From Bible Translation to Teaching

　　As I am writing this article, a new school term has just begun. This is the first year I have served as a full time teacher at HKBTS. In the past two years I served as an adjunct lecturer at the Seminary. The time I take up duties as a full time teacher is also the time for me to bid farewell to my ten-year Bible translation work. Therefore, I think it fitting that I recall my Bible translation work as I envision the future of my teaching ministry here.

Retrospect: Only with Thanks

　　Looking back over how I set out on the path of Bible translation, I firmly believe it was through God’s grace that I was given such an opportunity. I can still remember clearly that in the final year of my graduate study, I was busy putting the final touches on my doctoral thesis. Meanwhile, I would from time to time consider what ministry I should enter after graduation. I imagined it might well be serving in a church, a seminary or a para-church organization. But I must admit these were just idle thoughts. In those busy days, I came to no decision and took no action, always telling myself there was still plenty of time. I told myself that I had better get my thesis done first and decided to wait until I got back to Hong Kong.

　　Some time later, I went to see my thesis supervisor. After we had finished our discussion about the progress of my thesis, my supervisor suddenly asked me if I would consider joining a Chinese Bible translation project. He told me he had received an invitation letter from a Chinese Bible translation organization inviting Biblical scholars to join its project. My very first reaction was: who, me? Bible translation? Do I really qualify? Would a fresh graduate like me even be capable of such a job? I have always considered Bible translation a serious calling demanding the highest professionalism. It was not something for which a newly-graduated green horn like me could qualify. Despite my hesitation, my supervisor encouraged me to contact this organization to find out more about the project before making my decision.

　　Then, later when I made a home visit back to Hong Kong, I contacted the translation organization and talked with the staff to find out more about their expectations. From their introduction, I learned that they planned to produce a brand new Chinese version of the Bible based on a direct translation from the original languages. The staff shared with me the general situation of Chinese Bible translation work at that time. They explained that there was a pressing need for more translators, since there was a manpower shortage in Chinese Bible translation. It soon became clear to me that I shared their vision and overall objectives. I still doubted my qualifications for this daunting task. After much prayer and thought, I finally agreed to take up the challenge. In retrospect, I can now see that from the first contact until my decision to undertake this ministry, it was never so much my choice as God’s grace. All along it was God who had been guiding me, opening the door for me and allowing me to set out on this blessed path.

My Experience on the Path of Bible Translation

　　It is no exaggeration to say that Bible translation is a blessed path. For a Christian, what can be a greater blessing than to be given the opportunity to study the Bible everyday? In the past ten years, my daily routine was to sit down before the scriptures and read them in their original languages. Of course, there were other Bible translation versions and reference books to study. My job was to figure out how to translate each sentence to the best of my abilities. After hearing the nature of my job, many people would ask: “Doing the same kind of work every day, don’t you feel bored?” I am happy to report that I never found this job boring at all. To the contrary, throughout the Bible translation process, I found myself intoxicated with the biblical text and amazed as I continued to discover God’s wonder and greatness. As I continued my work, I experienced a tremendous, ever increasing pleasure in the translation process.

　　Meanwhile, as I was experiencing the joy of reading the Bible, I was humbled by my work in translating the Bible. Even as I continued to be intoxicated by the biblical text and to derive tremendous pleasure for it, I was also confronted by my human limitations. The more I explored the biblical text, the more profound it became, making it hard for me to capture fully the richness of its meaning. Throughout my years as translator, I felt daily a sense of inadequacy as I took up the task. Given more time, I could handle the text better. Submitting the original text to closer scrutiny, I could come to a deeper understanding of the text’s real meaning. If translators put a great effort into the translated Chinese text, the result will be a smoother translation and one that is closer to the meaning of the original text. Of course, whether the translation is good enough is directly related to the translator’s ability to understand the original text and his Chinese proficiency. But from my years of experience as a translator, I have come to understand that it not only has to do with the translator, but also with the nature of the language in the translation process. The Bible that we translate is the word of God, and yet we are required to express God’s revelation to man in our own words. As we feel ourselves in God’s presence in this revelation, we ask ourselves, how can a limited human ever adequately express God’s will as revealed in the Bible? I believe that every Bible translator will agree with me that when confronted with the task of translating God’s word, we all feel humble and can only do our best as limited humans. In the presence of God’s profound word, how can any of us not feel humble?

　　Having been a part of this Bible translation project, I understand that a single person cannot do much. To do a good job in translating a section of the text into Chinese is already an arduous task. The job of translating the entire Bible is not a realistic way to become a hero. However talented any translator may be, he can only make a limited contribution to the great project of the translation of the entire Bible. In facing the unending difficulties of the task, there is no way for a single person to manage. Without the involvement of many people and without all the members making a concerted effort, no Bible translation projects can be successful. In my days as Bible translator, I would usually sit alone in front of the computer, thinking with the help of the Bible and other reference books. Although there were only a few colleagues working, I was keenly aware that while I was working alone, all my colleagues in different locations were diligently working to achieve the same goal. Other translators, language experts, scholarship reviewers, editorial and administrative staff were working silently in their respective posts. Only when we became aware that we were a part of such a large team of people working diligently with the same heart could we maintain the strong faith we needed to continue our work. Otherwise, we would have all quitted a long time ago. It was also because I never forgot that Bible translation involves teamwork that I understood that what I did is but a small part of the huge project. God permitting, when the Bible translation project in which I was involved is finished, my small part may be of some help to the Christian public. However, what I did means very little. In fact, I always realized that it is not a single person’s achievement but the fruit of the labors of a great many people. This great translation project has also taught me humility.

