On July 13, the "First Worldwide Chinese Bible Translation Conference" attracted 1,500 registrants online.
At the conference hosted by the Hong Kong-based Worldwide Bible Society (WBS), a Bible translation and training ministry who has produced "the first ever Chinese Bible translated by the Chinese themselves from the original biblical languages," Dr. Alex T. M. Cheung, chief editor of the Worldwide Chinese Bible, and Dr. Chien-Kuo Lai, Old Testament editor of the same edition, gave lectures titled "Can You Understand What He Wrote?" and "Can They Understand What You Say?" respectively. They addressed principles of Bible translation and interpretation and how to communicate the word of God more clearly, introducing the Worldwide Chinese Bible at the conference.
The Worldwide Chinese Bible was completed and dedicated in November 2023, building on the translation foundation of WBS's "Chinese New Version" (1992). The official website explains the rationale for initiating the Worldwide Chinese Bible: "Entering the 21st century, the prevalence of the internet has changed the face of the times. Chinese communities around the world have rapidly developed through global interactions; moreover, the rise of social media has increased cultural exchanges, enriching Chinese vocabulary and expressions, and making some previously appropriate translation terms obsolete, obscure, or even ambiguous with changing language habits. How to retain churchy words while innovating and coordinating language habits across the four regions of China and overseas Chinese communities has become a challenge for a common Chinese translation of the Bible."
The conference introduced, 'it spans another 40 years from determining the vision of the Chinese New Version to initiating the Worldwide Chinese Bible."
Rev. Dr. David Chan, international director of WBS, introduced that this online translation conference was mainly conducted through Zoom and YouTube live streaming. Among the registrants, more than 900 were in ministry, including over 500 pastors or ministers, seminary faculty and students, or translators. He expressed gratitude that so many people are committed to Bible translation, reading, and teaching. On the day of the live broadcast, Mandarin translation was provided in the Zoom meeting conducted in Cantonese. Reverend Chan mentioned that WBS had held many seminars before, but this was the first time with a Mandarin translation.
Two members of the WBS international board of directors, Ah-Chuen Liu and Elder Jack Hong, prayed that the Chinese church will strive for excellence in Bible translation, expressing gratitude for the first Worldwide Chinese Bible Translation Conference, with hopes of continuing the conference in the future.
Rev. Dr. Philip Pang, vice president of Hong Kong's Yan Fook Theological Seminary, Clement Tsz Ming Tong, assistant professor at ACTS Seminary of Trinity Western University in Canada, Dr. Simon Cheung, Dean of China Graduate School of Theology in Hong Kong, and Dr. Daniel Wei-Wen Tu, assistant professor at China Evangelical Seminary in Taipei, were also invited to share their insights.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
