[The following excerpt—taken from a future publication, Forging the Sword—offers an explanation of why contributing to the effort to translate and distribute Bibles has been included in the mission of Autumn Light Publications.]
The platform was empty but for a single reading stand, one man, and several high stacks of books—all shapes and sizes of books. An impatient crowd stood before him, a crowd so vast that the faces of those in back blurred into featureless shapes. With ageless grace, the man reached for a volume nearby and began to read. He used no microphone, but the sound of his voice could be clearly heard-even to the back of the cavernous room.
The reader used clear, distinct words, but many of his listeners appeared confused; he watched as they looked about, wondering if anyone understood what he had said. He continued to read. Soon, hundreds of people left—as though in response to his message, they simply set down their belongings and walked out of the room. He paused, then he read a little more; when no one else moved toward the doors, he closed that book and reached for another.
Again and again, the reader repeated this process. Always, many in the sea of people would look confused and seem to strain to understand, while others, sometimes only a few, would suddenly appear to understand and leave the room. As the stacks of books decreased and the crowd of people who were intently listening slowly dwindled, the man began to grow anxious. Soon there were only a handful of books, but still a large crowd of waiting listeners.
As the reader lifted the final book and began to read, he lifted his eyes to heaven—surely now they will all be able to understand, he thought. But as he read, only a few of those remaining began to leave. Eyes of fear looked at him—what about the message for us, they seemed to ask? Is there no Word of Life for us? Tears streaming down his face, the reader scanned the platform, looking—praying—for another book—another language that he might use to impart the Word of Life to those who still had no message in their native tongue.
Finally, in the hush of the cavernous room, the reader gasped, taken by surprise, as a new book appeared in his hand—a new language, one more tongue in which to impart the message. Wiping away his tears he began to read again. A few more of his crowd began to walk away—but not all.
Then the man stood, breathlessly waiting for another miracle, waiting for more translations of the Holy Word, so he could then give the message of Life to the remainder of the world.
The reader continues to wait. The crowd continues to wait. The world continues to wait—for life-giving words in a language that they can understand.
Translations for the World
Centuries ago English-speaking people literally died for the right to have the Bible in their own language—and we have never relinquished that right. Indeed, American homes and bookstores are filled with numerous translations, versions, and types of Bibles—King James Version, New American Standard, New International, Good News, Living Bible, and a host of others. Picture Bibles, Children’s Bibles, Youth Bibles, Bibles directed at Women, Bibles directed at Men—and the list goes on. Comic book Bibles, Audio Bibles, Computer Bibles—indeed English-speaking people have access to a veritable mountain of Bibles. But, the rest of the world is not so fortunate.
It is estimated that the world is home to about 6 billion people at this time; it is estimated that those 6 billion people make use of about 6,000 distinct languages. Realizing the ease with which English-speaking people can reach for a Bible in our language, it is hard to fathom the fact that about two-thirds of the world’s population has no scripture—not even a few pages-in their native tongue.
Statistics posted on the website of some of the world’s most prominent Bible translators tell us that the entire Bible is available in barely 400 languages; the New Testament is available in a little over 1000 more. Some small portions of the scripture (individual books or passages) have been translated into about 900 additional languages. Thus, there is no Bible, or even portion of a Bible, available in more than half of the world’s languages.
Organizations like Wycliffe Bible Translators, Lutheran Bible Translators, Pioneer Bible Translators, Evangel Bible Translators, Baptist Bible Translators Institute, and Word for the World Bible Translators work tirelessly to bring the Bible to the world’s people in their native tongue. Bible Societies across the globe do everything in their power to publish Bibles at minimum cost and distribute them to the world. Still, billions of souls hunger for God’s Written Word.
