The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: Lausanne Global Analysis
Date: 08.07.2011
Category: Scripture Engagement
Many of the salient points of the Cape Town Commitment are difficult to measure tangibly: love, faithful witness, and discipleship, among others. Helpful indicators of actual progress for some of the topics referenced, however, are much easier to pinpoint. One of those is Bible translation. The Cape Town Commitment discusses Bible translation under the heading “unreached and unengaged peoples” as one of the many challenges facing eradicating “Bible poverty” in the world. The Commitment states that the church must “hasten the translation of the Bible into the languages of people who do not yet have any portion of God’s Word in their mother tongue” and includes a statement regarding making the Bible widely available orally. Defining the progress of Bible translation might seem on the surface like a relatively simple undertaking, considering the plethora of resources made available by numerous organizations who have a similar heart for the task. However, it is challenging because of the nature of that task: defining and tracking progress across 7,000+ languages can be burdensome. For example, the databases of the American Bible Society, the United Bible Societies, and Wycliffe Bible Translators contain many languages listed by different names, making it next to impossible to clearly define the progress of Bible translation in those languages.[1]
Bible translation is typically measured in three ways: availability of full Bibles, New Testaments, or portions (normally the gospels, but can be any published book of the Bible). It is important to view translation deficiencies through these three lenses in order to gain a more accurate depiction of the situation. Additionally, the size of the world’s languages must also be taken into consideration. There are approximately 7,000 languages worldwide, but they obviously do not all have an equal number of speakers. Therefore, language percentages indicating either translation progress or deficiency have to be examined in context. Another factor to give attention to is how Scripture reaches people: (1) in a mother tongue; (2) in a near language or cluster language (where no mother-tongue translation exists); (3) in an intercultural language (or lingua franca); or (4) in any given second language.[2]
Ninety percent of people worldwide have at least a portion of Scripture available in their mother tongue. However, these texts are not widely distributed, so many have never even seen one (such as in Yemen, where distribution is so low only one in ten have access to a mother-tongue portion).[3] Most of the work remaining in Scripture translation is in full Bibles. Only 8.2% of languages in Asia, for example, have a complete Bible translation, though the percentage is much higher for New Testaments and portions. It should be noted, however, that Asia is the continent with the most languages (2,107; Africa is second with 2,075). The complete Scriptures are least available to people in North Africa and Western Asia. In Melanesia, where there are 1,054 distinct languages (many of which are mother-tongue for only a small number of people), only 4.4% of them have a full Bible translation, the lowest regional percentage. The highest availability to full Bibles is in North America, Latin America, and Europe, where there are fewer mother-tongue languages, and more speakers of some of the largest languages (Spanish, English, Portuguese).
There are 4,723 languages in the world that currently have no Scripture translation available whatsoever; this accounts for 64.7% of languages (not individuals) worldwide. In addition, only 6.3% of languages have translations of the complete Bible.[4] On the surface this looks daunting, but a closer look reveals that the world’s largest languages have full Bible translations available (see graphic below), resulting in billions of people with linguistic access to the Scriptures. The 2,393 remaining languages with no full Bible translation represent “only” 200 million people; still a large number, but in perspective seemingly manageable. Many of the mid-sized languages in the graphic below have full translations in progress, but lack distribution methods and literacy programs for these efforts to be effective.[5]
Figure: Largest languages by translation category
Although there is still much work to be done in terms of Bible translation, the real issue is that of distribution. Distribution often comes in three forms: commercial (by secular or religious retailers at commercial prices), subsidized (by Bible societies selling at subsidized prices), and free (by organizations such as The Gideons). While true that most people in the world have access to at least a portion of the Scriptures, over 200 million people have no access whatsoever; these people primarily live in Northern Africa and Western Asia.[6] The reality is that printed words are only useful to those able to read them; therefore, literacy programs ought to go hand-in-hand with Bible translation projects. A significant phenomenon in this area, however, is that of digital distribution of Scripture. Digital delivery through the Internet and via cell phones/smart phones (such as in extremely remote places in Africa) is skyrocketing. It is the most dramatic thing happening today in Scripture distribution. A staggering example is the YouVersion Bible application, which hit 10.7 million users in November 2010 from its launch for mobile phones in 2008 by LifeChurch.tv. It is one of the world’s most popular apps; every 2.8 seconds someone installs the app, and in the same time period 12 other people are using it to read the Bible.[7] Other organizations involved in this work include the International Orality Network[8] and Faith Comes by Hearing.[9]
Bible translation organizations are teaming up together to tackle the task of translating the Bible into every language. The Forum of Bible Agencies International (FOBAI) brings together more than 25 Bible agencies throughout the world, “working together to maximize the worldwide access and impact of God’s Word.”[10] The 2010 Annual Report for the SEED Company—an organization with a vision for speeding up the process of Bible translation and distribution—mentions partnerships with SIL International, Pioneer Bible Translators, Word for the World, Wycliffe Associates, and New Tribes Mission, among others, each targeting a specific challenge facing Bible translation and distribution.[11] In 2010 the organization entered their 600th language partnership.[12] The SEED Company’s Vision 2025 aims to start a Bible translation for every language group with a need by 2025,[13] and FOBAI has a similar goal slated for 2050.[14] Both of these organizations highlight the need for—and great success of—collaboration with local churches and believers to develop programs focused on these translation goals. Intra-Christian cooperation is a key element in hastening the translation of the Bible and eliminate “Bible poverty” in the twenty-first century.
