Quarterly Record

The Magazine of the Trinitarian Bible Society • Issue Number 627 April–June 2019

T HE WO RD O F GOD AMO N G ALL NATIO N S Trinitarian Bible Society Founded in 1831 for the circulation of Protestant or uncorrupted versions of the Word of God

Offi cers and Executive Staff of the Society

Vice-Presidents: General Secretary/Chief Executive: Mr. G. Bidston Mr. D. P. Rowland* Mr. G. den Boer The Rev. B. G. Felce, M.A. Resources Director: The Rev. Dr. T. Gilmer Mr. D. J. Broome, C.P.F.A. Pastor M. J. Harley Editorial Director: Mr. D. Oldham Mr. J. D. Arnold, LLB. (Hons.) The Rev. D. Silversides, M.A. Pastor J. Stehouwer Operations Director: The Rev. M. Stuart Mr. P. A. Blows, B.A. (Hons.) Mr. D. Vermeulen The Rev. M. H. Watts Senior Editorial Consultants: Mr. L. Brigden, B.Sc.(Hons.), M.Sc., Chairman: B.A.(Hons.) – Linguistics Mr. G. D. Buss, B.Ed.* Mr. P. J. D. Hopkins, M.A. Oxf. – Projects Vice-Chairman: Editorial Consultants: The Rev. J. P. Thackway* Mr. G. W. Anderson, B.A. Treasurer: Mr. A. Hembd, M.A.C.S. Pastor R. A. Clarke, B.Sc., F.C.A.* J. Cammenga, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. G. Fox, B.A. (Hons.), D.D., Ph.D. Members: The Rev. W. M. Patterson Jnr., B.A., D.D. The Rev. R. G. Ferguson, B.A.* Mr. A. C. Thomson, M.A. Cantab. Mr. A. K. Jones, LLB. (Hons.) Solicitor* M. Keogh-Brown, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.* * These are the serving members of the The Rev. E. T. Kirkland, B.A., Dipl.Th.* General Committee. The Rev. A. J. Lewis* Mr. J. P. Sayers* Mr. M. A. Vogan, B.A. (Hons.), M.A., M.Litt.*

Cover Picture: © Nejdet Duzen / Shutterstock Issue Number: 627 © Trinitarian Bible Society 2019 All rights reserved. The Trinitarian Bible Society permits April to reprinting of articles found in our printed and online Quarterly Record provided that prior permission is June 2019 obtained and proper acknowledgement is made.

Annual General Meeting – advanced notice ...... 2

Introduction ...... 3

David’s Prayer for Pardon ...... 7

Editorial Report ...... 10

The Treasury ...... 13

He is Able ...... 15

Russian ...... 18

Turkey and the Turkish Bible ...... 20

Missionswerk Voice of Hope report ...... 30

The Word of God among all Nations ...... 32

Quarterly Record Production Team Editorial Director: Mr J. D. Arnold Senior Editor: Dr D. E. Anderson Editor: Miss N. Christie Assistant Editor: Miss E. Tichelaar Graphic Designers: Mr P. Hughes, Mr S. Talas Circulation: Mr J. M. Wilson

1 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record The 188th Annual General Meeting

GOD WILLING commences at 11.00 a.m. on Saturday, 21 September 2019 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London SE1 6SD The Business Meeting at 11.00 will include reports and updates on the Society’s work, including the Thadou translation project.

After the Business Meeting, at 2.00 p.m. Dr David Allen Senior Deputation Speaker for the Society is expected to preach. Lunch will be served between the Meetings. All are invited to attend.

2 INTRODUCTION

From the Editorial Director: Please let us apologise for the delay in this edition of the Quarterly Record. A raft of health, work and personal issues have hindered this aspect of our work despite our resolute intention to ensure timely publication. Furthermore, I am completing the usual desk article in order to share the burden our General Secretary carries with all his work for the Society.

he Reformation was founded upon from every thing that savours a return to Scripture. Martin Luther of earth—how beautifully it Tonce said ‘The Bible is the cradle harmonises in all its parts—and wherein Christ is laid’ (Luther, Works, how rich it is in all the other 35:236). We fi nd the doctrine of Scripture qualities which give an air helpfully set out by John Calvin in chapter 8 of majesty to composition. ‘The Bible is of his Institutes of the Christian Religion,1 and Our hearts are still more the cradle it is remarkable how contemporary some of fi rmly assured when we wherein his arguments are. refl ect that our admiration Christ is 1. In vain were the authority of Scripture is elicited more by the laid’ fortifi ed by argument, or supported by dignity of the matter than Martin Luther the consent of the Church, or confi rmed by the graces of style. by any other helps, if unaccompanied by For it was not without an an assurance higher and stronger than admirable arrangement of Providence, human Judgment can give. Till this better that the sublime mysteries of the kingdom foundation has been laid, the authority of heaven have for the greater part been of Scripture remains in suspense. On delivered with a contemptible meanness the other hand, when recognising its of words. Had they been adorned with exemption from the common rule, we a more splendid eloquence, the wicked receive it reverently, and according to its might have cavilled, and alleged that this dignity, those proofs which were not so constituted all their force. But now, when strong as to produce and rivet a full an unpolished simplicity, conviction in our minds, become almost bordering on most appropriate helps. rudeness, makes a deeper For it is wonderful how impression than the loftiest much we are confi rmed fl ights of oratory, what does in our belief, when we more it indicate if not that the Holy attentively consider how Scriptures are too mighty admirably the system of in the power of truth to divine wisdom contained need the rhetorician’s art? in it is arranged—how Hence there was good perfectly free the doctrine is John Calvin 1509–1564 3 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record ground for the Apostle’s declaration, that very marrow, that, in comparison of the the faith of the Corinthians was founded impression so produced, that of orators not on “the wisdom of men,” but on “the and philosophers will almost disappear; power of God,” (1 Cor. 2:5), this speech making it manifest that in the Sacred and preaching among them having been Volume there is a truth divine, a something “not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, which makes it immeasurably superior to but in demonstration of the Spirit and of all the gifts and graces attainable by man. power,” (1 Cor. 2:5) (sic). For the truth is 2. … [I]n regard to the Holy Scriptures, however petulant men may attempt to carp at them, they are replete with sentiments which it is clear that man never could have conceived. Let each of the prophets be examined, and not one will be found who does not rise far higher than human reach. Those who feel their works insipid must be absolutely devoid of taste. 11. When we proceed to the New Testament, how solid are the pillars by which its truth is supported! Three evangelists give a narrative in a mean and humble style. The proud often eye this simplicity with disdain, because they attend not to the principal heads of doctrine; for from these they might easily infer that these evangelists treat of heavenly mysteries beyond the capacity of man. Those who have the least particle of candour must be ashamed of their fastidiousness when they read the fi rst chapter of Luke. Even our Saviour’s discourses, of which a summary is given by these three evangelists, ought to prevent everyone from treating their writings with contempt. John, again, vindicated in opposition to every doubt, fulminating in majesty, strikes down more when, unsupported by foreign aid, it has powerfully than any thunderbolt the its sole suffi ciency in itself. How peculiarly petulance of those who refuse to submit this property belongs to Scripture appears to the obedience of faith. Let all those from this, that no human writings, acute censors, whose highest pleasure it is however skilfully composed, are at all to banish a reverential regard of Scripture capable of aff ecting us in a similar way. from their own and other men’s hearts, … [B]ut turn from them to the reading come forward; let them read the Gospel of the Sacred Volume, and whether you of John, and, willing or unwilling, they will will or not, it will so aff ect you, so pierce fi nd a thousand sentences which will at your heart, so work its way into your least arouse them from their sloth; nay, 4 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019 which will burn into their consciences as nothing else in common entering for this with a hot iron, and check their derision. purpose into a holy league. Moreover, The same thing may be said of Peter while we ought to attach the greatest and Paul, whose writings, though the weight to the agreement of minds so greater part read them blindfold, exhibit diversifi ed, and in all other things so a heavenly majesty, which in a manner much at variance with each other—an binds and rivets every reader. … Let those agreement which a Divine Providence dogs deny that the Holy Spirit descended alone could have produced—it adds upon the apostles, or, if not, let them no small weight to the whole when we refuse credit to the history, still the very attend to the piety of those who thus circumstances proclaim that the Holy agree; not of all of them indeed, but of Spirit must have been the teacher of those those in whom as lights God was pleased who, formerly contemptible among the that his Church should shine. people, all of a sudden began to discourse 13. Again, with what confi dence does so magnifi cently of heavenly mysteries. it become us to subscribe to a doctrine 12. Add, moreover, that, for the best attested and confi rmed by the blood of of reasons, the consent of the Church so many saints? They, when once they is not without its weight. For it is not had embraced it, hesitated not boldly to be accounted of no consequence, and intrepidly, and even with great that, from the fi rst publication of alacrity, to meet death in its defence. Scripture, so many ages have uniformly Being transmitted to us with such an concurred in yielding obedience to it, earnest, who of us shall not receive it and that, notwithstanding of the many with fi rm and unshaken conviction? It is extraordinary attempts which Satan therefore no small proof of the authority and the whole world have made to of Scripture, that it was sealed with the oppress and overthrow it, or completely blood of so many witnesses, especially eff ace it from the memory of men, it when it is considered that in bearing has fl ourished like the palm tree and testimony to the faith, they met death continued invincible. Though in old not with fanatical enthusiasm (as erring times there was scarcely a sophist or spirits are sometimes wont to do), but orator of any note who did not exert his with a fi rm and constant, yet sober godly powers against it, their eff orts proved zeal. There are other reasons, neither unavailing. The powers of the earth few nor feeble, by which the dignity and armed themselves for its destruction, but majesty of the Scriptures may be not only all their attempts vanished into smoke. proved to the pious, but also completely When thus powerfully assailed on every vindicated against the cavils of slanderers. side, how could it have resisted if it had These, however, cannot of themselves trusted only to human aid? Nay, its divine produce a fi rm faith in Scripture until our origin is more completely established heavenly Father manifest his presence in by the fact, that when all human wishes it, and thereby secure implicit reverence were against it, it advanced by its own for it. Then only, therefore, does Scripture energy. Add that it was not a single suffi ce to give a saving knowledge of city or a single nation that concurred in God when its certainty is founded on receiving and embracing it. Its authority the inward persuasion of the Holy Spirit. was recognised as far and as wide as the Still the human testimonies which go world extends—various nations who had to confi rm it will not be without eff ect, 5 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record

