Brian M. SandiferBrian M. Sandifer 11
Bible TranslationBible Translation
Further Turning Points (20Further Turning Points (20thth Century)Century)
Decisive Moments in the History of ChristianityDecisive Moments in the History of Christianity
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Turning PointsTurning Pointsin Christian Historyin Christian History
1.1. Fall of Jerusalem (70)Fall of Jerusalem (70)
2.2. Council of Nicaea (325)Council of Nicaea (325)
3.3. Council of Chalcedon Council of Chalcedon (451)(451)
4.4. Benedict’s Rule (530)Benedict’s Rule (530)
5.5. Coronation of Coronation of Charlemagne (800)Charlemagne (800)
6.6. Great Schism (1054)Great Schism (1054)
7.7. Diet of Worms (1521)Diet of Worms (1521)
8.8. English Act of Supremacy English Act of Supremacy (1534)(1534)
9.9. Founding of Jesuits Founding of Jesuits (1540)(1540)
10.10. Conversion of Wesleys Conversion of Wesleys (1738)(1738)
11.11. French Revolution (1789)French Revolution (1789)
12.12. Edinburgh Missionary Edinburgh Missionary Conference (1910)Conference (1910)
13.13. Further Turning Points Further Turning Points (1900s)(1900s)
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Historically SignificantHistorically SignificantBible Translations Bible Translations
In the 20In the 20thth century there have been 6 major century there have been 6 major English translations published (and ~88 minor English translations published (and ~88 minor translations!)translations!) ASVASV (1901); (1901); RSVRSV (1952); (1952); NASBNASB (1971); (1971); NIVNIV (1978); (1978); NKJVNKJV
(1982); (1982); NRSVNRSV (1990) (1990) But English-speaking Christians already had many But English-speaking Christians already had many
Bibles in their language for centuriesBibles in their language for centuries GNVGNV (1599); (1599); KJVKJV (1611); (1611); YLTYLT (1862); (1862); DBYDBY (1884); (1884); ERVERV
(1885); (1885); DRADRA (1899) (1899) Many (most?) cultures did not have access to the Many (most?) cultures did not have access to the
Bible in their vernacular tongueBible in their vernacular tongue Based on this fact, from a worldwide perspective Based on this fact, from a worldwide perspective
of God’s Kingdom, the publication of the first of God’s Kingdom, the publication of the first Bible translation in a language is therefore Bible translation in a language is therefore historically significant compared to a new historically significant compared to a new translation for a language “already covered”.translation for a language “already covered”.
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Christianity’s Christianity’s Southern ShiftSouthern Shift
One of the crucial developments of the One of the crucial developments of the 2020thth century has been the shift of century has been the shift of Christianity’s center of gravity from the Christianity’s center of gravity from the Northern to the Southern hemisphereNorthern to the Southern hemisphere
Although the percentage of Christians Although the percentage of Christians in the global south has been slowly in the global south has been slowly rising since 1500, percentage growth rising since 1500, percentage growth since 1900 has been precipitoussince 1900 has been precipitous
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Worldwide Christian Worldwide Christian DemographicsDemographics
Worldwide pop. growth (1900-2000): Worldwide pop. growth (1900-2000): 3.6x3.6x
Worldwide Christian pop. growth Worldwide Christian pop. growth (1900-2000)(1900-2000) Europe: 1.4xEurope: 1.4x North America: 3.4xNorth America: 3.4x Pacific Islands: 5.0xPacific Islands: 5.0x Asia: 15.0xAsia: 15.0x Africa: 34.4xAfrica: 34.4x
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World Christian World Christian Demographics: TrendsDemographics: Trends
AfricaAfrica 1900. 9 million identifiable Christians1900. 9 million identifiable Christians 2000. 310 million Christians2000. 310 million Christians 2030. Number of Christians 3x number 2030. Number of Christians 3x number
in North Americain North America 2030. Number of Christians more than 2030. Number of Christians more than
number in Europenumber in Europe AsiaAsia
2030. Number of Christians more than 2030. Number of Christians more than number in Europenumber in Europe
992010 data
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The Turning Point?The Turning Point?William Townsend’sWilliam Townsend’s
Moment of CrisisMoment of Crisis Mission trip to GuatemalaMission trip to Guatemala
In 1917 Christian missionary William Cameron In 1917 Christian missionary William Cameron Townsend traveled to Guatemala to distribute Townsend traveled to Guatemala to distribute Spanish-language BiblesSpanish-language Bibles
A native Guatemalan, upon being handed a A native Guatemalan, upon being handed a Spanish Bible, asked Townsend, “If your God is Spanish Bible, asked Townsend, “If your God is so smart, why doesn’t he speak Cakchiquel?”so smart, why doesn’t he speak Cakchiquel?”
Townsend eventually settled in a Townsend eventually settled in a Cakchiquel-speaking community for 14 Cakchiquel-speaking community for 14 years, learning the language so as to years, learning the language so as to translate the Bible in Cakchiqueltranslate the Bible in Cakchiquel
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Symbolic Turning Point: Symbolic Turning Point: Spread of Bible TranslationsSpread of Bible Translations
1934. Founding of Wycliffe Bible 1934. Founding of Wycliffe Bible Translators (WBT)Translators (WBT) Founded by William Townsend (1896-Founded by William Townsend (1896-
1982) after he returned to USA from 1982) after he returned to USA from GuatemalaGuatemala
WBT is the most vigorous promoter of WBT is the most vigorous promoter of foreign Bible translation and distributionforeign Bible translation and distribution
Draws most of its workers from North Draws most of its workers from North American & EuropeAmerican & Europe
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Significance of a Significance of a Vernacular Bible for a Vernacular Bible for a
CultureCulture
Western EuropeWestern Europe Jerome’s Bible translation into Latin immensely Jerome’s Bible translation into Latin immensely
impacted the Middle Agesimpacted the Middle Ages Luther’s Bible translation shaped German Luther’s Bible translation shaped German
language and literaturelanguage and literature KJV and other English Bible translations shaped KJV and other English Bible translations shaped
the faith and life of Britain in its coloniesthe faith and life of Britain in its colonies Vernacular Bible translations in other Vernacular Bible translations in other
European countries significantly shaped European countries significantly shaped the culturethe culture
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What Does the Future Hold?What Does the Future Hold?
