The technological breakthrough of the printing press paved the way for the King James Bible to be distributed in a timeframe never imagined before. Technology is still playing a critical role today by dramatically accelerating the rate at which the Bible can be translated for the more than 340 million people living without God’s Word.
Wycliffe Bible Translators pioneered the Bible translation movement among unreached people groups internationally by sending missionaries to live with them, learn their heart language and help provide an understandable and accurate translation of Scriptures.
Realizing it would take multiple generations to reach the last languages, the Seed Company was launched in 1993 to develop innovative methods to accelerate Bible translation. Since its founding, it has become the fastest-growing Bible translation organization in the world, impacting more than 700 languages.
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“The Seed Company has a unique focus to achieve Bible translation with as much local leadership as available,” says Randall Lemley, vice president of information technology. “Due to new technology and rising levels of education, local people who know the language and culture are able to do translation. And we are able to bring in the tools and expertise to help them.”
The translation of Scripture is accomplished through a rigorous six-step process. A first draft is developed after careful analysis of what the passage says. Then a team check is performed to make sure it is clear and accurate.
The draft is checked within the community to make sure it sounds natural and clearly communicates its intent. The quality of the draft is tested by making a literal “back translation” into English or another major language.
Professional consultants check it for faithfulness to original languages and a final draft is carefully proofread.
Prior to satellite technology and computers, a translator typically spent no more than a month in a town or village working with locals. This was stressful and many times dangerous as the translator traveled to a remote location and spent an extended time away from family. It may have taken a full day to reach the nearest town with phone access. And during the time between a translator’s visits, little progress was made.
Now with a satellite transceiver and a solar-powered laptop, a translator can work in a remote area during the day and overnight a consultant in the U.S. can access the work and provide feedback and answer questions. When the translator wakes up the next morning, there is a response. “It makes a huge difference when they know they can get an answer in a day or two days,” says Lemley, “rather than months.”
It also raises the relevance of the translation and brings a new level of community involvement. Villagers feel it is God’s work and help recruit members of the community to work with translators.
There are cases where the person doing the translation knows the language well but is not a Christian. Translation has become a life-changing experience as God touches hearts during the process and they decide to become followers of Christ.
Through the use of the internet and a public network, translators can store files on a server. Consultants can access that server and view a translator’s computer screen, so edits can be made to accelerate the speed of the project and ensure its accuracy.
Crowd-sourcing is an area the Seed Company is looking at with great interest, says Lemley. Instead of a dedicated team, translation can be opened broadly to language communities and a large number of people can participate. While translation is taking place, the impact of Scripture is much broadened and lives are changed.
While the Bible for most people is printed and leather-bound, in many parts of the world the ability to distribute Christian materials and Bibles offers huge challenges and danger.
With mobile technology, the Bible in digital format is becoming available to anyone with a laptop or cell phone and can be accessed and read the same as a printed Bible.
In some cultures, information and valuable traditions are passed on orally rather than being recorded in writing. Bible translators are using the medium of story-telling, called storying, to introduce and spread God’s Word.
The Seed Company partners with many organizations. It works with the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board in multiple locations to bring Scripture to unreached peoples. IMB missonaries coordinate logistics and inigenous staffing to initiate translation projects and for churches to be planted in some of the most difficult places on earth.
The Seed Company’s Blank Bible Challenge promotes Bible literacy within the states while unleashing the power of Scripture in language communities without God’s Word.
More than 2,200 people groups don’t have even one verse of Scripture in a language they understand. Through its One Verse program, sponsorships provide resources for national translators to translate one verse of Scripture into their own language. More information is available at www.theseedcompany.org.
The last thing on Jesus’ heart before departing earth was revealed when he instructed his disciples to, “Go, tell. Tell the world the Good News of what I did for them” (Mark 16:15, paraphrased). Yet today, still nearly one-third of the world’s language groups are waiting for God’s Word in a language they can understand.
And technology is playing an integral part in enabling Scripture to be prepared so every person in every corner of the world can one day have the Word of God in their hearts and hands.