if they are used in subordination to that been sent to take up his Deputation role. In chief and highest proof, as secondary considering the work of Dr Allen, we must helps to our weakness. But it is foolish mention how grateful we are for his years of to attempt to prove to infi dels th at the faithful service and encouraging fellowship. Scripture is the Word of God. This it We look forward to his message from God’s cannot be known to be, except by faith. Word during the worship service in the Justly, therefore, does Augustine remind afternoon at the 2019 AGM, God willing. The us, that every man who would have any Resources Director also updates readers on understanding in such high matters must the fi nancial situation of the Society. previously possess piety and mental Late last year a Deputation Speakers peace. Conference was held at the Society’s t the very beginning of this Quarterly international headquarters. It was an Record is an announcement of the encouragement to those in attendance and Aforthcoming Annual General Meeting we trust that the following printed edition on 21 September in London. We sincerely of the address that Dr Allen prepared for invite all who can come to join us. It will be that meeting, on the things that the Lord a day of information about the Society’s Jesus Christ is able to do, will be a blessing worldwide work over the last year, as well to those who read it. as a time of worship and hearing the Word Also included is an account of the land of God, with a lunch break for food and and language of Turkey, and reports on fellowship. the Society’s work to provide a sound Also in this issue of the Quarterly Record are edition of the Turkish Bible. Our Sales a number of important articles. Dr Lawrence Department focuses on our Russian Bilkes has provided an encouraging Scriptures. We end with a distribution devotional on the believer’s consciousness report from Missionswerk Voice of Hope of sin and the signifi cance of David’s prayer and encouraging letters from our grantees in Psalm 25. around the world. The Editorial article contains a brief s always, none of our work can be refl ection followed by a review of new done without the Lord’s goodness products and a look at our online Scriptures. Aand guidance. It is He alone who Access to Scriptures online is of special provides for our needs and gives us the importance for those around the world who wisdom to carry out this work—whether have no access to printed copies, and for it is choosing which languages to work in whom possession of the Holy Scriptures can or which grantees to provide for, which mean persecution or even imprisonment. Scriptures will best suit customers or where It is through this means we hope to reach to put products in our warehouse. All of this more people with the Word of God. needs the guidance of the Lord. So please pray that the Lord, ‘that giveth to all men The Resources Director discusses the vital liberally, and upbraideth not’ will grant us need we have for the unadulterated Word of wisdom (James 1.5). God, and praises God for staff both old and 1. John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Henry new, particularly the appointment of the Beveridge, trans. (Edinburgh, Scotland: Printed for The Rev. Craig Dennison as Deputation Speaker. Calvin Translation Society, 1845), downloaded from For this we are particularly grateful to the www.monergism.com/institutes-christian-religion, Lord. As Dr Allen retires from the work it is 6 May 2019. the Lord’s timing that the Rev. Dennison has 6 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019 DAVID’S PRAYER FOR PARDON Dr L. W. Bilkes Remember not the sins of my Pastor, Free Reformed Church, youth, nor my transgressions: Grand Rapids, MI, USA according to thy mercy he believer’s consciousness of sin is remember thou me for thy evidence of the grace of the Lord, goodness’ sake, O LORD. Tas is what the believer does with the memory of their sin. Though a Psalm Psalm 25.7 of trust in the Lord, Psalm 25 provides rich instruction on this point. David is surrounded by enemies (v. 2), and feels is with His children (v. 14), so their secrets ‘desolate and affl icted’ (v. 16). Yet, his are also with Him, as we see in this verse. main concern is not to be delivered from his affl iction, but to know the Lord’s Sins of Youth ways (vv. 4–5). Fellowship with and the Scripture is not silent about David’s sins. friendship of the Lord is more precious He sinned grievously in the matter of than life. It is their life by grace through Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 11). the Saviour. And as the secret of the Lord He sinned by numbering the people

7 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record

(2 Samuel 24). Yet Scripture does not that God has every right to remember mention any of the sins of his youth, them. Sometimes the child of God wishes though he had them and they came to he or she could yet speak with their his mind as we see in this Psalm. father and mother, or a teacher or pastor David uses a strong word for sin: or someone else whom they sinned transgressions. By it, he means the against. Often they cannot anymore. At breaking out in rebellion against God, a time like that, you do not at all want to a tearing away from God, a casting off excuse the sin or minimise the rebellion of God’s authority, a smashing of the of the past, but you wish to confess it and law. David is referring to wanting no seek forgiveness from those whom you restrictions. You want to do your own off ended. And when you are conscious of thing. Though we never read this as past transgressions and you can yet speak part of the youth of David, we all are to people you off ended, it is right to do estranged from the womb (Psalm 58.3; so. Oftentimes, however, they are no Job 15.14). longer here. But the Lord is always there. And to Him we can and must go to seek In Psalm 25.2 it is likely that David’s pardon from Him, not based on our own enemy is Absalom, and that as he pens merits, but appealing to His mercy alone. this Psalm he is fl eeing from Absalom. Yet, instead of speaking of Absalom’s sins as a youth, he sees his own. Breaking out According to Thy Mercy was exactly what Absalom did, but when David prays: ‘According to thy mercy David sees it in another he is reminded remember thou me … ’. David senses of his own transgression and rebellion that it is not suffi cient for the Lord not and he confesses them in prayer before to remember the sins of his youth nor the Lord. The memory of any and all sin his transgressions. ‘If the Lord only no should drive us not to despair but to our longer remembers my sins, then I still knees to confess them fully and freely end up empty’. That is not only a grief, to the Lord, no matter how long ago we but a danger. The Lord Jesus compares committed them. that to the emptiness of a house which has been emptied of an evil spirit and has been swept and garnished, but if Remember Not there is not a new resident moving in David prays in verse 7, ‘Remember not then that evil spirit will return sevenfold the sins of my youth’. David himself (Luke 11.24–26). The Psalmist desires to remembers them but he asks that God be remembered by the Lord in a diff erent not remember them. Our memories way, namely, ‘according to thy mercy work diff erently from God’s. When God remember thou me’. remembers something, it is not just that So David does not only see his need for it is in His divine mind. It means that He forgiveness, but he also sees his need acts (see for example Exodus 2.24–25). If for the favour of the Lord, for the broken God were to remember David’s sins then relationship with God to be restored He would cast David off for ever. and for communion with the Lord. David knows and underlines that God has For if the Lord according to His mercy a right to remember his sins, every one remembers him, then that includes not of them. The very fact that he petitions only forgiveness but also reconciliation, the Lord not to remember them implies His Fatherly goodness and life. 8 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019

What is David’s pleading ground? Look inward pain. In the struggle and strife at those two words in our text: the Lord’s of life the Holy Spirit shows His power mercy and goodness. Mercy refers to and grace in such a way that our mind the Lord’s faithfulness to His covenant. turns to our sins, including those from The Lord’s mercy is that He is the faithful deep in the past and deep in our heart. One when we are unfaithful. God’s The solution then is not simply to push goodness is a summary of all God’s the memory away and go on with our attributes, everything good that is to life. The Spirit is bringing the soul to be said about God. This is the pleading the fountain to be washed afresh—the

ground in David’s prayer for pardon: fountain that is alone in the Saviour who God’s faithfulness to His covenant, God’s is now exalted to give repentance and goodness—namely all that He is in remission of sins (Acts 5.31). Himself. Older friends, it is easy to shake our heads over the rising generation and speak Golgotha about how diff erent things were when Do you sense that David sets himself we were young. However this is neither aside? It implies that David has nothing wise nor true. Instead, like David let us be good of himself to plead, that David has mindful of our own sins, confess them nothing in his life that he can off er to God to the Lord, and pray that younger ones as any merit or as a pleading ground. would be kept from the breaking loose David sees something that the Holy that will only bring grief. Spirit teaches only at Golgotha, for there Young people, the temptation to break God remembered sin upon His Son, that out and rebel is strong for you. Seek sinners like David might be remembered the Lord for help and deliverance now, in mercy. There we see how it is that while you are yet young. The Lord says: God is faithful and good to unfaithful ‘It is good for a man that he bear the transgressors who can never be good yoke in his youth’ (Lamentations 3.27). from their side. None can do without David’s prayer Sometimes you hear people say ‘Don’t for pardon; yet, may the Lord keep you worry about your past sins. They are all in your youth, so that the memory of forgiven’. David shows a very diff erent it will not be a great burden but a true way forward. Forgiven sins can still give blessing. 9 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record

