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BIBLE
TRANSLATION: THE NEED OF THE HOUR IN INDIA |
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There has been no dearth
of plans and strategies, committees and task forces on
the Indian mission scene. Countless brain storming
sessions seek out ways to raise more funds and to seek
ways to spend the money effectively. The Indian Church
(and mission organizations) needs to overcome the
tendency to focus on short term goals and parochial
interests. Probably, the best thing that can happen to
Indian missionary or evangelistic efforts is the
translation of the Holy Bible into all major Indian
languages.
According to Wycliffe Associates, there are 180
languages in India that urgently need a Bible. Of
course, each of the sixteen hundred languages in India
deserves to have a Bible. The need is urgent. The task
is of eternal significance. And yet, Bible translators
are few in number. Young seminary graduates would rather
be in the limelight preaching or pasturing churches than
be found in a closet, translating the Bible into a new
language all their lives.
Bible translation is an intense task that demands the
lifetime of a translator. Seminary graduates or others
who venture into this task have to acquire special
linguistic training. If the target language is unknown
to the translator, he/she has to live among the people
and learn it. If there is no script, the translator has
to invent a script and then teach the people to read and
write. A dictionary of the language has to be compiled
and revised periodically. Finally, portions of the Bible
get translated into that language. The initial drafts
are subjected to tests and revised according to feedback
received.
Two years ago, Wycliffe Associates announced plans to
set up new translation training centers in the foothills
of the Himalayas. These new centers can bring down the
expected time for Bible translation into main Indian
languages from 90 years to 18 years.
Apart from translating the Bible into new languages, the
Indian church must strive to improve various Indian
language versions that are in use. Many of our Bibles
are several decades old. Some versions are a century
old. The younger generation of Christians is finding it
difficult to follow decades-old usages in these Bibles.
They miss out on the meaning of God’s Word. The
language, in each case, has evolved and changes have
crept. To communicate the eternal Word to the current
generation, our Bibles must speak today’s languages –
with current usages and idioms.
Besides, it is well known to all that our Bible versions
have numerous errors. Some errors have grave theological
consequences too. Preachers who are trained find out
these errors and attempt to explain the Word correctly
to their congregations. How long can that continue? We
need scholarly revisions that will remove linguistic and
theological errors in the light of the latest
scholarship.
Speaking of scholarship, the Indian church has many
professors who are adept in the Biblical languages. The
Church paid for their education. Therefore, they owe it
to the Indian church to work hard and to bring out
neatly revised versions of the Bible in respective
Indian languages.
Television evangelists, mega churches and big charities
might be successful in raising big money for their work.
It might seem that they are never satisfied. They are
“sowers” of the seed. But first, we need the seed. The
Indian church has to invest big money into Bible
translation. We need to acknowledge and appreciate the
hard work and toil that goes behind every new edition of
the Bible. May the Lord of the harvest help us in this
holy task!
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This page is
updated on Mar 08, 2010 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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