‘Historic’ year for Bible translation as 118 Bibles and New Testaments launched

The past year has shown “historic” growth in Bible translation, with 23 Bibles and 95 New Testaments released since September 2024.

Wycliffe Bible Translators’ annual State of the Bible report, released on United Nations’ International Translation Day (30 September), revealed the “extraordinary progress” made.

Last year, 985 languages were identified as having no parts of the Bible translated despite being suitable for work to begin. Just 12 months later, this number has fallen by 44 per cent to 550. In 2021, it was 1,892.

Breaking barriers

James Poole, Executive Director of Wycliffe, wrote in the report: “For centuries, billions of people have lived without a single verse of the Bible in their language. The absence of God’s word in people’s own languages is one of the greatest barriers to the good news reaching all people. But that story is changing.”

“Progress is happening at a pace and scale not witnessed before, and whole communities are beginning to receive the Scriptures far sooner than we could once have imagined.”

Poole added: “What a privilege it is to see this happening in our lifetime.”

‘Transformative’

The report includes testimonies of those who have been impacted by having the word of God in their own language.

In March, the Bakweri New Testament in the Mokpe language was released in Cameroon. Princess Lynn said: ‘The New Testament in Mokpe is more than a translation; it is a powerful symbol of our identity, culture, and faith. It embodies the hopes and dreams of our community, and we firmly believe it will be a transformative tool for spiritual growth, healing, and empowerment.”

The Shang community in Nigeria now have 22 Bible stories in their language. Naomi, a Shang Christian, explained: “Understanding God’s word in another language is very difficult for us. But when the translation was done in our language, we found out that the message is clear.”

A full translation of the Bible was launched in June for the Nobonob people in Papua New Guinea. Translator Ulys stated that “it was done so the Nobonob people, and others who can read it, get its meaning and follow it. God’s word is not for us to see casually. No, it’s to give us guidance.”