Editorial Director’s Report by Jonathan D. Arnold

hroughout its history the Bible has history in England, the Bible translation in been a book that has been banned, English that began with a glimmer through Tspurned and burned. To those who John Wycliff e became defi ant distribution know it to be the revealed Word of God under Tyndale, and then later the Word it is hallowed, esteemed and beloved. became freely available to many people These dichotomous views are evident in our land. In all things we know it is the throughout history between falsehood Lord’s work and that his Word will not and true Christianity; the God rejector return unto Him void—after all, Christ will and the believer; the people of the world build His church and the gates of hell will and the people of God. This remains true not prevail against it (Isaiah 55.11; Matthew today. Those who believe God’s Word 16.18). is from the Sovereign Lord of all, place no publication higher and consider no We at TBS are in the midst of the practical words more precious. It is a wonderful process of typesetting the Scriptures encouragement to such that God’s Word is in six languages—Hebrew, Persian, ‘quick, and powerful, and sharper than any Mongolian Script, Simte, Thadou and twoedged sword’ (Hebrews 4.12). The Word Turkish—something which takes careful of God applied by the Holy Spirit softens proofreading and skill. In the coming the hardest of hearts and strengthens the months we intend to publish some of weary Christian in their God. these Scriptures and others in languages for countries that are not entirely receptive The opposition and problems that we to Christianity and where Christians do sometimes face in getting Bibles into some not have easy access to Bibles. There is no countries is to be expected. The devil is proliferation of translations (as we have the enemy of truth and nothing is more in English today); indeed, in a number of dangerous to him than freely available instances there is not only a lack of reliable copies of the Word of God. The occasional versions but hardly any Scriptures at all. diffi culties we face in distributing Scriptures This is something that should be foremost can be a daily experience for Christians in in our minds: even after years of missionary some localities. Amidst such persecution, endeavour and translation eff orts, good humanly speaking, distribution would not translations in many languages either do have any impact. But as we know from not exist, have been watered down or 10 original provisional eff orts were never built eternity. We intend to convey, in a small on. The need is still there. We humbly ask sense, the joy on someone’s face (and thus for your prayers that we would be granted in their heart) when they fi nally have a copy wisdom, that the Lord would open doors of God’s Word in their mother tongue— for us to distribute in these lands, that and the wonderful and fi rm foundation suffi cient funding would be provided, that this can give to believers and and that suitable translators would be congregations who speak that language. identifi ed. We have but a small part to play under God, yet in all these things we need continued Adolph Saphir once wrote, ‘Papal Rome prayer and support. also persecuted the Scriptures, but chiefl y in this way—that instead of being the custodian of Scripture, it became the jailer Publishing Scriptures of Scripture, and for many centuries the Word of God was hidden from the people, Online and legends and traditions of men became In recent days we have launched new the food of the human mind’.1 How true this pages on our website that give online still is in our day as not only Rome but some access to our Bible translations. This is one who profess to be Protestants of the external outputs of our work on the suppress the Word in order to extend their own ministries! As were the Jews in the Old Testament, the church of today is entrusted with God’s Word and should recognise that in God’s providence it was and will be preserved until His return. This is the enduring Word that was central to the Gospel Peter preached (1 Peter 1.25). May the Lord give us the burden to spread this Word abroad, that the He may use it to the saving of His people out of every tribe, kindred and nation (cf. Matthew 28.19, Romans 10.17–18, new Editorial System. To access it please Revelation 7.9). Moreover, may He enable visit www.tbsonlinebible.com. Note that if us to help congregations to have the fi rm you have an Android phone it is possible footing of a faithful translation. to download the website to your device so that it functions as an app. With the means granted to us TBS seeks to produce faithful renderings of the In the long term, Lord willing, we hope Scriptures and to distribute copies of those to make many of our Bible translations Scriptures abroad. With the images we available on this website, with the aim put in our Quarterly Record magazine and to reach those who are not able (for online we seek to demonstrate that this one reason or another) to receive our work is for the glory of God, although the printed Scriptures. We also intend to use fruit of that work will only be known in this website as a platform to develop a 11 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record

contextc of the verses they contain. TheseT bookmarks, which can be found ono our webstore (www.tbsbibles. oorg/store) by searching for BH Series Bookmarks,B are currently available only ini the UK but will soon be in stock at ouro branches. CopiesC of the Spanish New Testament withw Psalms and Proverbs have arrived ata our offi ces, and a larger number haveh been sent for distribution in Latin Spanish Bible online America. Our USA General Secretary will write more about this in future downloadable app or eeditionsditions of the Quarterly Record. something similar that can be put on a small TheThe WordsW of Life Calendars memory card for havehave begun arriving at our people with limited UKUK warehouse and now or no internet access, theth concluding part of our or who need to view the preparationp of these calendars Scriptures more surreptitiously.ously. (along with the Golden Thoughts Calendars) is to Not all of our translations aarere available ddistribute them to millions online yet; however, the Englishnglish Authorised of people pe throughout the world. (King James) Version of the Bible is I recently heard of a brother visiting a available along with Scripture portions country that has limited access to the in languages such as Chinese, Hebrew, Scriptures who was informed that people Romanian and Spanish. For translation would pass around a page from the Words projects that are still underway, we may of Life Calendar for each month so that only publish a small portion of the Bible in everyone would have access to that verse a given language—we aim to balance the for a time. How much we must learn from need for the Scriptures with our obligation those who have little access to the Word of to facilitate and review feedback, and thus God and regard it as so precious! we would not circulate larger portions of the text while it is still subject to change. Thank you for your continued interest in the work of TBS. May we echo the word We are very grateful for the feedback of Paul: ‘Finally, brethren, pray for us, that that we have received so far on our ‘beta’ the word of the Lord may have free course, version of this website and app, and plan and be glorifi ed, even as it is with you’ to refi ne it over time. (2 Thessalonians 3.1). 1. Adolph Saphir, The Divine Unity of Scripture New products (London, England: Hodder and Stoughton, The Society has recently produced a 1892), p. 9. new set of English bookmarks that give prominence to the Scriptures, which we hope will cause many to read the wider 12 The Treasury

From David J. Broome Resources Director here is a reremarkablemarkable verseverse inin Scripture,Scripture, WhWhatat wwiseise memeansans hhahass GGoGodd ddedevisedviised ffoforr ththee spoken by the so-called ‘wise woman ccommunicationommunication ofof these greatgreat blessings?blessings? Tof Tekoah’ah’toah’ to King David as she sought We read that ‘‘faithfaith cometh by hearinghearing, and to persuade him to fetch home his son hearing by the word of God’ (Romans 10.17). Absalom—‘For we must needs die, and are The Holy Scriptures have been provided as water spilt on the ground, which cannot as the chief means, under the Holy Spirit’s be gathered up again; neither doth God re- application, to make men ‘wise unto spect any person: yet doth he devise means, salvation through faith which is in Christ that his banished be not expelled from him’ Jesus’ (2 Timothy 3.15), whether through (2 Samuel 14.14). What an accurate picture the reading of the Word or the hearing of it the fi rst two clauses paint of the natural con- preached. There was no obligation on God to clusion of man’s life and his standing before give His Word, and yet in great mercy He has God. But viewed spiritually, how beautifully given this utterly invaluable gift to mankind. the picture changes in the last clause! With- We cannot be thankful enough for it! out the wondrous means, devised in the counsels of eternity to raise God’s people How vital then that we uphold the necessity to a state far more glorious than Adam and of having this precious Word in a pure form, Eve’s innocence, the whole of humanity translated from the providentially preserved would indeed be banished eternally by the texts in a way that maintains the original condemnation of the broken law. meaning in as accurate a form as linguistically possible. We humbly believe that this Society What are these means then? Only the blood has, for 188 years, been one of the means that and righteousness of Jesus Christ, secured in God has wisely devised for this purpose, as the covenant of grace and appropriated by successive generations have sought to carry faith, will ever save a sinner from being fi nal- on the work prayerfully. ly expelled from God’s presence with those terrible words ‘depart from me’ (Matthew As Resources Director I am very conscious 25.41). But just as the banished manslayer of the Society’s need of natural means in returned to his own land in peace and safety order to be able to maintain our fi ve core after the death of the high priest (Numbers activities, namely translation, publication, 35.25), so fl eeing, guilty, sinners who feel distribution, promoting and upholding. themselves banished, fi nd to their joy that We are deeply thankful to the Lord for the they are not expelled from God’s presence provision of faithful Bible translators and but rather are sweetly drawn to Him (John revisers, and indeed for all the staff and 12.32) and graciously received through the volunteers associated with the Society death of our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, throughout the world in whatever capacity upon Calvary’s cross. that they serve. 13 It is remarkable how the Lord raises up staff its income by £923,000. This is signifi cantly for the Society just at the moment of need the result of planned use by TBS London rather than when we want it, and we be- of Restricted and General Funds given in lieve He has done so again in answer to the previous years (£801,000), with the balance prayers of many of our supporters. We were being the combined net loss of the fi ve very thankful to welcome on 1 April 2019 branches (£122,000). However, this defi cit the Rev. Craig Dennison (formerly minister is around £425,000 higher than would have of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster been expected in an average year, due to congregation at Gardenstown in Scotland) to the lack of legacy and rental income in the the Society’s staff as a Deputation Speaker. UK during 2018, which would have been The Rev. Dennison will be covering northern used to support the 2019 Budget. And yet England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, it is remarkable how the Lord provides taking over from Dr David Allen when he re- according to His own sovereign will and tires at the end of May 2019, God willing. We purpose, but often by diff erent means to wish the Rev. Dennison the Lord’s great help, what we would expect; the profi t liquidated sustaining and anointing as he takes up this from the sale of John Wycliff e House (i.e. heavy responsibility. the increase in value since the Society purchased it in 2015) is higher than the In turn, we give Dr Allen our profound £425,000 shortfall just mentioned and is a thanks and wish him the Lord’s richest very gracious ‘balancing of clouds’ from the blessing and continued presence as he takes Lord. More details will be given on the 2018 ‘retirement’ after many years of arduous fi nancial results in the next Quarterly Record, labour on behalf of the Society. Dr Allen’s God willing. work as a Deputation Speaker has been very widely appreciated, and we are most Finally, we seek your continued prayers for thankful for all that he has accomplished the ongoing Strategic Review of the Society’s during his years with the Society. operations and fi nances, particularly that the Trustees and Senior Management may be We are also thankful for the buildings that the given much wisdom. This exercise is most Lord has provided for the Society to work in, certainly not about changing the Society’s particularly the provision of our headquarters core constitutional beliefs and aims, but we at William Tyndale House in London. Further are examining how we can best deliver them to ‘The Treasury’ article in the last Quarterly and seeking to inform the development of a Record, it is with great gratitude that we can new management structure in anticipation now report that we have contractually se- of our General Secretary’s retirement in cured the sale of John Wycliff e House (JWH), 2021, God willing. We need to assess what the Society’s investment property; God will- our priorities should be within our limited ing, fi nal completion of the sale should have resources and address our dependency on taken place by the time you read this. We now legacy income, as 2018’s fi nancial situation seek your prayers for wisdom as to how to has again highlighted. invest the sale proceeds in a way that maxi- mises the investment return for the benefi t We remain deeply thankful to all our of the work, but is also consistent with the members, supporters and friends for their Society’s principles. partnership with us in this work, practically, fi nancially, and especially in prayer, and we Turning directly to the subject of the gratefully acknowledge receipt of anonymous Society’s fi nances, the 2018 fi nancial gifts totalling £3,319.37 for the period January results are now concluded. When all the to March 2019. accounting niceties are stripped away, the Society’s worldwide expenditure exceeded 14 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019

