• Bible Translation in Today’s World

(Part Two)

The Bible:The Bible is a co-authored book.

a. God is the primary author;b. Men of God were the secondary

authors.c. The result is that one and the same

set of words are both God’s and man’s.

So, whatever God said in Scripture, they said. And whatever they said, God said.

The Source of Inspiration

1. Who? God

2. How? By Revelation

3. When? 1500 B.C. to A.D. 100

History of Bible translation

IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN BIBLE TRANSLATION

Ten Commandments written in Hebrew on stones by God himselfOld Testament written by men chosen by God, also mostly in Hebrew (Daniel, some of Ezra, and 1 verse in Jeremiah – Aramic)

New Testament written by men chosen by God, in Koine Greek – 1st centuryFirst translation into another language (Latin) by Jerome -- 4th centuryLatin Vulgate outlives it’s purpose by the middle agesJohn Wycliffe first translates the Vulgate into English -- 14th centuryGutenberg press revolutionizes printing with moveable type -- 15th centuryFirst Bible published on Gutenberg press -- 15th centuryWilliam Tyndale translates Bible from Hebrew and Greek -- 15th centuryMartin Luther translates Bible to German -- 15th centuryKing James I authorizes scholars in first group translation -- 16th centuryFirst non-European scriptures translated into Malay language -- 17th centuryJohn Eliot translates Bible for Massachusetts Indians -- 18th centuryWilliam Carey translates Bible into a few Asian Indian languages 19th centuryCameron Townsend translates Bible into Guatemalan languages 20th centuryWycliffe Bible Translators established in US 1942 20th centuryLess than 2,000 world languages still needing bible translation 21st century

Johannes Gutenberg originatorof the first movable type printing press approx. 1440AD

Translation of Bible OT, NT, & portions

Year Available in languages 360 2 Gothic added 405 3 Latin added 1500 20 1800 67 1910 722 1982 1,763 2011 2,696

So where are we today

In Bible translation?

Approximate status of worldwide Bible translation 2015

6,900+...the number of languages spoken in the world today

1,900+

...the number of languages without any of the Bible, but with a possible need for a Bible translation to begin

about 350 million

...the number of people who speak the 1,900+ languages where Bible translation projects have not yet begun

nearly 1,500...the number of Bible translation programs where Wycliffe is currently at work

1300 +/-

...the number of language groups that have access to the New Testament in their heart language

500 +/-..the number of language groups that have access to the entire Bible in the language they understand best

about 7 billion …approximate population of the world

Location of 75% world’slanguages with greatest need:

Central Mainland & IndonesiaAfrica Southeast & the

& Nigeria: Asia Pacific Islands450+/- 450+/- 600+/-

DISTRIBUTION OF WORLD LANGUAGES

Greatest need: 10 degrees below – 40 degrees above Equator

AFRICA

LanguageDistribution

ASIALanguage distribution

PACIFICLanguage distribution

A few of the Bible translation agencies:

• Wycliffe Global Alliance (which includes WBT, SIL, WA, JAARS, TSC & other related agencies)

• Lutheran Bible Translators• New Tribes Mission• Pioneer Bible Translators• World Team• United Bible Societies (UBS)• The Word for the World

Wycliffe’s Vision 2025

By the year 2025 a Bible translation By the year 2025 a Bible translation project will be in progress for every project will be in progress for every people group that needs it.people group that needs it.

Typical steps of Bible translation (past model):

• Church not normally actively engaged in project except as a sponsor.• Many times most work done by expatriate workers• Survey made of considered area: Demographics of population, etc.• Assign lead translator: experience, education, support, logistics, budget• Translator arrives in country: sets up housekeeping, etc.• Learning national or trade language: e.g. Malay, English• Learning the specific tribal language and culture: e.g. Bidayuh, Rungus, etc.• Housing in bush location and getting to know people (can take several years)• Securing help of Mother Tongue Speakers• Beginning translation: language conventions, cluster considerations, local

authority approvals, etc.• Collateral work: Branch responsibilities, workshops, literacy for nationals• Checking of translation: accuracy, UNS checking, back translation, final check• Final check of draft with corrections• Publication approval• Post publication work

Tobilung language translator at his computer in Kota Belud, Malaysia 2009

Translator’s computer showing 16 individual screens side by side.

Translator’s computer with 16 open screens.

