Oral Bible Translation!📖

Oral Bible Translation

I wanted to share a class I'm getting to participate in! It is FASCINATING!

We need to find...

Words to EXPRESS what God is saying- 1)Preparation: Community/group takes ownership➡️ Facilitators internalize the text➡️Translators are trained

2)Team Bonding: translators, checkers, community & facilitators bond together

3)Producing Drafts:

FIRST- The Bible text becomes part of you (revelation/rhema) it transforms your heart

THEN you understand/explore the details of the text (analytical/analysis of the story)/connecting with the text in your mind

LAST you can tell the story with your expression (like dance) & with your body

This is the process of producing 'drafts' of the Bible text into oral language!

*****************

In order to tell the story/stories, we have to get them to understand the timeline of the story. You can do this using a storyboard-

The characters & how they interact in the story, what 'times' they appear in the story. Use physical objects/people to help them internalize & understand the content of the scripture-story.

**Use SONG! Some groups love RHYTHM in story telling.**

(Could it be that THIS is actually where "worship" as we know it came from? Worship is "telling" a story about who God is, what He does, & can do!!! Think about ancient Israelites & the Psalms of David.)

Clothing is also used for storytelling! Colors & patterns evoke emotions. (Think about tribal people, Africans) HOW do they use color & even paint to communicate/express stories?

It ALL communicates!

It's about CONNECTING to the story.

(This is what makes DANCE so powerful!)

**BUT also consider, gestures & movements do not communicate the same thing across cultures! In some places, they do not understand them. WHAT communicates in THEIR culture?**

Even words/phrases can be the same, but have different meaning in different context-

i.e, "Take off your shirt" means something different when going swimming vs. a husband to a wife.

When teaching translation groups, we have to give space for them to learn what does, & doesn't work.

How do THEY see things?

EXAMPLE:

The Suahata tribe in Brazil draws a picture based on the PROCESS, & NOT the finished product.(like we would)

They are builders, so the way they understand/communicate is through PROCESS - what is done FIRST.

MIND EXPLOSION...

**THIS IS EVEN WHAT JESUS DID - GOD coming in flesh, in our 'culture', language & experience - He HUMBLED Himself in becoming one of His creation, living our story in His incarnated body. HE became one of US.**

We have to create an 'environment' that gives space for them to understand/create the story from their perspective & not ours. They are not 'language experts' but of culture.

Take time to discover HOW they tell & receive, understand stories in their culture- this is part of the PREPARATION.

We actually need to go LOW, & speak who He IS & LESS of who we are, what works for us, how we understand. This is HUMILITY.