by Dr D. Allen Senior Deputation Speaker An address given at the TBS Deputation Speakers' conference, 12 November 2018 Edited for publication

n Matthew 9.27 two blind men and apply it elsewhere throughout the cry unto the Lord Jesus, ‘Th ou New Testament. ISon of David, have mercy on us’. At fi rst the Lord seemingly does Th ere are eleven things that we are told not respond; He enters a house and is in the New Testament that Christ is able followed by the two blind men. Th e to do. For example, Lord then turns to the two blind men 1. ‘he is able to succour them that are and asks them the question: ‘Believe ye Hebrews 2.18 that I am able to do this? Th ey said unto tempted’ – ’ him, Yea, Lord (Matthew 9.28). 2. ‘he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him’ In the case of the two blind men, it Hebrews 7.25 was whether they believed that the – Lord Jesus Christ could give sight to 3. Paul says, ‘he is able to keep that their blind eyes. Th eir response was which I have committed unto him that the One who could raise Jairus’s against that day’ – 2 Timothy 1.12 daughter from the dead and the One who could heal the woman with the 4. ‘he is able even to subdue all things issue of blood would have no diffi culty unto himself’ – Philippians 3.21 in restoring sight. So they answer Him, ‘Yea, Lord’. 5. He ‘is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the Now, I want to take the question which presence of his glory with exceeding our Lord asked them, ‘Believe ye that I joy’ – Jude 24 am able to do this?’ and do that which no preacher should ever do: take it out 6. He and the Father are able to keep of its immediate context in Matthew 9 you safe: ‘And I give unto them eternal 15 life; and they shall never perish, nei- his Spirit in the inner man’ (Ephesians ther shall any man pluck them out of 3.16). Th at is a remarkable request in my hand. My Father, which gave them and of itself. But he has gone on to pray me, is greater than all; and no man is that Christ ‘may dwell in your hearts able to pluck them out of my Father’s by faith’ (v. 17), and then that we might hand’ – John 10.28–29. By implication, ‘know the love of Christ, which pass- therefore, He and the Father are able to eth knowledge’, and above all that we as keep the sheep in Th eir hands. the church might be ‘fi lled with all the fulness of God’ (v. 19). 7. He ‘is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all What the Apostle has requested for us is them which are sanctifi ed’ – Acts 20.32 such a glorious possibility that he burst forth into this great hymn of praise, 8. ‘what he had promised, he was able worship, and adoration. His one desire also to perform’ – Romans 4.21 is that all the glory be ascribed unto Him ‘by Christ Jesus throughout all 9. Concerning the Jews, He ‘is able to ages, world without end’ (vs. 21). graff them in again’ – Romans 11.23 Th e greatness of God’s power has been 10. is He ‘ able to make all grace in the mind of the Apostle from the end abound toward you’ – 2 Corinthians 9.8 of the fi rst chapter. Indeed, in chapter 1 he has reminded them that he prays But briefl y I want to turn your attention for them without ceasing, asking that to Ephesians 3.20, ‘Now unto him that ‘the eyes of your understanding being is able to do exceeding abundantly enlightened; that ye may know what is above all that we ask or think, accord- the hope of his calling’ (1.18). ing to the power that worketh in us’. Th ey have already believed the Gos- Th is doxology summarises one of the pel; they are already saved; they have watchwords of the Reformation: the already been sealed by the Holy Spirit. glory of God alone. A doxology is an expression of adoration which rises But Paul prays that they might be above the level of ordinary speech. It is enlightened in order that they might the language of spiritual expression, a know ‘what is the hope of his calling, fervent utterance of praise, a realisation and what the riches of the glory of his that He is due infi nitely more praise inheritance in the saints’ (1.18). than we are capable of rendering unto Him. We are lost in Him, overwhelmed Th en he works this out experimental- with a sense of His infi nite glory. ly in detail. He wants them—and he wants you and I—to know ‘what is the Th is doxology forms a fi tting climax to exceeding greatness of his power to Paul’s prayer and should to ours as well. us-ward who believe’ (v. 19). Th ere is nothing more that we can do but to praise and glorify the God of our Now, in this tremendous doxology at salvation. the end of chapter 3 the Apostle strains human language. Language is utterly Th e Apostle has been praying that we inadequate. Th e Apostle seeks to defi ne may be ‘strengthened with might by that which can never be defi ned, to 16 measure the immeasurable. He is trying to put into human language that which What is it that we is illimitable. request for this It would have been a wonderful state- Society? ment if he had just said ‘Now unto him that is able to do all that we ask Th at the Lord of the harvest would or think’. But the Apostle, moved by „ raise up more Godly and gift ed trans- the Holy Spirit, adds superlative upon lators of the Word of God who are superlative: ‘Now unto him that is able committed to the principles of TBS; to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think’. „ Th at the Lord would sustain and strengthen those who are already Our greatest superlatives cannot de- labouring in the painstaking task of scribe the power of God. EXCEEDING! accurately translating the pure Word ABUNDANTLY! ABOVE ALL! Add of the Living God; one to another, multiply them and add them together, and multiply them again „ Th at the Lord would open doors of and still you have not described the Gospel opportunity for the distribu- infi nite power of God. tion of the Word of God, for there are isles and tribes which are still waiting John Newton understood something of for the law of the Gospel of Christ this: to be brought unto them for the fi rst ‘Th ou art coming to a King; time (see Isaiah 42.4); Large petitions with thee bring; Th at the Lord would provide the For his grace and power are such, „ necessary personnel for our Lon- None can ever ask too much’. don Headquarters and our overseas (Gadsby’s Hymns no. 379) branches in Canada, USA, Brazil, New Zealand and Australia; He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. „ Th at the Lord would move the hearts of His people to supply all the Th ere is a diff erence between what we fi nancial needs of the Lord’s work ask and what we think. Sadly we so through the Society. oft en limit the eternal and absolute power of God to the measure of our Let us bring our most daring peti- own minds and understandings. We tions, our most impossible requests, limit the Holy One of Israel. However, and then multiply them. And let us there are times when we soar in our join together in prayer and bring our minds and imaginations to think and wildest desires and demands to the to dream of impossibilities. We can Th rone of Grace. Th ere is no dan- be thankful that our God is able to do ger of exceeding the limit of God’s exceeding abundantly above all that we grace, for He ‘is able to do exceeding can ask, but also beyond what we can abundantly above all that we ask or ever imagine. think’ (Ephesians 3.20).

17 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record

Synodal Bible Introduction In the ninth century students of the Preslav School in Bulgaria created the Cyrillic script, ussian is among the top ten fi rst based on the Greek alphabet, for use in Old languages in the world, and due to the Church Slavonic. Rinfl uence of the former Soviet Union it is still spoken in many countries, particularly in The whole Russian Bible was fi rst published Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This makes it in 1581 in the Old Church Slavonic, but by possible to distribute Russian Scriptures widely, the nineteenth century this was no longer including in Ukraine, Latvia and Kazakhstan. commonly used in Russia. (This language is still used liturgically in some Orthodox Churches, History of Russian much as Latin is used in some Roman Catholic Protestantism and Anglican churches.) In 1819 the four Gospels were published in modern Cyrillic script, and in In the early 1800s as many as one million Bibles 1822 the New Testament appeared as a diglot in thirty diff erent languages were distributed with the Old Church Slavonic translation. In 1876 in Russia through the 289 auxiliaries of the the whole Bible, known as the Synodal version, Russian Bible Society. This work was continued was published. openly until 1826, after which it was carried out русскийsemi-secretly.у In the last quarter of thatский century literate Russians were becoming disillusioned Today with the Orthodox Church, viewing it as part The Trinitarian Bible of the Russian Civil Service, and Society continues to were becoming more inclined publish the Russian ttoo read the Scriptures for Synodal Bible in tthemselves.h At that time English signifi cant quantitiess and to distribute y LLordo Radstock went to Russia NNenetsenets ffamilyamil aandn was to the Russians what it to a diverse PPhiliph was to the eunuch (Acts 8). range of recipients. His quiet simplicity of teaching An example is the Nenets people who are LLordord Radstock Radstock anandd walk in life—a contrast to the indigenous to the Russian northern arctic. BByzantine,yza fl orid teaching of the Amongst this group there were no known RRussian Orthodox Church—were Christians twenty years ago; they were steeped well received by this prepared people. in the darkness of alcoholism and idolatry, but by God’s grace they now have the light of The resulting dissenting, ‘unpatriotic’ church the Word of God spread amongst them. The was frowned upon, and thus came years of Russian Synodal Bible is widely accepted across persecution. By 1917 the Protestant church was denominational lines and is appreciated by already ‘underground’. many ordinary Russian Christians.

