Celebrating the Publication of the World's Most Translated Bible

In ancient times, Jews and God-fearing Gentiles gathered annually on the island of Faros in the Mediterranean Sea to give thanks for the availability of the Bible in a language they understood. So wrote Philo, the famous Jewish historian from Alexandria who lived in the first century AD. The Bible in question was the Septuagint, the Greek Bible translated from the Hebrew.

The overseas Jews, in the regions around the Mediterranean, no longer understood Hebrew and had adopted Greek, both in daily speech and in written communication. The reading of the Bible in Jewish synagogues was done in Hebrew, but translated orally by a turgeman (band. kata “translate”) for the congregation to understand. The translation was initially done in Aramaic, as we read in Nehemiah 8:8 BIMK (in the Neh. 8:9 TB Bible), but later also in Greek.

It is no wonder that the Greek translation of the Bible was greeted with great fanfare, as God's people could now read and hear God's Word in a language they understood. The Septuagint Bible, according to legend, was translated at the behest of King Ptolomeus II in the third century BC to enrich the library of ancient Alexandria. Seventy translators were isolated for 70 days, each in his own room, unable to communicate with each other. After 70 days they were allowed out because they had all completed the entire Hebrew Bible, the books of the Old Testament, and it turned out that all the translations were exactly the same. This was proof, the legend says, that their work was inspired by God. The Septuagint Bible became the Bible of the first Christians. They preferred it to the Hebrew Bible. And the books of the New Testament, written in the second half of the first century in Greek, often quote Old Testament passages not from the Hebrew Bible but from the Septuagint. 

Since those ancient translation efforts, the Bible has been translated into many of the world's languages. As Christianity spread, the Bible was translated into Syriac, Coptic, Latin, Armenian, Arabic and European languages. One of the most famous and influential translations of the Bible is the Vulgate, a Latin translation by Hieronymus (331-420 AD). For centuries it was accepted in Catholic circles as the only authentic version and this was only changed in 1943 by Pope Pius XII.

Such was Hieronymus' influence that the International Federation of Translators annually commemorates International Translation Day on 30 September, the feast day of Saint Hieronymus. When in past centuries there were great missionary movements, the Gospel spread to all corners of the earth and the Bible was translated into many languages. Today the Bible has been translated into over 2400 languages around the world.

Specifically for the LAI family, the LAI Executive Board at that time designated November 1975 as the Day of Prayer for Biblical Thanksgiving because the New Translation of the Bible with the Improved Indonesian Spelling (EYD) had been published and was shared by all Christians in Indonesia, both Protestant and Catholic. 

In the brochure written by LAI for the commemoration of the 1975 Day of Thanksgiving Prayer, it states: God's great mercy and grace have made the printing of the New Translation of the Bible possible, God's wisdom and power have fuelled the translation effort and all the work in preparing and publishing it. 

 

With the publication of the New Translation of the Bible with the new spelling (EYD), the Indonesian Bible Institute invites churches throughout the country to hold a Special Service and offer prayers of thanksgiving to God for His great grace. In connection with this intention, the LAI distributed to its churches and congregations about one million selections with the request that they also participate in the ministry of the LAI by giving a collection or a personal offering at the service. 

The results turned out to be very encouraging, not because of the large amount of donations received, but from the names of the donors/churches that sent their support, it turned out that the awareness of the importance of the work of spreading the Word of God had begun to blossom in the hearts of some Christians, both in the big churches in the city and down to the congregations –miksin congregations in the villages.

On the occasion of the first Day of Prayer for Thanksgiving, the General Secretary of LAI (Rev. W.J. Rumambi at the time) went on radio and television to explain the New Spelling Bible to the public. This was very important to prevent any misconception among the public that this translation changed the content of the Bible. The truth is that it does not change the content in the slightest. The Word of God is translated from its original languages (i.e. the OT in Hebrew and the NT in Greek) into simpler and more understandable Indonesian.

