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
7月13日，由环球圣经公会（Worldwide Bible Society）主办的“第一届环球圣经中文翻译大会”吸引了1500人报名参加。
针对圣经翻译和圣经解释的原则并如何更清楚的宣讲话语，张达民博士，环译本的总主编以及赖建国博士，环译本的旧约主编以讲题《祂所写的你读得懂吗？》以及《你所讲的他听得懂吗？》做了讲座，并在翻译大会上介绍了《环球圣经译本》圣经。
在环球圣经公会圣经《新译本》（1992年）的翻译基础上，《环球圣经译本》翻译完成并在2023年11月献上了奉献礼拜。关于环译本的发起原因，环球圣经公会官网这样介绍：“踏入二十一世纪，互联网的盛行，改变了时代的面貌。各地华人社会在全球互动下，发展迅速；而且借网络社交媒体兴起，文化交流益趋频繁，丰富了中文的词汇和表达方式；并使一些以前恰当的译文用语，随着语言习惯的变迁，变得生僻难懂，甚至产生歧义。如何尽量保留教会熟悉的词汇而推陈出新，并协调两岸四地以至海外华人的语言习惯，就成了对公用中译本的挑战。”
这次的翻译大会上介绍说：“ 从《圣经新译本》的异象到《环球圣经译本》的启动，又是一代40年的时间。”
主持人陈肇兆牧师，环球圣经公会国际总干事介绍说，这次线上的翻译大会，主要通过Zoom以及Youtube直播进行。报名的人中有900多人有服事，其中500多人是牧者或传道，神学院师生或翻译同工；并感恩这么多人都重视翻译圣经以及读经讲经。当天的直播中，Zoom提供普通话翻译。陈肇兆牧师介绍说，以前环球圣经公会也做过很多讲座，但这是第一次有普通话的翻译。
环球圣经公会的国际董事廖亚全、洪振贤为整个大会献上祷告，希望华人教会在翻译圣经上精益求精。他们感恩今年能举办第一届环球圣经公会的圣经中文翻译大会，期待继续将大会做下去。
香港恩福神学院的副院长彭家业博士、加拿大三一大学神学院研究助理教授唐子明博士、香港中国神学研究院教务长张智聪博士、台湾中华福音神学院助理教授凃伟文博士，也受邀进行分享。
第一届环球圣经中文翻译大会在线举行：希望华人教会在翻译圣经上精益求精
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
First Worldwide Chinese Bible Translation Conference Held Online
