Efforts to translate the Bible into all the languages of the world accelerated during the pandemic. The Bible has been fully translated into 717 languages. The number represents a tenth of the world’s languages, but it is an increase of 13 languages compared to the previous year.
One new translation was launched every week during the pandemic, transmitted Wycliffe Bible Translators.
“There are so many people rejoicing because for the first time in history they’ve been able to hear what God is saying to them in their own language,” declared James Poole, Executive Director of the interdenominational organization. He said Christian communities have grown this year.
At the launch of the Tafi, Logba, and Nyagbo versions of the New Testament, one recipient said: “Without the word, it seemed as though God was so far away. Now we can say Jesus is no longer a foreigner, he is no longer a stranger, He is one of us and he speaks our language”.
Wycliffe hopes that in the next 10-15 years 95 per cent of the world’s population will have the Bible, that 99.95 per cent will have a New Testament and everyone will have access to at least some portion of Scripture.
Relevant statistics
- 7,135 languages have been recognised by the International Organization for Standardization;
- 243 sign languages are not yet recognized;
- 1,582 languages have a complete version of the New Testament (31 more than last year);
- other 1,196 languages have only portions of the Bible;
- 1,5 billion people (one in five) do not have a full version of the Bible translated into their native language;
- 145 million people have no access to any part of the Bible translated into their native language.
Foto credit: Arhiva Basilica.ro
