Bible translation Archives - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

What Does a Bible Translator Do When. . .

A group of men in Chad work on a Bible translation project

Bible translation is rarely about simply replacing one word with another. Bible translators share some of their trickiest challenges and how they overcame them.

Jan 29 2020

The journey of a TEAM Bible translator begins long before the first word of Scripture is written down. It includes undergoing extensive training, cultivating cultural sensitivity and navigating the possibilities of a difficult climate or an unfriendly reception. And once the translation work begins, each language project has unique challenges all along the way. For example … … After 10 long years, still searching for just the right word for “hope.” … Discovering two very different words for “God.” … Realizing that your recommendations as translation consultants don’t go over too well with the translation team. So, what’s a Bible…

Simson led the Bible translation team for the Hatam Bible. Here he sits at his desk.

Simson was desperate for a Hatam-language Bible. But he never imagined he would join — and ultimately lead — the Bible translation team that made it happen.

Jan 13 2020

Imagine this: You’re on an island, and you can only keep a few Bible verses. The rest will be wiped from your memory. Which verses do you choose? Give it just a little thought, and the question quickly becomes complicated. You could use up all the verses on explaining Gospel. But what about God’s character? What pleases God? How does He think of you? How should you relate to others in light of Christ? Even if you had years to choose, you would agonize over what you were missing. But you might understand a little of what Simson Dowansiba felt….

This month, we're focusing our prayers on translation ministries around the world. Learn what goes into Bible translation and how you can pray!

Jan 02 2020

Chaow sat on the bus and flipped the book over and over in his hands. It was such a small book. Yet it represented years of hard work for lots of people. And now, it was finally ready. The book was the first translation of the book of Matthew into a language used by a very influential Buddhist people group. And the bus Chaow was on was headed to a monastery to distribute it. Chaow had been a monk himself once, so he had some idea of how the people would react. But this didn’t stop him from walking up…

God gives us special gifts for a reason. So how can He use someone with a love of languages?

Mar 20 2019

Jaya was the daughter of a pastor. She went to a Christian high school. She’d grown up reading the Scriptures — and yet, she didn’t know what most Scripture meant. Because there were no clear Bible passages printed in Jaya’s mother tongue. So when she read the Scriptures, she only understood a fraction of what was written. Jaya needed Bible translators. Jaya needed Grace and Keith McCune. Made for Bible Translation Jaya’s predicament is one that tugs at the heartstrings of Grace and Keith. As TEAM missionaries in the Philippines, they help translate Scripture into heart languages throughout Asia. “The…

Tag - Bible translation

What Does a Bible Translator Do When. . .

On an Island Without the Bible

A Former Monk and a Miracle Book [January Prayer Focus]

‘If He Made Us to be a Nose, He Wants Us to Sniff’