What makes this transition even greater in impact and speed is that it is happening in the Digital Era where mobile phones are nearly ubiquitous, bridging the so-called “digital divide” all over the world. This transition of Bible translation back to the church would be significant at any point in history. At that point, the ownership of and authority for the process of Bible translation is expected to transfer to them. As such, the proximate church in these contexts is considered to have the primary responsibility for the unreached people group, until the church is present in the people group.

Where the Church does not yet exist in a people group, the Church in people groups that are geographically or socially close to and missionally focused on the unreached people group (the “proximate Church”) has the clearest perspective of the need and opportunity for translation of biblical content as part of evangelistic outreach and church planting. It is assumed that where the Church exists in a people group, it is considered to be the spiritual authority for that people group. This transition has been triggered by a foundational shift of historic proportions: the ownership of and authority over all aspects of Bible translation is returning to the global Church. Empowering the Global Church to Bring Abundant Access to the Scriptures to Every PeopleĪ major transition is occurring in Bible translation.

Bible translation timeline chart