MoscowMoscow sskylinekyline 1818 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019 Bibles New Testament and Our Russian Bibles Psalms are available in three sizes. LARGE product codes: RUSNTPLP/ABK black vinyl covered hardback ISBN: 978 1 86228 109 7 LARGE page size: 203 x 129mm (8.0" x 5.1") RUSBLP/ABK black vinyl covered thickness 14mm (0.6") hardback print size: 12 pts ISBN: 978 1 86228 108 0 UK: £5.50 | Aus $10.50 | Can $8.50 | page size: 225 x 155mm (8.9" x 6.1") NZ $10.50 | USA $7.00 thickness 26mm (1.0") print size: 10.5 pts SMALL UK: £7.95 | Aus $14.95 | Can $12.50 | RUSNTP/SBL blue vinyl covered paperback NZ $15.50 | USA $10.50 ISBN: 978 1 86228 303 9 MEDIUM page size: 139 x 92mm (5.5" x 3.6") thickness 12mm (0.5") RUSB/ABK black vinyl covered hardback print size: 9 pts ISBN: 978 1 86228 064 9 page size: 174 x 122mm (6.9" x 4.8") UK: £3.50 | Aus $6.75 | Can $5.50 | thickness 22mm (0.9") NZ $6.75 | USA $5.00 print size: 8 pts UK: £6.00 | Aus $11.50 | Can $10.00 | NZ $11.50 | USA $7.00 Words of Life Calendar Twelve-page pictorial calendar with a SMALL Scripture text for each month RUSBS/ABK black vinyl covered hardback RUSWLC20 ISBN: 978 1 86228 279 7 UK: £0.60 | Aus $1.10 | Can $0.85 | page size: 141 x 97mm (5.6" x 3.8") NZ $1.00 | USA $0.70 thickness 21mm (0.8") print size: 7 pts UK: £5.50 | Aus $10.50 | Can $9.00 | NZ $11.00 | USA $7.00 Golden Thoughts Calendar A Scripture text for each day of the year RUSGTC20 Gospel according UK: £0.36 | Aus $0.65 | Can $0.55 | to John NZ $0.60 | USA $0.45 RUSJN pictorial paperback ISBN: 978 1 86228 481 4 page size: 176 x 125mm (6.9" x 4.9") Article print size: 9.2 pts Господь дал слово (The Lord Gave the UK: £0.40 | Aus $0.75 | Can $0.70 | Word) NZ $0.80 | USA $0.75 RUSA111 – Free

19 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record TURKEY AND THE TURKISH BIBLE

some way to explaining why this people, Introduction for centuries blessed with the Gospel, he Republic of Turkey, as it is now have waited so long for a reliable and known, was the site of many accurate Bible in their own language. Timportant events in Christian history. Nowadays there are just one or two thousand Protestant Christians who Where is Turkey? live in this once-favoured land, and this Turkey has a unique position as the bridge small group faces increasing persecution. between two continents, the western part An understanding of some of the main in Europe and the eastern in Asia. This events in Turkey’s history can explain how location has given Turkey its geopolitical this has come to pass, and will also go and strategic importance over the years.

20 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019

The part of Turkey which falls in Europe is After the Hittites were vanquished, Anatolia referred to as Thrace and the much larger consisted of a patchwork of people, and section which falls in Asia is called Anatolia a number of civilisations rose and fell. or Asia Minor. The two continents are linked Amongst these were the Phrygians (King across an area called the Turkish Straits: the Midas of legend was Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the a Phrygian) and the Dardanelles. Modern day Turkey is bordered Lydians. The last Lydian by eight countries: Greece, Bulgaria, king was Croesus, Georgia, Armenia, the Azerbaijani exclave 560–546 BC, who is of Nakhchivan, Iran, Iraq and Syria. The still remembered in the Aegean Sea lies to the west and the Black saying ‘Rich as Croesus’. Sea to the north, and the Mediterranean In 546 BC the Persians CCroesusroesus Sea borders the south. under Cyrus the Great defeated the kingdom of Lydia and the Greek cities along the coast, and Cyrus The History of Turkey became ruler of most of Asia Minor. Turkey Turkey has had a turbulent past. Once a was under Persian rule for several hundred hub of Christianity, increasingly it seems to years until the Greek Empire emerged. be a stronghold of Islam. Over the centuries In 334 BC the Macedonian Greek king many kingdoms have risen and fallen in Alexander the Great swiftly conquered the Turkey—the Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, Persian Empire including Turkey, making Persians, Greeks, Romans and Ottomans the country part of the vast Greek Empire. have all had kingdoms based there. Alexander died in 323 BC and his empire The fi rst kingdom in Turkey was that of the was divided between his generals. This Hittites. The Hittites were a powerful and meant that Turkey became split into rival warlike people who captured Babylon and kingdoms or states, such as Bithynia, fought against the Egyptians for control of Cappadocia, Pergamum and Pontus. Syria and Palestine. However, the mighty By the second century BC Rome was Hittite empire was gradually brought down becoming the dominant power in the in around 1200 BC when a group known as region and in 133 BC the ruler of one of the Sea People attacked. these rival kingdoms bequeathed his kingdom, Pergamum, to Rome. This was the beginning of Roman rule in Turkey, and over the next hundred years Rome’s grip HHattusaattusa: ((nearnear ÇorumÇorum ) extended over all this region of the world. AAncientncient capitalcapital ooff tthehe HHittiteittite However, although Roman rule was often EEmpirempire brutal, it also brought increased commerce and prosperity, and most importantly provided a fertile ground for the spread of Christianity. The early Christian church thrived in Turkey, and a large proportion of the New Testament was written to the churches there. Paul’s hometown of Tarsus and Lystra, where Timothy was born, were in Turkey, and many of the cities mentioned in Paul’s 21 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record

missionary journeys are found there. Both Seas. Along with the Roman Imperial Court, Paul and Peter wrote epistles to churches the senate and supreme courts all moved in Turkey—Paul wrote to the Galatians, to the new city. In time, Constantinople Ephesians and Colossians, and Peter’s fi rst became one of the most important cities of epistle was to the ‘strangers scattered the world. throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia’ (1 Peter 1.1). The seven This new age of the Roman Empire, churches in Asia to whom John wrote in governed from Turkey, came to be known Revelation (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, as the Byzantine Era, and was a Christian Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea) empire. During the fi fth and sixth centuries can also all be identifi ed in modern Turkey. Rome was captured and sacked by the Visigoths (the Sack of Rome), leading to By the fourth century AD, western the collapse of the western part of the and central Anatolia were Roman Empire; but the eastern half, based overwhelmingly Christian. In in Byzantium, prospered for several more AD 324 Constantine became centuries. Emperor of the Roman Empire, having defeated his However, the Byzantine Empire was not bitter rival Licinius in a civil invincible and like all empires eventually war near the city of Byzantium collapsed. From the seventh to the (a city on the shores of the thirteenth centuries Persians, Arabs, Bosphorus). Constantine nomadic peoples, Seljuk Turks, and even converted to Christianity members of the Fourth Crusade attacked and adopted it as the state Constantinople. By 1450 the Byzantine religion of the Roman Empire consisted only of Constantinople CConstantineonstantine Empire. Rome was felt to be and a handful of Greek cities, and was too far from the frontiers of increasingly threatened by growing Muslim the empire, so a new capital city which was armies in the surrounding countries. more centrally located and could be easily defended was needed. Constantine chose Finally, in 1453 when Constantinople Byzantium as his new Christian capital, and was weakened by almost constant in AD 330 laid out a magnifi cent new city invasions and battles, the Ottoman Turks which he renamed New Rome (later known (descendants of a nomadic warlord called as Constantinople). It had easy access to all Osman, and thoroughly Muslim) led by parts of the empire, as the site was at the Sultan Mehmet II conquered the city. The crossroads of the Asiatic–European trade Fall of Constantinople was the end of the route over land and sat in the gateway between the Mediterranean and Black

PPartsarts ooff tthehe aancientncient citycity wallwall ofof ConstantinopleConstantinople sstilltill sstandtand wwithinithin mmodernodern Istanbul.Istanbul. 2222 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019

