing arm of one individual church tradition. Its membership in the United Bible Societies Association places it within an international network of organizations with related scripture-access missions. One of the Society's most notable publishing projects has been the Thai Standard Version. The first edition was published in 1971. The translation was later revised, updated, and republished in 2011, reflecting the continuing process of maintaining a major scripture translation for contemporary Thai readers. The revision is evidence of the Society's role not only in distributing existing texts but also in sustaining and updating Thai-language Bible resources over time. The Society's distribution activity can be illustrated by figures reported for 2005, when it distributed 43,740 copies of the Bible and 9,629 copies of the New Testament in Thai. These figures provide a historical snapshot of its reach, but the available reference material does not establish current distribution volumes or describe the full range of modern formats and channels. No reliable information is provided in the reference material about current executives, finances, facilities, or detailed programmes. The documented historical record nevertheless identifies the Thailand Bible Society as a longstanding Thai scripture publisher and distributor with roots in nineteenth-century translation work and a formal organizational history beginning in 1966.

• 2011

  Thai Standard Version revised and republished

  [1]Thailand Bible Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Thai Standard Version was revised, updated, and republished.

• 2005

  Documented Thai-language distribution

  [1]Thailand Bible Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society distributed 43,740 Bibles and 9,629 New Testaments in Thai.

• 1971

  Thai Standard Version published

  [1]Thailand Bible Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Thailand Bible Society published the first Thai Standard Version.

• 1966

  Thailand Bible Society formally established

  [1]Thailand Bible Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Thailand Bible Society was officially established as a non-denominational Christian organization serving Thailand.

• 1893

  First complete Thai Bible published

  [1]Thailand Bible Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The first complete Bible in Thai was published.

• 1843

  First Thai New Testament printed

  [1]Thailand Bible Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The New Testament was printed in Thai for the first time.

• 1834

  Part of the Bible published in Thai

  [1]Thailand Bible Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Baptist missionary John Taylor Jones published part of the Bible in the Thai language.

• 1828

  Organized Bible work begins in Thailand

  [1]Thailand Bible Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The historical tradition associated with the Thailand Bible Society's organized work in Thailand is traced to 1828.

A non-denominational, Thailand-focused Bible society providing translated and published Christian scriptures through a national distribution network and participation in the United Bible Societies Association.

• Bible publishing · 1893

  Complete Thai Bible editions

  Complete Bible editions in Thai are the Society's core publishing output. They represent the culmination of the translation tradition that produced the first full Thai Bible in 1893 and continue the organization's central role in making Christian scripture available to Thai readers. Specific current editions, formats, print specifications, and pricing are not identified in the available reference material.

• Bible publishing · 1843

  Thai New Testament editions

  Thai New Testament editions form an important part of the Society's distribution work. The first Thai New Testament was printed in 1843, and the Society later distributed thousands of Thai New Testament copies as part of its national scripture-access mission. The available sources do not specify current editions or formats.

• Bible translation · 1971

  Thai Standard Version

  The Thai Standard Version is a Thai-language Bible translation published by the Thailand Bible Society. First issued in 1971, it was later revised, updated, and republished in 2011. It is a principal documented translation project associated with the Society.

• 2011

  Revision and republication of the Thai Standard VersionGeneration change

  Background

  The Society's principal documented Thai Bible translation required updating after its original 1971 publication.

  Action taken

  The Thailand Bible Society revised, updated, and republished the Thai Standard Version.

  Aftermath

  The revised edition continued the Society's role in maintaining contemporary Thai-language scripture resources.

  Source

1. 1Thailand Bible Societyen.wikipedia.org