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Latest
Bible Translation statistics released
The
United Bible Societies have released updated figures for the
availability of the Bible around the world.
There
are an estimated 6,912 living world languages. Each year the United
Bible Societies record the first publication of Scriptures in a new
language, based on deposits in libraries in America, Brazil and England.
During
2007, nine Bibles were published bringing the total number of
languages that now have a complete Bible to 438.
This
is some way short of the task of completing all the Bible
translation projects that have been begun. The number of different
languages and dialects in which publication of at least one book of
the Bible had been registered as of December 31, 2007 Bibles was
2,454. Of these, 1,168 languages have a compete New Testament but no
Old Testament. A further 848 languages have at least a single Bible.
 The
long-term nature of the task is illustrated by a Bible translation
that was financially supported by the Bible Society in Northern
Ireland - the Tzeltal de Bachajón-Spanish Bible in Ocosingo,
Chiapas, Mexico. The Mexican man who is pictured proudly holding his
copy of the Bible that has just been dedicated was a child when the
New Testament was launched.
Many
factors may delay Bible translation work: - availability of
translators, funding, civil unrest etc, but the task remains as
urgent as ever to bring God's Word to every language.
Further
information and analysis of the above figures may be obtained by
contacting Bible House in Belfast.
17
March 2008 |