Translating the Bible Into Action, 2nd Edition: How the Bible Can Be Relevant in All Languages and Cultures

When Jesus was born to Mary, God "translated" himself into our human world. This act of God's translation continues today wherever the gospel is expressed, in each language and lived out in each culture that makes up our diverse world. Unfortunately, the church often ignores its cultural and linguistic diversity and, instead, imposes a dominant "language" and "culture" for expressing faith. This textbook seeks to challenge that situation.

By identifying common barriers that prevent people from engaging with Scripture, the authors explore the ways churches can maintain unity in Christ and celebrate the diversity of their membership. Addressing a wide-range of relevant issues and using practical applications, this revised and updated edition re-establishes the importance of good, contextual Scripture engagement. A key resource in helping church leaders encourage people to communicate with God in their own language and to discover that Christ wants to make himself at home in their world.

MARGARET HILL (+ May 2024) had an MA in Education and Linguistics from the University of Manchester, UK. She lived long-term in Nigeria and Congo DRC, working in Bible translation, literacy, and Scripture engagement. She had widespread teaching experience, particularly in Africa and Asia, both in informal workshops and in theological colleges in Kenya, Ghana, and Central African Republic. She also served as an international translation consultant.

HARRIET HILL holds a PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary, California, USA, where she serves as Adjunct Faculty. She has lived in villages in Côte d'Ivoire, learning language and culture, and communicating the Bible through translation and contextualization. This book was developed in workshops she helped lead with church leaders throughout Africa, incorporating their grassroots input. She served with SIL International for thirty four years and with American Bible Society for ten years.