This article is a part of a pilot version of the Lausanne Global Analysis. A planning team has begun working on the production of the new Lausanne Global Analysis. The Analysis will provide multi-lingual analysis of issues facing the church and wordwide evangelization from a global network of regional leaders, researchers and writers. The launch as a monthly publication is tentatively scheduled for April 2012. (Learn more)
[1]. Todd M. Johnson and Kenneth R. Ross, Atlas of Global Christianity (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2009), 300. The American Bible Society, the United Bible Societies, and Wycliffe Bible Translators are all members of the Forum of Bible Agencies International. By agreement of the Forum agencies, they look to Wycliffe and SIL to be the keepers of the number of languages worldwide. In turn, UBS is designated as the authority on the number of translations finished. As of June 2, 2011, the SIL database records that of the world’s 6,863 languages, 2,013 have active language development; 729 have adequate Scripture; 2,025 have “likely needs;” 1,600 have “unlikely needs;” and 493 have “unknown need.”
[7]. Michelle A. Vu, “LifeChurch.tv: YouVersion Bible App Users Grow to 10.7 Million,” The Christian Post, November 17, 2010, accessed June 5, 2011, http://www.christianpost.com/news/lifechurchtv-youversion-bible-app-users-grow-to-107-million-47672/.
[8]. See http://www.oralbible.com/home/.
[9]. In April 2011, Faith Comes by Hearing developed an Arabic version of their popular Bible app, Bible.is. The organization plans on making this app available in the top 20 most spoken languages in the world. See http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/bibleis-app-expands-global-gospel-outreach-english-spanish-arabic.
[10]. Forum of Bible Agencies International, “Mission & Vision,” accessed May 7, 2011, http://www.forum-intl.org/about_ifoba/default.aspx?id=157.
[11]. SEED Company 2010 Annual Report, http://www.theseedcompany.org/cc/annual-report/2010/Annual-Report-2010.pdf. The SEED website lists at least twenty partnering organizations (See http://www.theseedcompany.org/organizational-partners.)
[12]. SEED Company, http://www.theseedcompany.org/about
[13]. “Words from Roy Peterson – Winter 2010,” http://www.theseedcompany.org/wordsfromroypeterson-winter-2010.
[14]. Forum of Bible Agencies International, “Scripture Partnership Goals: Statement of Intent.” April 2008. http://www.forum-intl.org/uploadedFiles/about_ifoba/Scripture%20Partnership%20Goals.pdf.
Keywords: Global Analysis, Scripture, Translation, Bible Translation, UPGs
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Comments: 26
Recommendations: 0
Conversation Post Comment
United States
Having the Word is a first step in knowing the Word. Having the Bible in your native language has to make a difference. Now if those with the means to make it available would become engaged in this most worthy project.
10.12.2012
United States
What an exciting and informative report!! God’s Word is going forth in print and the tasks of continued translations and distribution continue in a forthright manner. To God be the glory; great things He continues to do through His children!!
09.07.2011
United States
@ WordTruth:
Amen. God continues to perform miraculous deeds to overcome our human shortcomings.
08.12.2012
United States
If we are to do the work of the Great Commission according to Matthew 28:16-20, translating the bible is one way of doing this work of the Great Commission. Translating may or may not be easy, but is a way of getting out God’s word. Translating the scripture and getting them in the hands of different people that speak a different language is a worthy task indeed. This work should never stop.
