The TBS Arabic Bible Solely by Muslims, but by All Arabic Speak- for Many Years the Society Published Ers, Whether Followers of Islam Or Not
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QR601-Cover_QR601 11/10/2012 10:47 Page 1 QR601-Cover_QR601 11/10/2012 10:47 Page 2 Trinitarian Bible Society Founded in 1831 for the circulation of Protestant or uncorrupted versions of the Word of God Officers and Executive Staff of the Society President: General Secretary/Chief Executive: The Rev. G. Hamstra, B.A., M.Div. Mr. D. P. Rowland Vice-Presidents: Operations Director: Mr. G. Bidston Mr. D. Larlham Mr. G. den Boer Resources Director: The Rev. B. G. Felce, M.A.* Mr. D. J. Broome, C.P.F.A. The Rev. Dr. T. Gilmer Mr. D. Oldham Editorial Director: Pastor J. Stehouwer Mr. P. J. D. Hopkins, M.A. Oxf. The Rev. M. Stuart Mr. D. Vermeulen Senior Editorial Consultant: Chairman: Mr. L.Brigden, B.Sc.(Hons.), M.Sc., B.A.(Hons.) The Rev. M. H. Watts* Editorial Consultants: Vice-Chairman: Mr. G. W. Anderson, B.A. Mr. G. D. Buss, B.Ed.* Mr. A. Hembd, M.A.C.S. Treasurer: J. Cammenga, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Pastor R. A. Clarke, B.Sc., F.C.A.* G. Fox, B.A. (Hons.), D.D., Ph.D. The Rev. W. M. Patterson Jnr., B.A., D.D. Members: Mr. G. R. Burrows, M.A.* The Rev. R. G. Ferguson, B.A.* The Rev. J. L. Goldby, M.A.* Pastor M. J. Harley* Mr. A. K. Jones, LLB. (Hons.) Solicitor* The Rev. E. T. Kirkland, B.A., Dipl.Th.* The Rev. D. Silversides* *These are the serving members of the The Rev. J. P. Thackway* General Committee. Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011 Quarterly Record Issue Number: 601 © Trinitarian Bible Society 2012 All rights reserved. The Trinitarian Bible Society permits October to reprinting of articles found in our printed and online Quarterly Record provided that prior permission is December 2012 obtained and proper acknowledgement is made. Contents Sabbath School Learning Prize Fund 2 From the Desk of the General Secretary 3 The Lord’s Day: The Christian Sabbath 6 Editorial Report 9 Preparing Continents: The Spanish Revision Project 17 The Treasury 20 Arabic 22 The Word of God among all Nations 31 Quarterly Record Production Team Editorial Director: P. J. D. Hopkins Senior Editor: Dr. D. E. Anderson Editorial Consultant: C. P. Hallihan Editor: K. J. Pulman Graphic Designers: P. Hughes, S. Talas Circulation: J. M. Wilson 1 Sabbath School Learning Prize Fund ‘…from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures…’ 2 Timothy 3.15 he Trinitarian Bible Society seeks to encourage and enable children in the study of God’s Word by means of the Sabbath School Learning Prize Fund. This fund was commenced a number of years ago to encourage English- Tspeaking children and young people to memorise the Holy Scriptures from the Authorised (King James) Version of the Bible. Under the programme, we provide a list of verses to be memorised by children in two age groups: those ten years of age and under, and those aged eleven to fifteen. To the younger children who memorise their verses, we present suitably inscribed gilt-edged, bonded leather text Bibles. For the older children, gilt-edged bonded leather reference Bibles are awarded. Those who have memorised the first set of verses may, upon reaching eleven years, receive the reference Bible upon completing the work for the higher age group. The Society would encourage all parents, office-bearers and other supporters of the Society who seek the spiritual well-being of the young, whether or not the children under their charge attend a Sabbath school, to request further details of the Sabbath School Learning Prize Fund from Anne Newman ([email protected]) at our London headquarters, or from any of the Society’s Branches (contact details on the inside back cover of this Quarterly Record). 2 Issue Number: 601 – October to December 2012 From the Desk of the General Secretary n the Lord’s goodness, the Society is profoundly spiritual nature, all who are publishing new Bibles in three languages. engaged in any way in the Society’s work IOrders have been placed for the printing are nevertheless involved in a vast array and binding of the Armenian Bible, the of very practical activities: without these Maori Bible and the Ndebele Bible. Each of activities the more noble ends of the Society these Bibles should therefore be produced could not be accomplished. Indeed, each of before the end of the year, and they will the new Bibles referred to above represents then be sent as soon as possible, God many years of painstaking hard work by willing, to the peoples for whom they have those who have been involved with them, been published. We ask all our members and we would acknowledge the Lord’s and supporters to pray that it may please great goodness and faithfulness in granting the Lord to prepare the hearts and minds of to all who laboured