The Final Stages of a Bible Translation Project
Because Bible translation is a decades-long endeavor, it is divided into multiple stages. Stage one involves learning the language and culture of the intended language group. Stage two is initial training of the local team, translating the first book, and producing a print run of that book (in our case, Xoiteupo Asinaku Kuna Makie Xayawoki, i.e. God’s Good Talk that Mark Wrote or the Gospel According to Mark)—celebrated and distributed to the people. Stage three is the full production phase, when the bulk of the New Testament is translated and checked. Stage four, combines final checking with preparations for typesetting and publication. We are in this stage of the project.
While each stage serves its purpose, the current stage aims at consistency across all of the New Testament. The ideas vital to gaining clear understanding and insight from the Scriptures are often phrases rather than single words (as they are in Koine Greek). These need to be consistently translated book to book. That is this stage’s purpose.
For example, consider the word “church”. In Koine Greek this word is ἐκκλησία, which is based upon the root καλέω “to call”. Its New Testament usage refers to a congregation or assembly, or in modern parlance, “church”. However, its constituent parts add up to “called out”. This word is more than the sum of its parts. A whole sub-discipline of theology (ecclesiology) is devoted to its study. There is no one word in the Somau Garia language that encapsulates its meaning. We, therefore, derived a phrase that, for Somau Garia speakers, best describes what the church is: “the (group of) men and women who believe in and follow Jesus.” So, as we review the New Testament in its entirety, we are examining how ἐκκλησία is rendered in each instance and making adjustments where necessary to make its usage consistent. This is one but scores of such key terms.
The aim is that the translation be received and used by the local churches, pastors, teachers, and families in their homes. When the Scriptures are learned, memorized, studied, and used in the language of the heart, transformation in lives, communities, and people groups is far more likely. Transformation of men and women into the likeness of Jesus Christ is our primary desire.
2026 and Beyond
By God’s grace, in 2025 we successfully achieved the translation goals the Lord put before us. In 2026, we are scheduled to check the final books:
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 & 2 Corinthians
- 1 & 2 Peter
- Jude
- Revelation
You Can Get Involved
The enemy of our souls is heavily invested in keeping people ignorant, enslaved, and downtrodden. His native language is deception, his operational attitude is hatred and division. His fingerprints are all over the division and irrational hatred so prevalent today. As a Bible translation project nears completion, the enemy becomes more and more stirred to oppose anyone and anything involved in completing that project. He knows all too well that the Word changes people, correcting his lies with Truth, breaking open the gates of death and hatred that hold so many captive, setting people free from fear.
However, the power of our enemy to interrupt people gaining access to the Word of God in their own language is limited. One way in which God limits the enemy’s success is by calling his people to intercede for the translation team through prayer. God involves each of us in his great mission to make Jesus known in every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. He asks us to pray, to give, and to go.
Here are a few ways to participate:
- You can pray. At the beginning of each month in 2026, I will be updating this website with current prayer needs.
- If you are interested in receiving weekly prayer and ministry updates in your email inbox, click here and request to be added.
- Each update has a list of five priority prayers for the week, three photos or graphics, and a brief article with news or a devotional thought.
- You can donate. See our donate page for instructions and a link to our mission’s giving page.
- You can invite others to join the prayer or provision team by directing them to this website or to our ministry page on Facebook.
Thank you for giving your time and attention for the last few minutes. Thank you for the time and energy you can give toward praying purposefully for the successful completion of the Somau Garia New Testament translation. Your prayer and participation is leaving an indelible mark on the future history of an entire people.
Blessings!
