Without the comma, they'll be buried alive!

Yesterday we finished our consultant check for the book of Colossians in the Jita language. We're thanking God that this book is now ready for the Jita people.

Here's a quick overview of the adventure.

First, the Jita translators, Magesa and Neema, translated the book of Colossians into Jita from the Swahili Bibles that are available.

Then I checked the book for accuracy and clarity. I found little spelling mistakes like in 1:5 the team had written :mwonguywe to translate "you all heard" but the correct spelling is :mwonguuywe.

I looked for exegetical issues like in 1:14 the first draft sounded like "In Jesus we were redeemed because our sins have been forgiven." We revised it to sound like, "In Jesus we were redeemed, that is, our sins have been forgiven."

I had a big challenge in 1:16, "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him."

We had a difficult time finding the right Jita words for all those spiritual beings. And then we had a difficult time making other passages consistent with that decision. Eph 1:21 has, "rule and authority and power and dominion." 1 Cor 15:24 has, "rule and every authority and power." 1 Pet 3:22 has, "angels, authorities, and powers."

We made a shocking discovery in 2:12, "having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead." As Magesa read the passage out loud, he exclaimed, "it sounds like they're being buried alive!" As we looked closer, all we needed to do was insert a comma at the correct spot and that cleared things up.

Finally, we had the Consultant check, which is a final check performed by a veteran Bible translation expert. He helped us clarify complex verses like  2:20, "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations." How do we deal with the rhetorical question? What are the elemental spirits of the world? What does it mean to die to those elemental spirits? Thankfully in the end we found a good way to make it accurate and clear.

Here's a taste of Jita for you to enjoy:

Colossians 2:6-7,
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Mbe woori, kwa okubha mwekirisya Kirisito Yeesu ati ni Raatabhugenyi, mugenderere okwikara muri na obhumwi nage. Mwimariirire mu‑mwene, mutuure obhurame bhwemwe mu‑mwene na okurumatana mu‑riikirisya rwa kutyo ꞉mweyigiiye. Ka wone, mubhe abhaanu bhanu abhasiima Nyamuwanga bhuri mwanya.

Thank you for your prayers!! Please keep praying for us and for the Jita people.

Was the Apostle Paul bald or hairy?

It's a serious question.

Right now the Jita team is preparing to print 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, and Titus as a single booklet. On the front cover we thought it would be nice to have an illustration of Paul writing his letters (for now let's put aside the issue of co-authorship or Paul dictating his letters to a scribe).

Suddenly we were faced with a huge decision...was Paul bald or hairy? And then we realized the weight of this decision. Our choice will shape the perspective of the Jita people for years to come. No pressure!

And then we also had to choose the best illustration of oxen treading grain for 1 Tim 5:18 and the pieces of a soldier's armor for 1 Thess 5:8, among other things.

So for Paul, the Jita team immediately declared, "definitely the bald guy." Ok, let's go with it. After all, we do have support from a few artists through the centuries.

Andrea Vanni - Saint Paul - 1400

Bartolomeo Montagna - Saint Paul - 1482

Geminiano Benzoni - San Paolo - 1500

Dionysius - The Apostle Paul - 1502

So I guess Paul was bald :)

Please pray that we can finish the rest of the many steps to get this book ready for publication so that the Jita people can read God's Word in their own language!!!