on these projects— the many thousands of individuals who will and especially those involved directly in be receiving these copies of His Word in the the translation and revision work—the coming days. May the incorruptible seed of grace, the strength and the diligence to the Kingdom of God be sown in their hearts complete their work, often whilst living and and bring forth much fruit to His honour working in extremely difficult and trying and glory! Brief details of these Bibles, and circumstances. of other Scripture projects in which the Each of the Bibles, New Testaments, and Society has been engaged over the past few smaller portions of the Holy Scriptures months, will be found later in this edition of we publish—and which we pray will be the Quarterly Record. used of God for the glory of His Name, Although the work of the Society is the advancement of His Kingdom and the primarily to do with matters that are of a salvation and spiritual profit of our fellow 3 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record men—must be prepared for publication, sought. It is our desire that everything actually produced and then despatched for undertaken by the Society is done distribution. In addition to the meticulous prayerfully, in the fear of the Lord and in work required in the editorial stages of accordance with His will. At all times, we each project, a very wide range of activities want our goal of seeking the glory of God in needs to be undertaken to provide the all that we do to be truly paramount. We do resources, the backup support and all the not want this published aim of the Society other facilities necessary for the smooth to be merely a well-meant statement, but running of the Society’s day-to-day one that is truly and unashamedly sought operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, New after in the manner in which the Society’s Zealand, the United Kingdom and the USA. affairs are conducted. Thus, whilst earnestly In this, and periodically in future editions of pursuing every possible opening to the best the Desk, God willing, we will look at some of our abilities, we wait upon the Lord for His of these many activities, including a few overruling guidance and direction. of those that are evidently more ‘front line’ and those that are more ‘behind the scenes’, Once a need for a specific language project the latter of which will not necessarily be is drawn to our attention, a considerable obvious to everyone. amount of research needs to be undertaken. We will need to enquire into the history of In this particular edition of the Desk, we Christianity among the peoples speaking the will start by looking at the very long series language, and have some idea of the present of questions that need to be both asked state of their churches. Bibles published and answered prior to our deciding to go previously in the language will need to forward with any new language project. be examined, along with any distinctive The Society does not wish ever to turn away features of that language and how it may any viable project that has been brought differ from other languages of the to our attention. Equally, however, it is area. We will need to ask necessary for us to realise that our resources many questions are limited, and that we can only undertake about the a restricted number of projects at any one people who will time. Divine guidance is necessary, and be it is prayerfully Luther translating the German Bible 44 Issue Number: 601 – October to December 2012 expected to use the Bible and, of course, What is their understanding of the doctrines about those who aspire to undertake the of the faith? Do they adhere to any creedal translation or revision. or confessional statements? And, very importantly, has the Lord qualified these We will also need to know the answer to people with the necessary gifts for such the very important question: Is there a real a work? Are they proficient in the literary need for a new Bible translation, or could form of their own language or the language an older edition of the Bible be revised? into which they propose to render the Holy If it is determined that a revision would Scriptures? Most particularly, how proficient be the more appropriate course of action, are they in Hebrew and Greek, the original what will be the nature of the revision? languages in which the Holy Scriptures were Are the problems with the editions to be given: the languages from which it is most revised wholly of a textual nature; does the desirable (if at all possible) that all revisions revision also need to be made more formal and translations of the Word of God should to achieve greater accuracy and closer be made? conformity to the underlying Hebrew and Greek texts? Is the vocabulary employed These are some of the questions that need generally correct or will it be necessary to to be asked.