The Chinese Language Project
Read the Chinese Authorized Version First Draft
Bi-lingual Chinese-English John/Romans Simplified
Bi-lingual Chinese-English John/Romans Traditional
Why a new Translation? Get more info here.
Listen to an audio discussion of the Chinese Union Version, the peking Version, and the need for a new translation. Click here
China is the world’s most populous country with over 1.3 billion souls. It is the world’s second largest country by land area with 9.6 million square kilometers, but only the third or fourth by total area. The country is one of many contrasts. It ranges from forest steppes to deserts in the arid north to subtropical rain forests in the south. The tallest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas, is partly in China. The government is communist, but the people embrace many religions. As of 2013, China’s economy was the second largest in the world in terms of nominal total GDP and in purchasing power parity and it is the fastest growing economy in the world. It is the world’s largest exporter and importer of goods.
The main standard language of China is the Beijing dialect of Mandarin. When one speaks of the Chinese language this is what is meant. Nevertheless, there are several hundred dialects and languages spoken in China. Operation World says there are an estimated 600 different Han dialects, but there is only one written language common to all of them. One well translated Bible in the common written language would be sufficient for all these Han dialects. That is one very important reason the new CAV translation project is so important.
Global Bible Translators is partnered with a team of Chinese and Americans who are working on a new Bible translation: The Chinese Authorized Version (CAV). The name is taken from the King James Bible (KJV) which is also called The Authorized Version. The source texts for the CAV are the King James Bible and the Received Greek and Hebrew texts upon which it was based. The team started translating in earnest in 2008 and has finished the Gospel of John and the Book of Romans. As of 2016, they are also in first draft on Genesis, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Philemon. Matthew 1-6, and Mark. Their report included starting rough drafts on 1 Corinthians, and Philippians. They have also translated "God's Answers for Life's Questions" also referred to as "The Book of Redemption", which you can learn about elsewhere on our web site.
In the process of this project, the CAV team made an evaluation of two major Chinese translations, the Chinese Union Version (CUV) and the Peking Version (PV). Both of these translations were found to contain many errors. The CUV is the main version used in China. It was first published in 1919and was translated from the false Critical Greek Text. Currently, it is published by several publishers which are affiliated with the United Bible Societies. The Peking Version was originally published in 1872 and the New Testament was translated from the Received Greek Text, so it is not nearly as bad as the CUV. It has since ceased to be used. However, in the last few years there have been attempts to revive the Peking Version. One of the latest attempts is a revision done in association with the Far East Bible College in Singapore and called "The Treasure Edition." The CAV team has made an extensive evaluation of this revision and reports that some of the errors of the Peking Version have been corrected, but many are left unchanged.
We are convinced that the approach now being used by the translation team of the CAV is the right one. They are producing a new translation by going through the Bible verse-by- verse and word-by-word. Their goal is to produce as close to a KJV equivalent in Chinese as is possible. It is a difficult and intense effort. Please pray for them as they proceed.
Bi-lingual Chinese-English John/Romans Simplified
Bi-lingual Chinese-English John/Romans Traditional
Why a new Translation? Get more info here.
Listen to an audio discussion of the Chinese Union Version, the peking Version, and the need for a new translation. Click here
China is the world’s most populous country with over 1.3 billion souls. It is the world’s second largest country by land area with 9.6 million square kilometers, but only the third or fourth by total area. The country is one of many contrasts. It ranges from forest steppes to deserts in the arid north to subtropical rain forests in the south. The tallest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas, is partly in China. The government is communist, but the people embrace many religions. As of 2013, China’s economy was the second largest in the world in terms of nominal total GDP and in purchasing power parity and it is the fastest growing economy in the world. It is the world’s largest exporter and importer of goods.
The main standard language of China is the Beijing dialect of Mandarin. When one speaks of the Chinese language this is what is meant. Nevertheless, there are several hundred dialects and languages spoken in China. Operation World says there are an estimated 600 different Han dialects, but there is only one written language common to all of them. One well translated Bible in the common written language would be sufficient for all these Han dialects. That is one very important reason the new CAV translation project is so important.
Global Bible Translators is partnered with a team of Chinese and Americans who are working on a new Bible translation: The Chinese Authorized Version (CAV). The name is taken from the King James Bible (KJV) which is also called The Authorized Version. The source texts for the CAV are the King James Bible and the Received Greek and Hebrew texts upon which it was based. The team started translating in earnest in 2008 and has finished the Gospel of John and the Book of Romans. As of 2016, they are also in first draft on Genesis, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Philemon. Matthew 1-6, and Mark. Their report included starting rough drafts on 1 Corinthians, and Philippians. They have also translated "God's Answers for Life's Questions" also referred to as "The Book of Redemption", which you can learn about elsewhere on our web site.
In the process of this project, the CAV team made an evaluation of two major Chinese translations, the Chinese Union Version (CUV) and the Peking Version (PV). Both of these translations were found to contain many errors. The CUV is the main version used in China. It was first published in 1919and was translated from the false Critical Greek Text. Currently, it is published by several publishers which are affiliated with the United Bible Societies. The Peking Version was originally published in 1872 and the New Testament was translated from the Received Greek Text, so it is not nearly as bad as the CUV. It has since ceased to be used. However, in the last few years there have been attempts to revive the Peking Version. One of the latest attempts is a revision done in association with the Far East Bible College in Singapore and called "The Treasure Edition." The CAV team has made an extensive evaluation of this revision and reports that some of the errors of the Peking Version have been corrected, but many are left unchanged.
We are convinced that the approach now being used by the translation team of the CAV is the right one. They are producing a new translation by going through the Bible verse-by- verse and word-by-word. Their goal is to produce as close to a KJV equivalent in Chinese as is possible. It is a difficult and intense effort. Please pray for them as they proceed.
