Accurate, Clear and Contemporary

Biblica has sponsored translations in over 100 major languages since 1810. In the 1960s, in response to the evangelical Church’s concern that archaic language in older Bible versions was creating a barrier to people’s acceptance of God’s Word, we committed our resources to sponsoring the New International Version® (NIV) Bible, the world’s leading contemporary English translation. Since then, almost half a billion copies have reached people all over the globe.

Biblica sponsors the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT), consisting of evangelical Bible scholars from various denominations and from some of the finest academic institutions around the world. The CBT meets annually to review, maintain, and strengthen the NIV’s ability to accurately and clearly render God’s unchanging Word in modern English. The committee’s goal is to translate the original text so people might hear God’s Word the way it was written and understand God’s Word the way it was meant.

Biblica has also sponsored translations in over 100 major languages. We translate the full Bible into languages spoken by 1 million plus speakers, with a focus on accuracy, faithfulness to the original Greek and Hebrew texts, and clarity to the reader.

Our passion is to share the gospel with people around the world in their own languages. Like the NIV, all our translations strive to clearly and accurately present God’s Word in contemporary language so people may easily understand it and be transformed by its truth.

A Sacred Trust

With a large staff of full-time translators, sufficient funding, and minimal social, political and economic difficulties, you might complete a translation in a few years. But that scenario is rare. Usually a full Bible takes a decade or longer to complete. Translators often hold full-time jobs as professors or pastors. Translations are delayed when funding is unavailable. Funding relies on donors’ commitment to support a multi-year process. In-country crises also can create obstacles to progress.

Yet no matter what the delays may be, shortcuts can’t be taken in the precise and detailed work of Bible translation. Many steps are required to produce an excellent translation. Here are some of the most common.

Producing a Translation

Assess needs: Determine the need; define the audience and format. Estimate costs.

Train and equip: Provide training for translators continuing their education in biblical studies, language, translation, and the use of reference works and technology.

Write and review: Write first draft of each book of the Bible and footnotes. Check initial drafts for accuracy, clarity, and potential omissions.

Test with the intended audience: Solicit feedback by Bible users including church leaders.

Review changes: Read the text again for accuracy and clarity, making revisions as necessary.

Conduct outside review: Connect with outside specialists to thoroughly review and proofread the translation.

Check mechanics: Closely check consistency in chapter and verse numbering, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, quotation marks, proper names, key terms, parallel passages, section heads, footnotes, etc. Computer programs are used when available to help speed the process.

Prepare for publication: Prepare the final copy for typesetting and/or production of print, audio, video and/or electronic editions.

Launch new translation: Biblica holds a celebration in the country of the new translation and presents local churches, ministry partners, and community leaders with the long-awaited Bibles in their language.

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