Translating the Word of God into the Guarani Language (From Manny Rodriguez)
Please pray for another project that we are working on in our ministry here in Paraguay, South America. In our Bible Institute, we have decided to translate the word of God into what is known as the Guarani language. (See the first draft of the gospel of John HERE)
For example, I served in Puerto Rico as a missionary for several years. Their ancient language is the Taino language of the Taino Indians. However, Puerto Ricans did not preserve the Taino language, so the language is pretty much extinct as most Puerto Ricans from the island are more focused on learning English if they do seek to learn a second language. Their first language of course is Spanish.
In Paraguay, all Paraguayans speak both languages - Spanish and Guarani. As you go deeper into the interior of Paraguay, you'll find that most folks in the country speak Guarani more than Spanish. Some speak exclusively in Guarani although they may know a good bit of Spanish. Many in the interior are much more comfortable in Guarani than in Spanish.
Therefore, we have determined that it would be wise to have God's precious words available in the language that many Paraguayans in the interior of the country are more comfortable in.
We are right now in the process of planting 2 brand new churches in the interior. In these areas, our students do most of their preaching and evangelism in Guarani and that has proven to be very effective in reaching souls for Christ in the interior. Imagine how beneficial it would be to these churches, and future churches we plan to plant, to have God's words in the language that most speak in more than Spanish in the interior of the country.
So our goal is to have God's words faithfully translated in a Bible that will be equivalent to our King James Bible in English and fully based upon the Received Texts.
I never dreamed that as a Missionary I'd be involved in Bible translation. The Lord never ceases to surprise me with the open doors He presents as we serve Him. Please pray for me as I strive to learn now a third language. My role right now in this project is as an organizer and coordinator in addition to teaching our students basic translating principles from my years of experience as a collaborator in the revision of the Spanish Bible (Reina Valera Gomez). The students have been working hard on this translation.
And for those who might be wondering, yes I believe the King James Bible is the infallible, inerrant, and perfect word of God in English. Always have and always will (unless I go senile one day, lol). So this should give you an idea of what we're aiming for in the translating of God's word in Guarani. We want a Bible in Guarani in which we can have just as much confidence as we do in our beloved KJV. We believe that with God all things are possible.
Please pray for this project and we'll keep you updated as things progress.
For example, I served in Puerto Rico as a missionary for several years. Their ancient language is the Taino language of the Taino Indians. However, Puerto Ricans did not preserve the Taino language, so the language is pretty much extinct as most Puerto Ricans from the island are more focused on learning English if they do seek to learn a second language. Their first language of course is Spanish.
In Paraguay, all Paraguayans speak both languages - Spanish and Guarani. As you go deeper into the interior of Paraguay, you'll find that most folks in the country speak Guarani more than Spanish. Some speak exclusively in Guarani although they may know a good bit of Spanish. Many in the interior are much more comfortable in Guarani than in Spanish.
Therefore, we have determined that it would be wise to have God's precious words available in the language that many Paraguayans in the interior of the country are more comfortable in.
We are right now in the process of planting 2 brand new churches in the interior. In these areas, our students do most of their preaching and evangelism in Guarani and that has proven to be very effective in reaching souls for Christ in the interior. Imagine how beneficial it would be to these churches, and future churches we plan to plant, to have God's words in the language that most speak in more than Spanish in the interior of the country.
So our goal is to have God's words faithfully translated in a Bible that will be equivalent to our King James Bible in English and fully based upon the Received Texts.
I never dreamed that as a Missionary I'd be involved in Bible translation. The Lord never ceases to surprise me with the open doors He presents as we serve Him. Please pray for me as I strive to learn now a third language. My role right now in this project is as an organizer and coordinator in addition to teaching our students basic translating principles from my years of experience as a collaborator in the revision of the Spanish Bible (Reina Valera Gomez). The students have been working hard on this translation.
And for those who might be wondering, yes I believe the King James Bible is the infallible, inerrant, and perfect word of God in English. Always have and always will (unless I go senile one day, lol). So this should give you an idea of what we're aiming for in the translating of God's word in Guarani. We want a Bible in Guarani in which we can have just as much confidence as we do in our beloved KJV. We believe that with God all things are possible.
Please pray for this project and we'll keep you updated as things progress.
