Our missionary friend showed us a video produced by an organization that promotes Bible translation. The subject of the video was a translator who went to a foreign land and translated the Bible into the native tongue. What a precious ministry!
There were many hardships that had to be overcome. The missions station was very rural. There were no Westerners who spoke the language—the translator had to learn from scratch. The language was not penned in any form so a system of writing had to be imagined, developed, and taught. Then the Bible had to be translated, written, and printed for use. All this took many years.
A question: is this ministry worth half of your lifetime?
Consider the fact that such a work would involve becoming proficient in Hebrew and Greek, equipping for ministry as a pastor, preparation to travel around the globe, leaving behind what is familiar and comfortable, learning a new language, and laboring to translate and teach the Scriptures in an unfamiliar society. This work would perhaps take half of your lifetime. Is it worth that investment?
I believe that the biblical answer is a resounding, “Yes!” Such work would require many deprivations and sacrifices in the temporal sense, but would sow the seeds that bear eternal, spiritual crops to the glory of God. I believe that there are at least three facts that make Bible translation worth the investment of your life.
First, translators are missionaries. They do not just sit around, trying to pick up phrases while munching local grub. They have the opportunity to preach the gospel as soon as the language is learned. Who better could help with Bible translation than converted locals? The years of learning and writing a language can be fruitful years as translators work alongside their chosen people group. Producing a translation of the Bible is a wonderful ‘side effect’ and bonus to being able to preach the gospel to those who have not heard.
Second, the Word of God is exceedingly precious to souls. “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; … making wise the simple, …rejoicing the heart, …enlightening the eyes” (Ps. 19:7-8). It is for these reasons that the judgments of God “are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold” (Ps. 19:10). The Word is a storehouse of treasure for the sinner, because in it is the knowledge of the one Savior, the God-man, Jesus Christ. To bring the Scriptures to a people for the first time in their own language is to unleash rivers of refreshing, beautiful, glorious truth!
Third, the Word is precious because in the sovereign plan of God, the Word is the means by which sinners are reborn (1 Peter 1:23, James 1:18). Paul said that the Thessalonians believed and received the Word of God as the Word of God, which performs its work in those who believe (1 Thes. 2:13). In this way, it is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). When you bring the Word of God to sinners, you bring a powerful weapon of light against the kingdom of darkness because where the Word of God spreads, the Kingdom of God spreads. What other end could be better to pursue than to spread “the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15, James 1:21)? Salvation through Christ glorifies God (Romans 15:5-9).
For these three reasons, Bible translation is worth your life’s contribution to the cause of Christ. Being a Bible translator is only one option among the many ways you can serve His Kingdom. However, there is special joy in pressing into a person’s hands the first copy of the Bible in their own language, and throwing open the gates of the revelation of Christ.
Happy would be the Christian whose life was spent on this.
--Dean of Admissions
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