wfn.org | New Bible Translation Released in Poland

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

January 20, 2002
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

New Bible Translation Released in Poland

Warsaw, Poland.  A front street shop window of the
Polish Bible Society in the centre of Warsaw displays
copies of a new translation of the Scriptures. Polish
Christians are now slowly adjusting to the new version
of the New Testament and Psalms, which took some 30
translators representing 11 Christian denominations six
years to translate.

Polish Seventh-day Adventists were active in the work
of the Translating Committee, according to Andrzej
Sicinski, secretary of the Polish Adventist Church, who
served as a consultant.

"The overarching principle of this translation was being
faithful to the original text and keeping the clarity of
the language," said Sicinski. He explained that this last
point is seen in the new translation's shorter sentences
and the replacement of archaic language with a more
contemporary and better understood phraseology. In the
final phase of the translation in the early months of
2001, the participating churches brought their particular
recommendations regarding the translation itself, as well
as the introductory notes or references.

According to Sicinski, the new translation reflects the
tremendous effort invested in the work by representatives
of the different churches. "Publishing such an edition of
the Bible can be considered as an immensely important and
creative venture, and it was worth participating in it."

This is the first translation since the "New Version" of
the Bible was released in Poland 26 years ago. Participants
in the project hope this new translation will be attractive
to a younger generation of readers who appreciate a more
contemporary phraseology of the Scriptures. Sicinski also
believes Adventist participation allowed an opportunity
to share the denomination's position on a number of
theological issues.

The new translation has received many favourable reviews
and the influential weekly magazine "Polityka" has called
the release a "great event in the religious life of
democratic Poland."