Bidayuh language translation team,Kuching, Malaysia 2011

So where do we go from here?

• Current trends towards speeding translationinclude paradigm shifts in translation work –

From: activity To: God’s invitationWestern missions Global churchInternational miss. Global AllianceMissionary paradigm National aspirationWestern leadership Multi-centric leadersWestern autonomy Global interdependence

Changing Aspects of Bible Translation:

1.Assessment of need & prioritization of BT projects2.Translation training & exegetical resources3.Translation process and methodologies4.The technology tools to facilitate the work5.The process of checking translated Scripture6.The authority for certification of translated Scripture7.The publishing process and output formats8.The means and responsibility for distribution9.The counting and statistics pertaining to translation needs, projects, and finished Bible translations10.The funding of translation projects

INVOLVING PEOPLE INVOLVING PEOPLE IN THE IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF ADVANCEMENT OF BIBLE TRANSLATIONBIBLE TRANSLATION

MISSION OF MISSION OF WYCLIFFE WYCLIFFE ASSOCIATESASSOCIATES

God has prepared the Church for works of service. We were created for this! Eph. 2:10, Eph. 4:11-13

Wycliffe AssociatesHeadquarters in Orlando, FL

Wycliffe AssociatesNiche Document

 

Wycliffe Associates’ mission is involving people in the advancement of Bible translation.

Wycliffe Associates supports only Bible translations that use accurate and literal common language terms for “Father” and “Son” when referring to God and Jesus Christ by:

1.recruiting people to fill high-priority positions, respond to strategic opportunities and emergencies, and train local personnel for long-term service,

2.providing an operational field structure to maximize the effectiveness of field team members,

3.designing, developing, and sustaining infrastructure to support translation teams,

4.funding initial goal or full-translation project starts in new languages, cluster-translation strategies, and translation in limited-access countries,

5.and funding projects linked to Associates’ service.

The kinds of strategies in which Wycliffe Associates partners have the following characteristics:

•Strategies prioritize Vision 2025 goals for new translation starts.•Strategies prioritize scripture impact in people groups in the Top 20 Countries containing 90% of the remaining Bible translation need.•Strategies prioritize Bible translation and early scripture impact for individuals and communities.•Strategies leverage innovation, technology, and teamwork to produce objective results. •Strategies value and maximize the unique strengths of each partner.

Challenge: V2025…more than halfway there!Solution: Continue to develop new partnerships,

explore new strategies/initiatives, be creative!

• Support High Priority Partners / Places• Support for Language Cluster projects• Stay focused!• Utilize GSS platform• Community Development projects (Clean water, ELL, etc.)

• Technology Advancement• Prayer! I Kings 3: 5-14

To date 295 languages communities served by WA Technology Advancement team!

• Number of languages served – 295 3G installations - 16• BTAKS - 200 Cell amplifiers - 17• BGANS - 90 Other equipment installed - 10• Laptops - 204 Luke Partnership Workshops - 17• Solar panel installations - 23 Countries Served - 27

BTAK being used in Uganda –

Note the BTAK items: solar panel on groundTransmitter on inside of lid orange box (pointed towards the satellite)Notebook computer on tableBattery backup may be in orange box

200 BTAK deployments in 27 countries!

Worldwide BTAK deployments WorldwiWorldwi

54 BTAK deployments

to date!

www.globalsouthservices.com

GSS; Jasa Ima-ii Associates; Bridge Connectivity Solutions; LinguaTec; GSS Holdings LLC; Net Access Nigeria; GJC Kunming, Int’l Holdings, Tbili Springs Services, Neta EW Connections, Bahasa Tech. Solutions

The GSS family of organizations

\

WA worldwide project involvement

255 projects in 77 countries

Individual Partners (Nodes)

Network of Partners (Clusters)

Partner Hubs (Hubs)

BILD Associates (Hierarchies and Communities)

The World of Civilizations: Post 1990

What Happens When a Crowd Translates the Bible?

What can you do to help? . . . for all people to have

the Bible in a language they know best. . .

sooner rather than later.

1.Pray2.Go – volunteers needed3.Give – funding appreciated

JAARS designed & manufactured Bug and Bite Zapper

Miscellany: Show & Tell

4 of the Wycliffe family of organizationswebsites:

• www.wycliffe.net• www.wycliffeassociates.org

• www.wycliffe.org• www.sil.org

END