Bible translation is a chief task for All-Nations teams, but it is far from the only task. Frequently, it is more than a simple lack of a Bible which prevents an indigenous church from beginning and flourishing among an unreached people group.
Bible Translation
“So often when I read the Bible in Hausa or English, there are words I don’t understand. But now that I’m reading it in my own language, it just goes straight in!” —African believer
Most often, it is in the context of teaching, preaching, and fellowship with others that people are persuaded to change their beliefs and behavior. For Bible translation to achieve its ultimate goal, it needs to be carried out as a part of a larger communication strategy of the church. —Harriet...
Why is it important for people to have access to the Scriptures in their heart language? Let us consider three reasons.
1. To have a proper understanding of God. God has chosen to reveal Himself to humanity through the written Word illuminated by the Holy Spirit. As we know,...
"I marvel greatly, dearly beloved in Christ, that any man would ever contend or speak against having the scripture available in every language for every man." —William Tyndale
When Ben realized the need for a translation of the Bible in the Mayangna language several years ago, he didn’t attempt the job on his own. His closest collaborator was a Mayangna believer, and together they set out to meet the need. Today, this brother’s family...
In the translation world, it is well-known that certain genres of text are more difficult to translate than others. Some of the easier text genres for translation are narrative (telling about an event) and descriptive (giving details about someone or something). A far more difficult text genre...
Translators are not authors, free to write whatever they want in the way they want. They must translate the existing text with integrity.
With form and meaning in constant tension, what helps translators stay faithful to the form of the original text? These four points correspond to the...
"If clear understanding is one of the main goals of translation, then enjoying and receiving the messages of the New Testament in their fullness requires having access to the Old." —Peter Yuh Kimen
We expect that a surgeon would spend years in training and apprenticeships before he ever attempts his first surgery. Likewise, a lawyer would spend years in law school before he ever represents a case in the courthouse. Should a missionary go to the field without training? Should a translator...