The Ottoman Empire lasted for over six hundred years, but the last three hundred years were marked by a steady decline. In 1687 the Ottomans laid siege to Vienna but failed to take the city. By the nineteenth century the Ottomans had fallen far behind the rest of Europe in terms of science, technology, industry and military might. Greece gained independence from the empire in 1832, followed by countries such as Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria. By the mid TThehe ffallall ooff CConstantinopleonstantinople nineteenth century the Ottoman Empire was known as the ‘Sick man of Europe’, and Eastern Roman Empire, and a new Muslim there was intense rivalry between the great Asian–Europe Turkish Empire was formed. powers as to who was going to shape the The fall caused dismay across Europe future of the Near East. because the city had been the last outpost In 1908 military graduates known as the of the Christian faith in the Middle East Young Turks grabbed power from the and brought the threat of Islam closer to Europe. In addition, Europe lost access to reigning Sultan Abdulhamid II and declared the land route to India. But it was not all a constitutional government. In 1909 they bad news: the search for a new sea route replaced Abdulhamid with his brother led to the discovery of the New World— Mehmet V. However, even though a sultan America. sat on the throne, the country was actually governed by three members of the Young Constantinople now became known as Turks’ Committee of Union and Progress: Istanbul, and was the capital of the Otto- Talaat, Enver and Kemal (the last later man Empire. This Muslim known as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk). domination reached its height under Suleiman the Magnifi cent (1520–1566), as the Ottoman Turks con- quered Egypt, Syria, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Tripoli, Cy- prus and most of Hungary. It is claimed that the brilliance TThehe yyoungoung MMustafaustafa KKemalemal ((lighterlighter uuniform)niform) wwithith of the Sultan’s court and the ootherther TTurkishurkish offioffi cerscers aatt GGallipoli.allipoli. might of his armies even outshone those of England’s Henry VII and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The Ottoman surge is said to have During the First World War Turkey sided actually helped the Reformation—it divert- with Germany and was attacked by ed major Roman Catholic forces to fi ght Greece in Thrace, Russia in north-west the Ottomans and distracted them from Anatolia and Britain in Arabia, and was the Protestants at the height of the Refor- the site of the failed multinational landing mation. As one historian puts it, ‘The Sultan at Gallipoli. In the fi fteenth century the was Luther’s best ally’!1 Armenians had been absorbed into 23 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record the Ottoman Empire, and during the given equal rights and were allowed the First World War the Muslim Ottomans same education as men. felt threatened by them. In 1915 the Ottomans acted on this perceived threat, During the Second World War Turkey and thousands of Armenians were shot remained neutral until the closing stages or taken on death marches across the of the confl ict; in February 1945 it entered Mesopotamian desert. Up to 1.5 million on the side of the allies. In June 1945 Turkey Christian Armenians were killed in what is became a charter member of the United often called the Armenian Genocide. Nations and in 1952 joined NATO. In 1987 Turkey applied to become a member state The end of the war saw the Turks in disarray. of the European Union, but since 2016 The Treaty of Sèvres in 1920 led to the negotiations for its accession have stalled. dismembering of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey remained a single party country under Atatürk and his successor until 1946 when the fi rst multiparty election was held. Since 2002 the conservative Justice and Development Party (the AKP) have been in control under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who appears to be undoing the religious tolerance of Atatürk’s regime and has initiated a programme of increasing Islamisation in the country. Today 98% of the population are Muslim. Turkey’s early days as a Christian country, the land of the early Christian churches where Paul travelled and preached, seem MMustafaustafa KKemalemal AtatürkAtatürk to have disappeared. leaving no part of Turkey fully independent. This led to a backlash from the Turks resulting in the birth of the Turkish Nationalist Movement and the Turkish War of Independence (1919–1922). The monarchy was abolished in 1922 and the modern Republic of Turkey was established in 1923, with Kemal as its fi rst president. Kemal became known as Atatürk, which means Father of the Turks. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan The new Republic of Turkey was offi cially declared to be a secular state, with all Turkish citizens being free to practice their Christians in Modern own religion. Atatürk brought in numerous reforms, such as using the Gregorian Day Turkey calendar and adopting the Roman alphabet A century ago it is estimated that Christians to replace the Arabic script. Women were made up around twenty per cent of the 24 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019 population of Turkey. Today there are less intolerance to minorities has increased— than 200,000 Christians (this fi gure covers the general opinion is that a true Turk must all denominations and groups who take be a Sunni Muslim. the name of Christian) in the country, 0.2 percent of the population.2 While the government itself has not targeted Christians directly so far, the Over recent years, the Christians who live nationalism does not leave much space for in Turkey have been facing persecution minorities such as Christians. Leaving Islam which has been increasingly marked by is considered a betrayal of national identity, violence. As Peter Hallihan wrote in an meaning that converts to Christianity face article in the Quarterly Record in 2002, ‘To much opposition, with pressure from families confess Christ in Turkey, and to endure there, needs much grace’.3 This was only too and the community to return to Islam. clear when fi ve years later, in April 2007, the Christians with a Muslim background may pastor of an evangelical church at Malatya be threatened with divorce and the loss of was murdered along with two other men inheritance. They may also have diffi culties working in a Bible publishing house.4 Since organising a Christian wedding or burial. then things have only been getting harder for Christians in Turkey, and the political situation is becoming increasingly diffi cult. In July 2016 there was a failed coup to displace the president, and following this there have been even more concerns for the future of Christians in Turkey. Both the church at Malatya and a Roman Catholic Church (where a priest was murdered in 2006) were 5 vandalised during the coup. Following AAndrewndrew BBrunsonrunson aafterfter hhisis rreleaseelease the coup, Erdoğan’s government began a crackdown on dissent, with an increasing intolerance towards the Christian minority Missionaries to Turkey are under increasing who seem to be viewed with suspicion suspicion and persecution. The most high simply because they are not Muslim. profi le example is that of Andrew Brunson, an American pastor who was jailed in 2016 In April 2017 the government held a after the failed coup on terrorism and referendum concerning constitutional espionage charges. Brunson had lived and reforms; the aim of this was to change worked in Turkey for many years and fl atly Turkey from a parliamentary democracy denied all charges, saying ‘I am an innocent into a presidential one, thus granting man on all these charges. I reject them. I the president huge powers. A majority know why I am here. I am here to suff er in of fi fty-one per cent voted in favour of 6 the change. Following this, in April 2018 Jesus’s name’. He was eventually released elections were held for the parliament in October 2018 after intervention and and the presidency—Erdoğan and the sanctions from the USA. Following this, a AKP won both, making Erdoğan one of Canadian-American evangelist called David the most powerful leaders modern Turkey Byle was arrested and detained. Byle had has known. Since then nationalism and been living and ministering in Turkey for Islamisation have soared and the level of nineteen years, but was ordered to leave 25 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record

the country and has been refused re-entry.7 Christians native to Turkey have problems in Other Protestant church members who are establishing and continuing to use places of not pastors, have also been deported or worship. It is extremely diffi cult to register as told to leave the county, often given only a new church, although small congregations days to fl ee. can register as ‘associations’. In 2018 the Protestant community, consisting of one The Association of Protestant Churches in hundred and fi fty congregations, only had Turkey produced a report in 2018 in which ten offi cial church buildings. The law also they wrote that while there was a reduction does not allow for the training of religious of physical attacks against Protestants leaders. This means that the church often during 2018, ‘there was a signifi cant increase in public hate speech designed to incite has to rely on foreign missionaries and the public to hatred of Protestants and in church leaders who, as mentioned earlier, written or verbal hate attacks on Protestants are increasingly being deported. and Protestant churches purely due to their The future for Christians in Turkey looks very beliefs’.8 This persecution was by national diffi cult given the current circumstances. media outlets as well as local and social Much prayer is needed that they will be media. During the December holiday season given grace to persevere, and that the Lord various anti-Christian campaigns were would protect them from harm in these carried out—billboards and posters with hate-fi lled slogans adorned the streets, distressing days.

IIstanbulstanbul

brochures were distributed and items The Turkish Language published in newspapers and on social media—in order to create an atmosphere While the language of Turkey is Turkish, of hate. The Association observed that over the centuries it has been written and members of the Protestant community printed in a variety of diff erent writing are reluctant to report incidents since systems (scripts) such as Arabic, Armenian the perpetrators often go unpunished or and Greek—meaning that there was no unidentifi ed. Incidents include one church uniform way of writing Turkish in the past. being repeatedly stoned, and individuals So while people could speak the same receiving threatening and abusive phone language and understand each other, they calls. Many church leaders have been had diff erent ways of writing the words targeted by newspapers and have been the down and used a diff erent alphabet made subject of propaganda. up of diff erent symbols. Thus there was no 26 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019 standard Turkish Bible that every Turk could the translation in around 1666, and Warner read and understand. Instead, Bibles were sent it to Leiden to be corrected and published in the various scripts. prepared for printing. Sadly, it was not printed and the manuscript was put As part of the reforming work at the start in the University of Leiden Library of the new Republic of Turkey the Roman where it was forgotten.9 alphabet (the same writing system of symbols as is used for English) was adapted The manuscript lay in Leiden and adopted as the standard form of the for over one hundred and written language, enabling everyone in fi fty years. Nevertheless, Ali Turkey to read the same texts. Bey’s translation did not stay forgotten forever. In 1814 it was discovered in The Turkish Bible the library by Dr Robert While space does not allow for a full history Pinkerton from the of the Turkish Bible, no account is complete British and Foreign Bible without mentioning Ali Bey. Ali Bey (whose Society (BFBS). The BFBS real name was Wojciech Bobowski) was borrowed the manuscript born in Poland in the early 1600s and was from Leiden and entrusted AAlili BeyBey thought to have been raised as a Christian. the task of revising the text He was captured by the Tartars and sold to Baron Heinrich von Diez, a as a slave to the former Prussian ambassador to Turks in Istanbul, Constantinople. After the death of the who gave him Baron in 1817 the work was carried on the name Ali Bey. by Jean Daniel Kieff er, a French Lutheran At some point and interpreter of oriental languages to it is alleged that Louis XVIII of France.10 The New Testament he converted to was published by the BFBS in 1819. Islam. He was sold to the court The 1819 New Testament was not free from of the sultan error, and there was disagreement over and worked as some of the terms which Ali Bey had used an interpreter, in his translation—some were thought treasurer and to be too Islamic. This was pointed out musician—it is claimed that he could speak to the General Committee of the BFBS up to seventeen diff erent languages, and who asked Kieff er to rectify the problems, his musical works are considered among which he did, drawing up a list of the the most important in seventeenth-century mistakes and cancelling the pages where 11 Ottoman music. there were errors of more importance. The New Testament was revised, and in In around 1657 Ali Bey regained his liberty 1827 a complete edition of the Bible was and after this, on the instruction of Levin published, containing the Old Testament Warner, the Dutch ambassador to the court and the revised New Testament.12 This of the Grand Sultan, translated the Bible edition is often referred to as the ‘Ali Bey into Turkish. It is thought that the work of Bible’, even though it had been substantially translation led Ali Bey to understand and revised by Kieff er. These early Bibles had accept the truth of Christianity. He fi nished been in Arabic characters; subsequent 27 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record versions were published in Armenian and people, such as a translation into ‘simplifi ed Greek scripts.13 Over the following years the language’ in 2012, a paraphrase of the text was revised several more times, and in Gospel according to Matthew in 2011, and 1878 a substantial revision took place.14 a translation by Jehovah’s Witnesses. The formation of the Republic of Turkey As this shows, there is still a great need in 1927, with the adoption of the Roman for a reliable, accurate translation of the alphabet and reform of the Turkish Word of God into Turkish, in a form that language, caused additional need for a can be understood by modern day Turkish Turkish Bible revision. It led to an end of people. For many years, the Trinitarian Turkish Bibles being in multiple scripts but Bible Society has worked on a Bible in this meant that a new Bible was needed in the language. In 2002 the Gospel according to new Turkish Roman script, as no one could John was published, and since then it has now read the old Arabic script. In 1929 been reprinted twice by the Society. The Fredrick MacCallum of the American Board Turkish Bible has been approved by the TBS of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was General Committee for publication, and chosen to lead a joint committee of the it is ready for print. It is hoped that, God British and Foreign Bible Society and the willing, it will be printed in the near future. American Bible Society to produce a new Sadly, our Turkish translator passed away Bible in Roman script which conformed to in November 2017 and therefore was not Atatürk’s language reforms. This resulted able to hold a printed Bible—for which he in the new Bible being published in 1941, laboured for some twenty years—in his though regrettably the New Testament was hands. doubtless based on the errant Critical Greek Text rather than the Received Text. In conclusion Atatürk’s language reforms caused huge This overview of the history and language transformation in the Turkish language—in of Turkey helps us to understand the just sixty years the language went through background of Christianity in Turkey, the equivalent of three hundred years of and explains some of the reasons why changes. Words of Arabic and Persian origin Turkey has waited for a good Turkish were removed from the language and new Bible written in a script that modern Turks words added; thus many foreign words can understand. It is only in the last year found in the old Turkish Bibles were no that the Society’s Turkish Bible has been longer used, and people even struggled to completed. Several options have needed to understand the 1941 version. In 1988 the be considered in terms of printing, and it is United Bible Society and The Translation anticipated that getting copies into Turkey Trust joined together to produce a version will be diffi cult. based on their own principles of translation. Referred to as a ‘colloquial version’ it was The Christians in Turkey need to be published in 2001, and is considered to be remembered in our prayers, particularly similar to the Good News Version available that they may be given grace to continue in English. Measured by the Society’s under such persecution and, if it is the standards, this Turkish Bible is not a reliable Lord’s will, that the Christian church may translation of the inspired Word of God, again fl ourish in this once-favoured land. either translationally or textually. There Essential to this growth is a Turkish Bible have also been other attempts by various that all can read: one that may be used by 28 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019 the Lord to comfort the existing Christians 11. Darlow and Moule, 2.1635. in Turkey and to open the eyes of those 12. British and Foreign Bible Society, Report of blinded by Islam. We look to the Lord to the British and Foreign Bible Society with extracts help as we plan to make the fruit of our late of correspondence. Volume the seventh, for the translator’s diligent labours available as years 1822, 1823 and 1824 (London, England: widely as possible. J. S. Hughes). See also R. Steer, Good news for the world. 200 years of making the Bible heard: the Story of the Bible Society (Oxford, England: Endnotes Monarch Books, 2004), p. 122. 13. B. G. Privratsky, A History of Turkish Bible 1. N. Davies, Europe: A History (London, England: Translations Annotated chronology with historical Pimlico, 1997), p. 560. notes and suggestions for further research, Version 2. ‘Final WWL 2018 Country Dossier Turkey’ Open “S”—April 2014. See also E. M. North, Book of Doors USA, www.opendoorsusa.org/christian- a Thousand Tongues Being Some Account of persecution/world-watch-list/turkey, accessed the Translation and Publication of All Or Part of 11 March 2019. the Holy Scriptures Into More Than a Thousand 3. C. P. Hallihan, ‘Turkey’, Quarterly Record no. 561, Languages and Dialects (London, England: Gale October–December 2002. Group, 1983), p. 439. 4. C. P. Hallihan, ‘Turkey. A land of Christian 14. Darlow and Moule, p. 1635. Turmoil’, Quarterly Record no. 580, July– September 2007. Also see J. Wright, Martyrs of Malatya (Welwyn Garden City, UK: EP Books, 2015). 6. ‘Free at Last: Andrew Brunson released by Turkey after two years’, Christianity Today, 12 October 2018. www.christianitytoday.com/ news/2018/october/andrew-brunson-free- turkey-court-us-pastor-release-deal.html, accessed 13 March 2019. 7. B. Baker, ‘Turkey refuses entry to N. American Christian evangelist’, WordWatch Monitor, 26 November 2018. www.worldwatchmonitor. org/2018/11/turkey-refuses-entry-to-n- TTurkishurkish contrasts:contrasts: A ttypicalypical vvillageillage iinn AAnatolianatolia american-christian-evangelist, accessed 13 March 2019. 8. Association of Protestant Churches, ‘2018 Human Rights Violations Report’, World Watch Monitor, 20 February 2019, www. worldwatchmonitor.org/wp-content/ uploads/2019/02/2018-Human-Rights- Violations-Report-2.pdf, accessed 13 March 2019. 9. T. Darlow and H. Moule, Historical Catalogue of the printed editions of Holy Scripture, 3 volumes (London, England: The Bible House, 1911), 2.1635. 10. S. Batalden et al. Sowing the Word. The cultural impact of the British and Foreign Bible OOnene ooff IIstanbul'sstanbul's ppopularopular shoppingshopping boulevardsboulevards Society 1804–2004. (Sheffi eld, England: Phoenix Press, 2004), p. 248. 29 Go ye into all the world…

