Artifacts Reveal Scripture’s Role in America’s Founding

A rare collection of original letters, family Bibles, and founding-era artifacts is showcasing how Scripture influenced the nation’s founding. This collection is currently on display at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., marking America’s 250th anniversary.

The exhibit explores how biblical texts shaped conversations about liberty, education, and public life during America’s earliest years. Featured items include the first Bible printed in English in America, family Bibles from several founding fathers, and a letter from Thomas Jefferson on religious freedom.

Anthony Schmidt, the museum’s director of collections and curatorial, stated, “The Bible has been an integral part of this nation’s founding and history. That’s not a theological claim; it’s what the documents show.” He emphasized that the founding fathers used Scripture to frame political ideas about human dignity and liberty.

One section of the collection highlights how Scripture was part of everyday life in early America, displaying historical Bibles alongside those owned by founding fathers.

The exhibit also examines the relationship between faith and government, featuring Jefferson’s writings on religious liberty. Additionally, visitors can view Revolutionary-era printed materials that unified the colonies, early Jewish civic life documents, and busts of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

The collection aims to encourage visitors to engage directly with original historical documents. Schmidt noted that while the founding fathers had differing views on religion, many were influenced by the Bible’s language and ideas.

“We want visitors to encounter the history of this country and see, in the primary documents, what impact the Bible actually had on the people who built it,” Schmidt said. “We want people to engage with that evidence and come to their own conclusions.”