Artificial intelligence has revolutionised the Bible translation business.
Wycliffe Bible Translators which has been a leader in the field for decades, is reporting remarkable progress towards the goal of making the Bible available in every language on the planet.
Its president John Chesnut told CBN News he attributes that progress to the use of AI.
“God’s using it for His glory as well,” he explained.
“We have a new tool that just has been out here for probably about a year or so.”
“If a New Testament has already been translated, we can use the material from the New Testament to load into the software and it will draft an Old Testament in just a few days.”
Translators can also access equipment that can help create an alphabet in places where none exists.
“Where there’s nothing written, no scripture yet at all, that will gather words from the community and then it use them to teach the machine on how to draft translation too,” Mr. Chesnut revealed.
He believes such AI innovations could pave the way to fulfill the Great Commission much sooner than ever imagined.
“This is the first generation that can look and say: This AI-driven revolution could happen during our lifetime.”
“It’s an incredible time to be part of what God’s doing around the world.”
“Our focus is how do we see God’s word come to these languages that have never had scripture in their own language.”
“That is our heart passion and that’s what we’ve been about for 80-plus years.”
Of the world’s approximately 7,300 languages, Wycliffe and other Bible translation partners have translated 750 full Bibles and another 1,700 New Testaments.”
The group is aggresively pursuing Vision 2025, a goal established in the late nineties to implement translations in every language by the year 2025.
At the time, it was believed they would need to begin programs in 3,000 translations over that time frame to reach the goal.
That number recently fell below 1,000 which is an unprecedented advance in the Bible translation business.
“As of today, it is about 888 remaining languages that are on our list anyway, so there’s been huge, huge progress since 1999,” Mr. Chesnut rejoiced.
He also credits that success to Wycliffe’s partnerships with local churches in distant countries.
“The new thing that we’re seeing God do is that He literally is raising up His Church around the world and taking on this effort.”
“They’re owning it now. They’re the ones that are doing it.”
“And more and more, our role is coming alongside of these groups to say: “Can we help you accomplish what God has placed on your heart?'”