A report from Missionswerk Voice of Hope, a German ministry established in 2008 to bring the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who do not know it, with whom the Society has worked with over the past year to provide Scriptures for refugees and other migrants moving through Europe.

Siberia In 2018, we at Voice of Hope organized a Bible transport with 2,000 copies of Russian Bibles (large print) being sent to Siberia. Th ese Bibles are granted from the TBS. Th e Bibles arrived in Siberia shortly before the summer. It was a blessing for our contacts to receive so many Bibles at one time. Th ey sent us the following thank you letter.

‘I rejoice at thy word, as one that fi ndeth great Please give thanks and warm greetings to spoil’ (Psalm 119.162) all friends who participated in this project. Th ese Bibles will be distributed personally I am very grateful for the invaluable gift — in a large part of Siberia by our missionaries. the Word of God. I can imagine that you So we also have the opportunity to explain had to overcome many diff erent obstacles. the Gospel to individual people and to show Nevertheless, the Bibles came just in time— them the necessity of repentance and faith in now it is summer, the time to evangelize— Jesus Christ. and they can be distributed to many people. We have never had so many Bibles before. (Sometimes we receive one or two copies All the Bibles are shared during evangelizing by post from friends in Holland.) Th is large trips and personal conversations. At the format is well suited and it is a large print; end of November 2018, the congregation in people like to take these Bibles. Siberia was organizing an exhibition about 30 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019 the origin of the Bible. Th e theme of this about the Gospel. We exhibition was: “Why has God given His made some booklets with Word to people?” Th e topics were: “What is diff erent topics, and read the Word of God?”, “Who has written it?”, them together with the “What translations are available?” and so on. refugees and answered All the people from the city and the students their questions. Th is work of the schools were invited to this exhibition. we can’t do without the People that had interest to own a Bible Word of God—that is the received one copy. foundation of all the lessons. It is a special God has opened doors to give His Word to opportunity that we have had in the past people who never knew what is written in this years to reach so many people with God’s Book from Him. It is our prayer that God will Word and to teach them from it. And we bless this work among the elderly and young hope that this opportunity will also be there people to the glory of His Name for ever. in the coming years. May God bless it to the glory of His Name and for the salvation of Request to the Trinitarian Bible Society: lost sinners. Can the TBS make available 2,000 copies of Russian Bibles (large print) for Bible Th e number of refugees arriving on the distribution in Siberia? island of Sicily has decreased compared to previous years, but the refugee camps are ‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be still full. Th ere are also groups of refugees preached in all the world for a witness unto coming back who have travelled on to other all nations; and then shall the end come.’ countries in Europe but are sent back because (Matthew 24.14) they have to arrange their documents in the country of fi rst arrival. In this way, there are still a lot of people that need to hear about Sicily the Gospel. In order to continue this work, Last June the Trinitarian Bible Society we ask the TBS again kindly, is it possible to granted 4,000 copies of English Bibles for donate 4,000 English hardcover Bibles? We sharing among the refugees on Sicily. It was are also looking for suitable material to teach encouraging to receive so many Bibles to the children from God’s Word. How beautiful hand out to those who didn’t have one. In it would be if refugees’ children learn Bible the past year, more than 7,500 Bibles were texts by heart. Th erefore we would also like distributed, from donations from the TBS to ask, is it possible to receive colouring and GBS [Gereformeerde Bijbelstichting]. books with Bible verses? We are thinking Aft er the Lord, we thank you very much for particularly of the booklet that TBS have with these generous donations. the Twenty-third Psalm. We would be very happy with fi ft y copies of this booklet. Th e work among the refugees continues. Every week one of our young men is allowed It is our prayer to God that all of these Bibles to explain and distribute God’s Word. Each are used for the glory of His name and the Sunday in the morning service in the Voice extension of His Kingdom. We wish you and of Hope centre God’s Word is preached to all the staff and volunteers of Trinitarian everyone who wants to hear it. We visit the Bible Society God’s indispensable help and refugee camps in Sicily and speak with them blessings. 31 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterlyy Record TThehe WWordord of God AAmongmong All Nations

Although certain phrases and expressions used in these letters mmayay not be doctrinally accurate or in correct English, we reproduce the letterletterss essentially as received, knowing that the Lord is using His Word ttoo ththee glory of His Name and the furtherance of His Kingdom as the Scripturesptturrees are distributed among the nations of the world.

Europe … aandnd atat GlasgowGlasgow …

From the UK via telephone A Portuguese lady who had a Christian background received a TBS diary and as a result of it started reading her Bible again. Thought you would like to hear this encouraging testimony.

From the UK Herewith are a couple of photos of the results of the Railway Poster project. For many years the Society’s Railway Poster Campaign has provided large Scripture

RRailwayailway posterposter atat StSt David'sDavid's RailwayRailway StationStation …

… aandnd manymany yearsyears agoago atat BBirminghamirmingham MMooroor StreetStreet

