The 404 year old bible that was welcomed into the country in April was brought before Parliament today where it was presented and accepted into the chamber as a national treasure.
It was presented as a 40th Independence Anniversary gift to the people and government of Papua New Guinea.
Southern Highlands Governor William Powi presented the bible as a member of the delegation and on behalf of speaker Theodore Zurenuoc and his house committee.
He also moved to have the bible placed in the chambers as a national treasure in front of a packed public gallery made up of women from church groups as well as church leaders.
Since the bible was brought into the country, many have questioned the trip by speaker Theodore Zurenuoc and a team of high powered delegation who made the trip to bring the bible into the country.
However Powi called on the current parliament to recognize, resolve and receive the bible as a source of the country’s national unity and constitutional democracy.
He said PNG will be celebrating its 40th Independence anniversary this year and turning 40 resembles the 40 years journey of the people of Israel in the wilderness and crossing over to the other side of the Jordan River at the end of the 40 year period.
“I move that this honorable house accept the original 404 year old King James bible printed in year 1611 as our National Treasure and the Property of the people and the government if Papua New Guinea and be placed in the chamber of the National Parliament on the clerk’s table,” Powi said.
The bible is one of the first copies of the first edition of the King James Bible printed in the year 1611 and is one of the only three copies known to be the best and well-kept in the world today.
It is 17 inches thick and has been kept in its original form for 400 years.
The copy brought into the country is printed on cotton linen fabric with wooden covers.
It was donated as a gift by the late Dr Gene Hoods who was an American missionary after he learnt of the speakers move to restore reform and modernize parliament.