The Day of Biblical Prayer, which originally took place in October, was adjusted in 1977 to coincide with the Catholics' National Scripture Month in September (following a tradition begun on the island of Faros), becoming a cross-church, cross-denominational and interconfessional celebration. Continuing the tradition begun on Faros centuries ago and in honour of the publication of the New Translation of the Bible used by all Churches in Indonesia, the Indonesian Bible Institute (LAI) organised a thanksgiving service to commemorate the Day of Prayer for the Bible, in thanksgiving for the availability of the Bible in a language we understand.

New Translation of the Bible 2nd Edition

Half a century has passed since the New Translation (TB) Bible was published as the first Indonesian language Bible in Indonesia. During that time it has accompanied Indonesian Christians in worship and in personal Bible reading. The TB Bible is the world's first ecumenical translation, the tangible fruit of the co-operation of the LAI translation team and the Catholic Scripture translation team under the auspices of the Indonesian Supreme Council of Bishops. The translation that was once called new has gradually become "old". There are many words used that have become difficult for the current generation of Bible readers to understand. Continuing the joint inter-church and inter-institutional work of the past, the renewal of the TB Bible was carried out by looking at the development of the contemporary Indonesian language, research into ancient manuscripts of the Bible, studies on the meaning of the text and various fields of science that support Bible translation (such as linguistics, archaeology and cross-cultural studies).

Ahead of the completion of the translation update, LAI and its partner Lembaga Biblika Indonesia (LBI) sought input from churches, theological education institutions and various Bible users through a series of consultations and discussions including six regional consultations (2016-2017) and on 7-9 February 2018 held a National Consultation on TB Bible Renewal at Kinasih Resort, Bogor attended by leaders of national church institutions, bishops, leaders of church synods from various denominations. Input from these consultations was re-worked by the team and prepared until it was published as the Bible.

Finally, with the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, on 9 February 2023, the LAI and its partners: the churches of Indonesia launched the New Translation of the Bible, 2nd edition (TB-2), which is the common Bible of all people, Christian and Catholic, throughout the archipelago. 

The Bible that is present in our midst is not only “mere ” writing, more than that, it is able to bring people to experience spiritual transformation. As an appreciation of this, in 2023 LAI carries the “ Ministry Theme “ Divine Word Powerful to Renew ” (cf. Isaiah 55:10-11, TB). Through this theme, LAI invites partners to celebrate the presence of the Bible in the archipelago through the Month of Biblical Prayer (BDA) programme.

As one of the tangible manifestations of partnership, LAI would like to invite Synod/Church/Bishopric leaders to celebrate BDA with the theme of LAI's ministry. We propose to have at least 1 (one) public worship service in September 2023, and have an offering bag earmarked specifically to support the BDA. The same is also expected in Sunday School and Youth Services, with a savings piggy bank collected during the month of September.

In 2023, the support collected through the BDA programme will be used to procure TB-2 Bibles for servants of God in remote areas. Let's work together in ministry, supporting the spread of the Good News, so that everyone in remote areas feels the greeting of God's Word in a more understandable language. As a form of support for organising the Month of Prayer Bible Service, we will attach 2 bundles of worship guides, namely: Sunday Worship Order; and Children's and Youth Worship Guide.

As part of our shared commitment to support the translation of the Bible into local languages and its dissemination, we urge congregations to provide an offering bag. The 2022 BDA will be earmarked for the renewal of Bible translations into the local language of Nias, North Sumatra.

The offering can be sent to the LAI account number:

• BCA Account No. : 3423016261; In the Name of : JAYASAN LEMBAGA ALKITAB INDONESIA
• BNI Account No. : 0010534054; On behalf of : YAYASAN LEMBAGA ALKITAB INDONESIA
• BANK MANDIRI Account No. : 1190080000126; On behalf of : YAYASAN LEMBAGA ALKITAB INDONESIA
• BRI Account No. : 033501000281304; In the Name of : JAYASAN LEMBAGA ALKITAB INDONESIA

LAI gratefully acknowledges the support of churches, institutions, and Christians throughout Indonesia that enable LAI to carry out its vision and mission of making the Bible available to all. God bless us all.

LAI would like to thank you for your support.

Watch Bible Prayer Month 2023 here