posters for public display at railway stations in England, Scotland and Wales. These brightly coloured posters feature a Scripture text in a large, legible font, and are easily 32 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019 visible to travellers on rail platforms and contacts. I will encourage them to send you concourses. A TBS supporter also found the photographs. They do not speak English, accompanying old photo of TBS posters so are reluctant to contact you directly, but at Birmingham Moor Street Station in I will see what I can do. The English ones September 1987, which is reproduced by mostly go to people I know personally kind permission of Don Taggart. through the Bible correspondence courses we have written and used throughout the From Barnstaple, Devon, England last eighteen years, and recipients await We had the privilege once again of having them eagerly. Many use them as part of at stand at the Royal Cornwall Agricultural their daily devotions, reading the chapters Show. Although our ministry is continuous as suggested. I try to visit them on a regular throughout the year the Show is our greatest basis. May the Lord bless His Word! outreach and has been ongoing over the past thirty years. Two tables are given over FromF Nice, France to the display of children’s books and Bibles ManyM thanks from our Bible training and New Testaments and although school cecenter students in Paris. Half of them groups are often kept away by their teachers are pastors. They were thrilled to receive the a steady number usually come in. Although calendars—and we will be passing on the the ‘fi sh for gold’ goldfi sh bowl is on the 5,000 extra calendars you sent. Thank you children’s table a number of adults fi sh and so much. take the Little Gold Books with them as these are so very attractive. We display text boards both outside and inside the tent and the only criticism received is from the Churches Together tent, some of whom object to the word sinners being used. We always ask for those who take Bibles to read these regularly—even daily—and to write to me if they have any questions or would like a visit. This has resulted in a number of visits in the past, but the question of where to fi nd a sound church is always diffi cult to answer BBibleible ttrainingraining ccentreentre iinn FFrancerance these days and a number of folk do ask this question. We can only pray that the Lord will lead them to a sound church or change FromF Armenia those who are not preaching the Gospel. TheT evangelistic work of our AArmenian ministry continues, by From Eastbourne, Sussex, England God’s grace, in the Yerevan headquarters. We Many thanks for the grant of English, thank Trinitarian Bible Society for printing Spanish and French Calendars. The Spanish and sending to us approximately 5,000 and French Golden Thoughts have arrived copies of the New Testament and Psalms safely in Paris and are gratefully received in Armenian, and 10,000 Words of Life by responsible believers who are active calendars. These are both highly in demand in distributing them, mostly at a street as well as the Bibles, the distribution book table which they use weekly to of which still continues. It’s all great spread the Word of God freely to interested encouragement to talk to the individuals 33 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record and church leaders who come to the offi ce for Bibles and tell stories of where these Bibles are going and how they are being received. FromF Waarde, the NetherlandsN WeW bought ten sets of puzzle books (fi ve of the older sets and fi ve of the newer sets) and three sets of children’s bookmarks. Your books with Biblical questions and puzzles are used in an orphan house in GGhanaianhanaian orphansorphans enjoyingenjoying puzzlepuzzle bbooksooks Nsoatre, Ghana. FromF Győr, Hungary I aam writing to disclose information IndiaI aaboutb calendar distribution here in Győr. I am also sending a photo of calendars FromF Tamil Nadu, India given to the elderly at a day centre on the ThankT you so much for 2019 outskirts of town. Calendars were given to calendarsca for our mission. Every year a prison chaplain who kindly gave them it has been a great blessing for the readers to prisoners prior to Christmas. During and ever since the distribution started by the festive season distribution was also me I am able to see more demand for the done at church services. School children Golden Thoughts, especially in schools and also received calendars as did many of our hostels. Thanking you so much for your acquaintances. We wish you all the Lord’s partnership. blessings as He blesses His Word and helps us to receive it with meekness, may it be so. From Anagar, India To beloved friends at TBS, God bless you. Last year you granted me seventy-fi ve Hebrew and Greek Bibles (Original Language Bibles) for year 2019. For year 2020 will you kindly grant two hundred Hebrew and Greek Bibles and some English Bibles Thanks, TBS: since 2007 you are CCalendarsalendars distributeddistributed ttoo tthehe eelderlylderly iinn HHungaryungary granting Bibles to us. GGreekreek TTextusextus RReceptuseceptus uusedsed iinn IIndiandia

34 Issue Number: 627 – April to June 2019

Africa

FromF Zambia WeW are overwhelmed with great joyjo to receive the gift of Golden Thoughts Calendars. Your extension of love to us has given us the real joy and wealth of knowledge. We are done with distribution DDistributingistributing ccalendarsalendars inin ZambiaZambia and people are so hungry for Bibles. Kindly consider praying to send us more Bibles as we are planning for three big conferences, which were all distributed. As I write [in in April, August and December. Bibles, early January] only the Spanish, Russian, books, posters and other materials will be Portuguese, some English and Hausa appreciated. Golden Thoughts, and some Arabic Words of Life are still yet to be distributed. FromF Tiko, Cameroon The churches have rushed to collect ThankT you for the Royal Ruby the French Golden Thoughts and are Bibles.Bi Here is a photograph of our distributing them in their churches and distribution—we give them to church within their jurisdictions. Through you members and others who need the 42,000 calendars are being distributed in Scriptures. churches, Christian homes and prisons. May God bless you. The Arabic Calendars are being distributed by evangelists in their outreaches. We had a seminar on Bible meditation and family devotions which was attended by sixty-one leaders. We are planning to run more such workshop to encourage Bible meditation TThehe ScripturesScriptures fforor hhungryungry ssoulsouls iinn CCameroonameroon and family devotions using the Golden Thoughts Calendars. Please do FromF N’djamena, Chad remember us in prayer. I greet you from Chad in the name Although the pallet was expected of our blessed Redeemer. Thank to be delivered to us at home, we were you very much for all the Calendars this charged to pay the airport clearance. We year. We received two shipments: 50 had no money on us then but were given boxes or parcels from the post offi ce in the pallet on the commitment that we bags and 75 boxes or parcels in a pallet. would pay the money in a few weeks. We Greek Textus Receptus used in India On behalf of churches in Chad, we wish are grateful that as we organized prayer to express gratitude for these grants God moved to give us favor before these

35 Trinitarian Bible Society – Quarterly Record people. May we politely request that if there are any Golden Thoughts in French left in the store and if the Lord provides, TThe Americas please ship them to us again here in Chad because people will use them anytime FromF TBS (USA) during the year. WeW recently printed 35,000 copies of ththe Spanish New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in Brazil. These were all shipped by the printer to strategic hubs in the Spanish-speaking world, from where they are being distributed to our many contacts and supporters in Latin America and Spain. The reception to this printing has been very positive. In particular, our contacts have sent us many positive comments regarding the easy-to-read font and the readability of BBiblesibles aarriverrive iinn CChadhad the text. In addition, those with knowledge of the Biblical languages have written to FromF Democratic express their appreciation for the faithfulness RRepublic of Congo of our revision to the original Hebrew and ThankTh you for the really kind off er Greek. Below is an image of a group in of the calendars—we would love some, Bolivia receiving the Scriptures. thank you! There’s no postal system in DRC though and sending consignments out has become too diffi cult and expensive—so excess baggage when we travel is really our only option for the moment. The most cost-eff ective way to do that is to check in extra suitcases when we travel and so we’d be looking to take the calendars out in a suitcase when we travel back. So, if we could SSpanishpanish ScriptureScripture distributiondistribution inin BoliviaBolivia have about 30kg in weight of calendars this would be a manageable amount. From the USA Thank you again for thinking of us; we We hosted a holiday project in December know they will be gratefully received 2018 at our county jail for some inmates in DRC! In fact, one of our missionary that have been incarcerated greater than partner’s Congolese colleagues has an thirty days—there were sixty-fi ve inmates English copy from either 2003 or 2009 in number. The handheld King James hanging in his bathroom so we know Version Bibles [the Royal Ruby] came in at he’ll appreciate an updated one! It shows the right moment as many inmates prefer how valued the GTCs are by some, that this translation. The Bibles were used as gifts even a copy ten-plus years old continues to those inmates accompanied with cards to be used. It also shows the diffi culties (with stamps) and candy bars to encourage some missionaries have to go through to them during this season of separation from receive Scripture items. their families.

36 Trinitarian Bible Society

International Headquarters International Branches Trinitarian Bible Society William Tyndale House Australian Branch 29 Deer Park Road National Secretary: Mr. A. Brown, B.E. London Trinitarian Bible Society (Australia) SW19 3NN P.O.Box 1381, Grafton NSW 2460, Australia England Tel.: +61 2 6642 8880 Fax: +61 2 6642 8881 email: [email protected] Telephone: (020) 8543 7857 website: www.tbsbibles.org Brazilian Branch email: [email protected] President: The Rev. Dr. T. L. Gilmer Facebook: www.facebook.com/tbsbibles Executive Secretary: Pr. H. R. Gilmer, M.A. Sociedade Bíblica Trinitariana do Brasil Offi ce Hours: Rua Julio de Castilhos, 108/120 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Belenzinho, 03059-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil Registered Charity No.: Tel.: (11) 2693-5663 Fax: (11) 2695-3635 233082 (England) SC038379 (Scotland) email: [email protected] V.A.T. Registration No.: GB 215 9219 67 Canadian Branch Auditors: General Secretary: Mr. A. Stoutjesdyk, B.Ed., M.Ed. Kingston Smith LLP Trinitarian Bible Society (Canada) Devonshire House 9136 Young Road 60 Goswell Road Chilliwack, B.C., V2P 4R4, Canada London EC1M 7AD Tel.: (604) 793-2232 Fax: (604) 793-2262 Solicitors: Toll free: 1-855-793-2232 email: offi [email protected] Bates, Wells & Braithwaite 10 Queen Street Place New Zealand Branch London EC4R 1BE Chairman: Mr. B. de Boer Bankers: Trinitarian Bible Society (New Zealand) Arbuthnot Latham & Co Ltd PO Box 137025 Arbuthnot House Parnell, Auckland 1151, New Zealand 7 Wilson St Tel.: 09 263 5919 London EC2M 2SN email: [email protected]

Account Name: Trinitarian Bible Society USA Branch Sterling Account No.: 71529601 General Secretary: Mr. W. Greendyk, B.A. Sort Code: 30-13-93 Trinitarian Bible Society (USA) Swift ID Code/BIC: ARBUGB2L 927 Alpine Commerce Park, Suite 100, Euro Account No.: 31529601 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49544, USA IBAN for Euro Account: Tel.: (616) 735-3695 Fax: (616) 785-7237 GB35 ARBU 3013 9331 5296 01 email: [email protected] The aims of the Society

To publish and distribute the Holy MaM naavgv aat Waterfalll , Turkkey Scriptures throughout the world in many languages.

To promote Bible translations which are accurate and trustworthy, conforming to the Hebrew Masoretic Text of the Old Testament, and the Greek Textus Receptus of the New Testament, upon which texts the English Authorised Version is based.

To be instrumental in bringing light and life, through the Gospel of Christ, to those who are lost in sin and in the darkness of false religion and unbelief.

To uphold the doctrines of reformed Christianity, bearing witness to the equal and eternal deity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, One God in three Persons.

To uphold the Bible as the inspired, inerrant Word of God.

For the Glory of God and the Increase of His Kingdom through the circulation of Protestant or uncorrupted versions of the Word of God.

I SSN 004 9 -4712 Trinitarian Bible Society William Tyndale House, 29 Deer Park Road London SW19 3NN, England 9 770049 471000 email: [email protected] www.tbsbibles.org

T HE WO RD O F GOD AMO N G ALL NATIO N S