Taiwan Church News

3322 Edition

October 26 - November 1, 2015

Church Ministry

Common Taiwanese Bible As A Best Gift To Commemorate PCT150

Reported by Chen Yi-fan

On 24 October, celebrating the publication of the PCT150 version of the Common Taiwanese Bible, a thanks-giving service is held by Common Taiwanese Bible Association(CTBA) at the chapel of Tainan Theological College and Seminary(TTCS). Not only the representatives from TTCS, Taiwan Theological Seminary and College, and Chang-Jung Christian University are each presented with a copy of CTB, symbolizing a continuous evangelical mission in the Taiwanese culture and language, a special award was also granted to the Faith-Hope-Love-Information-Culture-Arts Foundation for their contribution on the support of internet technology.

Rev. Wong Chong-gyiau, president of TTCS, delivers a sermon entitled as "Speaking Different Tones" in this service. He points out that, according to some theologians, since building the tower of Babel implys a mindset of totalitarianism and central control, the scenario when people left off building the city did not mean punishment but forgiveness and tolerance. The Babel event means the end of a hegemony in language and the beginning of tolerance and pluralism. "The most significant meaning, after using our familiar common Taiwanese to translate the bible, is that we can use our own language to read the bible, sing our hymns and comfort our people with the words of God", says Wong. "It is a grace from God that we can speak our own language!"

Rev. Dr. Hsiao Ching-Fen, president of CTBA, tells the story of how the Common Taiwanese Bible is initiated anddeveloped by a persistent effort of the Elder Lim Chun-iok, a first Christian-convert in his families. After Elder Lim stepped ever into the church, where many ecclesiastical nomenclatures pronounced in an uncommon Amoy accent made him quite uneasy, he therefore decided to translate the bible in the common Taiwanese, Rev. Hsiao says.

Though having been invested with many efforts and resources, the Common Taiwanese Bible still wishes to be keptmodified up to date. In order to let the Common Taiwanese Bible become an important part of the Taiwanese culture, It is very welcomed to receive any correction of the Common Taiwanese Bible on the website, Rev. Hsiao says.

Translated by Peter Wolfe