11.07.2011
United States
@ Rapture7:
I agree with you Rachel. I also agree with Lady T that it is wonderful that the Bible is being translated but we do need to get it to the people. Several organizations are distruting via balloons or solar powered recordings.
19.07.2011
United States
@ Rapture7:
Rapture7:
There is still a lot of work to be done related to translation. Do you think that a lot of people in our country (USA) take having a bible for granted?
29.04.2012
United States
@ MzBoom:
MzBoom:
How does using ballons and solar power get the bible to people?
29.04.2012
United States
@ Rapture7:
That is an excellent reference to the biblical Great Commission. You are absolutely correct.
08.12.2012
United States
@ winner:
People in South Korea launched balloons filled with Bibles and allowed a weather system to blow the balloons into North Korea.
08.12.2012
United States
I think it is wonderful and progress is being made tremendously in fulfilling the Great Commission, seeing that the word is translated to reach the masses. However distribution is key! we need more distributors to invest, there must be a collaboration between the two-making the word available and making sure it reaches those in need. There is still room for improvement and gives much meaning to lets get the word out.
14.07.2011
United States
@ ladyT:
It does take money to help with the distribution. Many that have the money to invest, do not think it is worth their money. I hope the ones that are financially able, take the time to donate to this effort of distributing and translating of bibles.
Rachel
15.07.2011
United States
@ ladyT:
Another point is having the people willing to be commited to translating and distributing to places that don’t even allow the Word in their country. Gospel of Asia and Voice of the Martyr spoonsor Bible ballons that drop the Word into places like North Korea. some people with ride a bike or walk many miles to bring bibles to villages.
15.07.2011
United States
@ ladyT:
ladyT:
It is great to learn about the progress being made in bible translation. Do you think that we take for granted having a bible in the USA?
29.04.2012
United States
@ ladyT:
You are exactly right. Distributors are very important in this process.
08.12.2012
United States
Eradicating bible poverty is so important to our world today. I pray for the individuals and agencies that are working to get bible translations in the hands of people throughout the world. Amid the difficulties of translation in people languages, I was surprised to learn of the difficulties of distribution. Thanks be to God for the faithful who are working to get the gospel message to all of God’s children. Father, we pray for bible translations to get into the hands of your people and lives transformed and we pray for the distribution of your word by all means of transportation. In your name let avenues become available and strength to those who are making sacrifrices in such and endeavor. May your name be always blessed as blinded eyes and deaf ears receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.
14.07.2011
United States
@ triedstone1009:
Reggie, this is a beautiful prayer and may God answer your prayers in the ways he sees best. Thank God people are trying to translate the bible. This is admirable by itself.
Rachel
15.07.2011
United States
@ triedstone1009:
I am praying in agreement with you Reggie, Amen! So many people are taking many risks to get the Bible to unreachable places. Some by balloons, some by solar powered audio radios in the language of that country. Praise God for these faithful people.
15.07.2011
United States
@ triedstone1009:
triedstone1009:
Thank you, prayer changes things. I learned a new concept "bible poverty". Do you think we take for granted having a bible in the USA?
29.04.2012
United States
@ triedstone1009:
This is a wonderful, powerful prayer. God bless you.
08.12.2012
United States
@ MzBoom:
I read the story about the balloons being sent into North Korea. What a wonderful idea and opportunity to step out on faith!
08.12.2012
United States
@ winner:
Most certainly. Christians in America can so readily become complacent and take for granted the accessibility of God’s Word here.
08.12.2012
United States
the article is enlightening and intelligent and shows us that despite all the technology we have today, it is still important that there are people willing to sacrifice themselves for the great commission. Without these heroes of faith, the word will not reach the unreached. Who has the guts to go? Ah, that is another matter.
05.12.2012
United States
@ brother_edward:
You bring up a great point brother_edward. When the translations are complete, we have to have courageous folk willing to sacrifice and go wherever needed to distribute this Holy Word.
08.12.2012
United States
This article is an excellent reminder why looking behind the statistics is so important. At first glance, it would seem a large majority of the world doesn’t have access to the Bible based on the high % of languages that don’t have a translation. Yet, most of the major languages do, so a vast majority of people do end up having access.
08.12.2012
United States
It is amazing to me that there are so many people in Asia who do not have access to a full translation of the Bible in their mother tongue. I’m sure there are a number of reasons why, but this is something we as the Church need to put forth our best effort in addressing. This article is a wonderful first step.
08.12.2012
United States
Thank you. IN Russia, where I am from, we have:
Ethnic groups: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1%
09.07.2011
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