In the 20In the 20thth century, the Bible has been century, the Bible has been translated into the vernacular for translated into the vernacular for these language groups (among these language groups (among others):others): isiZulu (Africa)isiZulu (Africa) Hausa (Africa)Hausa (Africa) KingyaRwanda (Africa)KingyaRwanda (Africa) Tibetan (Asia)Tibetan (Asia) Vietnamese (Asia)Vietnamese (Asia) Tagalog (Philippines)Tagalog (Philippines) Various languages (China)Various languages (China)
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Magnitude of Translation Magnitude of Translation EffortsEfforts
Full vernacular translations of the BibleFull vernacular translations of the Bible As of 1989. There were 289 separate As of 1989. There were 289 separate
languages with a version. Of these, 170 (59%) languages with a version. Of these, 170 (59%) were published in the 20were published in the 20thth century. century.
Partial vernacular translations of the BiblePartial vernacular translations of the Bible 1900. Portions of the Bible were available in 1900. Portions of the Bible were available in
approximately 537 different languages.approximately 537 different languages. 1980. Portions of the Bible were available in 1980. Portions of the Bible were available in
approximately 1811 different languages.approximately 1811 different languages. Far more individual language groups, and Far more individual language groups, and
the cultures that these languages define, the cultures that these languages define, have received the Bible during the 20have received the Bible during the 20thth century than in the preceding 1900 years century than in the preceding 1900 years of church history!of church history!
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Implications of Massive Implications of Massive Bible Translation EffortsBible Translation Efforts
The message of Christ (the gospel) that The message of Christ (the gospel) that missionaries missionaries broughtbrought is eclipsed by the is eclipsed by the message they message they leftleft (the vernacular Bible) (the vernacular Bible)
The drama of Pentecost and Church The drama of Pentecost and Church History continuesHistory continues As at Pentecost, people are hearing the As at Pentecost, people are hearing the
message of the Bible in their own tonguesmessage of the Bible in their own tongues The gospel message of the universality of The gospel message of the universality of
salvation becomes more real when it arises salvation becomes more real when it arises from within a culture rather than outside a from within a culture rather than outside a cultureculture
The possession of the Bible in the The possession of the Bible in the vernacular language often begins to effect vernacular language often begins to effect a process of Christianization of the culturea process of Christianization of the culture
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Importance of Vernacular Importance of Vernacular ScripturesScriptures
There is a radical pluralism implied in There is a radical pluralism implied in vernacular translation wherein all vernacular translation wherein all languages and cultures are, in languages and cultures are, in principle, equal in expressing the principle, equal in expressing the word of God…Two general ideas word of God…Two general ideas stem from this analysis. stem from this analysis. FirstFirst is the is the inclusive principle whereby no inclusive principle whereby no culture is excluded from the Christian culture is excluded from the Christian dispensation or even judged solely or dispensation or even judged solely or ultimately by Western cultural ultimately by Western cultural criteria. (cont’d)criteria. (cont’d)
Importance of Vernacular Importance of Vernacular ScripturesScriptures
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SecondSecond is the ethical principle of change is the ethical principle of change as a check to cultural self-as a check to cultural self-absolutization. Both of these ideas are absolutization. Both of these ideas are rooted in what missionaries understood rooted in what missionaries understood by God’s universal truth as this was by God’s universal truth as this was revealed in Jesus Christ, with the need revealed in Jesus Christ, with the need and duty to work out this fact in the and duty to work out this fact in the vernacular medium rather than in the vernacular medium rather than in the uniform framework of cultural uniform framework of cultural homogeneity.homogeneity.
* Gambian mission historian Lamin Sanneh* Gambian mission historian Lamin Sanneh
Importance of Vernacular Importance of Vernacular ScripturesScriptures
1919
William C. William C. TownsendTownsend
2020
Questions for Questions for DiscussionDiscussion
What factors would contribute to worldwide What factors would contribute to worldwide distribution of vernacular Bible translations distribution of vernacular Bible translations becoming a significant turning point in becoming a significant turning point in church history? What factors would be church history? What factors would be hindrances?hindrances?
The USA is increasingly becoming less The USA is increasingly becoming less culturally homogeneous due (among other culturally homogeneous due (among other things) to immigration of non-English things) to immigration of non-English speakers. How might vernacular Bible speakers. How might vernacular Bible versions foster unity in America? How might versions foster unity in America? How might they encourage multicultural fragmentation?they encourage multicultural fragmentation?
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Application for Today’s Application for Today’s ChurchChurch
How ought the church use vernacular How ought the church use vernacular Bible versions in ministry to speakers Bible versions in ministry to speakers of other languages?of other languages?
Discuss some inherent dangers in the Discuss some inherent dangers in the process of translating and process of translating and distributing the Bible into vernacular distributing the Bible into vernacular languages.languages.
Discuss strategies to overcome these Discuss strategies to overcome these dangers.dangers.
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Seeking Converts in Seeking Converts in “Christian” America“Christian” America
Pastor Daniel Ajayi-Adeniran leads a prayer service at the Chapel of Restoration in the Bronx, NYC, a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which is based in Nigeria. In addition to his spiritual duties, Pastor Ajayi-Adeniran coordinates the church’s missionary activities in North America.
