‘Historic’ moment as Bible translated into 800th language

Wycliffe Bible Translators is celebrating an “historic” milestone as the Bible has now been fully translated into 800 languages.

Less than six years since the Bible had been successfully translated into 700 languages, an estimated 6.2 billion people can now own a complete Bible in their native language. One of the most recent translations is for the Podoko people of north Cameroon, where it is being distributed digitally.

But the agency emphasised that there is still an estimated one-in-five people who cannot access the Bible in their language.

‘God is at work’

Wycliffe’s Executive Director James Poole stated: “This is an extraordinary time for world mission. Over recent decades we have seen remarkable progress, with translation work accelerating in many parts of the world. Communities are receiving the Bible far sooner than would have seemed possible only a generation ago.

“That matters because it means people are gaining access to God’s word in languages they understand deeply and naturally. As churches engage with the Scriptures in their own languages, they are better equipped for evangelism, discipleship and ministry.

“We are witnessing God at work: this is a historic opportunity, and it is a privilege to play a part in what he is doing.”

He added that there “remains a sense of urgency” to press on with the work, saying: “Every language represents people whom God loves. That is why we continue to work with Christians and churches around the world as they seek to make God’s word accessible to their communities.”

500th anniversary

Earlier this year, The Christian Institute released a publication celebrating William Tyndale’s remarkable legacy on the 500th anniversary of his complete translation of the New Testament.

The brief biographical guide, ‘From princes to ploughboys: 500 years of Tyndale’s New Testament’, charts the Bible translator’s early years, education, Protestant convictions, flight into exile, betrayal and death.

Research Associate Dr Nathan Wallace, who co-authored the publication, explained: “In February 1526, the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, all the Epistles, and the book of Revelation, were translated from the original Greek into a complete English language edition for the first time.

“With Tyndale’s translation, the living and active word of God broke forth in power in the English language.”