From every tribe and tongue, people and nation

I own three Bibles (NAB, NIV, and NRSV-CE) and two New Testaments (both courtesy of the Gideons, one in KJV English and another in Russian). And, thanks to the internet, dozens of other translations and concordances and even the thoughts of the doctors and fathers of the Church about Scripture are available. (Check out Biblia Clerus if you haven't yet).

The blog, Intentional Disciples, recently alerted us to the fact that millions of people around the world don't have the same opportunity. According to the Forum of Bible Agencies:

Languages with some or all of the Bible - 2,454. Of these, 438 have an adequate Bible; 1,168 have an adequate New Testament; 848 have Scripture portions. Languages needing Bible translation work to begin - 2,251 representing 193 million people.

I'm quite simply stunned. We've put men on the moon, eradicated polio, brought down the Berlin wall and we STILL have this much translation work to do?

Intentional Disciples has a great story about how translating the Bible into a new language has changed lives. For the Kalmyk people in Republic of Kalmykia in southern Russia, the availability of the Bible in their own language has helped people see that Jesus is not the God of the Russians, but the God of all peoples.

And every time that happens, we're one step closer to:

They sang a new hymn: "Worthy are you to receive the scroll and to break open its seals, for you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.

You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth."
(Rev. 5:9-10)

Glory be to God.