Who Owns God's Word?

The other day, I was working on something that required a scripture verse. In my browser, I clicked on Favorites and found the link to the online version of the Revised Standard Edition Bible, hosted by the University of Virginia Library. But instead of getting the online Bible, a message was displayed that says:

"We regret that we are unable to host the Revised Standard Version of the Bible on our website any longer. We were recently contacted by the National Council of Churches of Christ (http://www.ncccusa.org/), who own the copyright for the Revised Standard Version of the Bible in the USA. They have asked us to remove the text from our website, and we have complied with their request. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."

Hmmm.

The National Council of Churches of Christ. Certainly sounds like an organization that would be interested in spreading the Gospel of Jesus to as many people as possible. But because they "own" the copyright to a certain translation of the Bible, they don't want a public university to make available an electronic version.

What's wrong with this picture?

I poked around a bit on the website of the National Council of Churches USA and could not find an electronic version of the New Revised Standard Version. But you can certainly purchase a hard copy.

At the risk of violating their copyright on their website, here is part of the mission statement for the RSV and NRSV Bible translations:

"The purpose of this program ministry is to provide contemporary, ecumenical, accurate English translations of the Bible, and to promote the use of the Bible in public worship and education, and in private study and devotion."

To promote the use of the Bible in public worship and education, and in private study and devotion. However, only to do so if the NCC USA can make a profit.

Later in their mission statement they say: "to encourage the widest possible use of the NRSV and RSV in their various editions," Again, this is only true if those using "their" version of the Bible are paying for it.

The University of Virginia is a public university. It is not a Christian university. And they had an electronic Bible available. Wonderful! So, wouldn't you think an organization devoted to wide use of the Bible would applaud this university for going to the work of converting it into electronic form and making it available?

You should read the NCC's statement of faith. Does this jive with their actions?

Those on the board of the NCC should strive to be like Paul:
1Corinthians 10:33 - just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved

Apparently, they are deriving a different meaning from 2Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

This action by the NCC seems counter-productive to Jesus' words, when he said, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14).

Our Lord told us to take the Word of God into all the nations. He didn't say we were to make a buck doing so.

What do you think? Am I overreacting?