My Hope on the Path of Bible Translation

　　Before joining the work of Bible translation, I knew very little about Chinese Bible translation. I only knew that early last century there was the Chinese Union Version of the Bible, followed by Today’s Chinese Version in 1970s and the New Chinese Version in 1990s. However, I knew nothing about the ins and outs of the production of these versions or the kinds of Chinese Bible translation projects in progress at that time. It was not until I joined the ranks of Chinese Bible translators that I gradually understood that behind each Bible translation version there is always a long history. The emergence of a Chinese Bible version usually takes a time span of 20 to 30 years from the planning stage to its completion.

　　Over the past 100 years, the progress of Chinese Bible translation has been rather slow. This is not only because translation takes much time but also because Chinese Christians have been slow to see the need for new translations. In the past, when people learned that I was a Bible translator, they would always respond, “But we already have a Chinese Bible. Why go to so much trouble to translate the Bible again?” I could not help exclaiming: “Do you think the Chinese Bible we now have is perfect? Do you think that we need no other Chinese Bible versions?” After joining Bible translation work, I became even more aware that our Chinese translations are far from perfect. The Chinese Union Version is undoubtedly a very good translation, especially for the time when it first came out. It was like a bright and brilliant star leading Christians and non-Christians alike to enter the world of God’s word. But is the Chinese Union Version a perfect one? Even if it was not far from perfection for an earlier time, 100 years have passed since its publication. The Chinese language has gone through tremendous changes. Then too, there have been great improvements in our understanding of the Bible. Should we continue with this “good” version for another era or should we not? Should we not seek to produce a “better” version? I thank God that, even as I am writing this article, I have just received an invitation letter from Hong Kong Bible Society to its Revised Chinese Union Version Dedication Ceremony. The compilation of this new translation signifies Chinese Bible translation has moved out of its state of stagnation to reclaim its original mission and that the Bible related organizations are ready to provide more resources for Chinese Bible translation work. This means Chinese can have a Bible version to meet their current needs and to guide them into a fresh study of God’s word.

　　As I look back on my small part in Bible translation, my heart is filled with thanksgiving. I feel confident that this kind of work is significant, even crucial, and I feel it was out of God’s grace that I could be a part of this glorious ministry. Although what I have done is very limited, I take joy in offering up to God my minor contribution as a sacrifice. I regard what I have done as one small brick placed on the pile to build a great city wall. One brick on its own is useless but piling up one brick after another builds a great city wall. In the past ten years, I have added my brick to the great city wall. This single brick may leave behind no trace at all within the whole building process. Still, in my heart I know what this piece contributes to the entire process, and for this I must give thanks to the Lord. My greater aspiration is that this building construction can continue in the future so that a better and more beautiful city wall can be built to glorify God and benefit humankind.

Prospect: Only with Reliance

　　How did I begin my walk on the road of teaching? This began for me two summers ago. One day, President Cho called me to invite me to teach one subject in the next school term. I remember thinking what a fine arrangement God had provided for me. I realized there was a time slot within my translation schedule, otherwise, I could not have even considered the invitation. As it turned out, I could agree to be an adjunct teacher for one semester. That half year allowed me to come to a better understanding of the Seminary, the faculty and the students. The experience had a strong impact on me and on my openness to joining the Seminary as a full time teacher. Since I received my graduate degrees in theological studies overseas, I knew very little about the curriculum, requirements, quality of students and learning atmosphere of the various local seminaries. Lacking exposure, I had this unconscious hesitation to teach in a Hong Kong seminary. After my contact with the Seminary for half a year, I had come to a better understanding of the situation, causing my vague apprehensions to vanish.

　　In the following year, President Cho once again invited me to teach one and two subjects in the first and second semester. With the experience accumulated in the first year, I found it easier to accept the offer. In terms of time, I could once again see God’s wonderful arrangement. That year, for a variety of reasons, my Bible translation work had slowed down, giving me more time and space to prepare the lessons so that there was no conflict between my teaching and translation duties. In my second year’s teaching, as I continued to pray and wait before the Lord, I began to consider the possibility of becoming a full time teacher. Eventually the Seminary’s invitation was confirmed and I decided I should join the Seminary.

　　As I moved from one blessed path to another blessed road, I was keenly aware of God’s arrangement, knowing it was God who had led me forward step by step. Since God knew my worries about teaching, He provided the time and space I needed to adapt to teaching and provided me with the contacts I needed to dispel my misgivings. Looking back over how I found myself on the road of teaching, I can only give thanks to God.

My Worries on the Road of Teaching

　　Although I clearly see that God has been my guide, leading me to serve Him in the Seminary, I still feel frightened when I think of the road ahead. Translating the Bible and teaching are entirely different kinds of work. In Bible translation, I was usually alone while in teaching, I work within a community of students, fellow teachers and staff workers. Since Bible translation is a free-lance job, I am free to determine my work schedule while in teaching, I need to follow a fixed time schedule and in reporting for duty to school and to class and that cannot be changed at will. In Bible translation, I only need to focus on one task while in teaching, I need not only to conduct class lessons but I also need to care for my students, do administration and do research and writing. I need to regulate and adjust myself to all these responsibilities. But these are not my only worries, what really concerns me is whether I can be of value to my students and to the churches.

　　Both in my graduate studies in theology and in my work in translation, it can be said that I was involved in intellectual, biblical studies. In research studies, I need not think about the problem of direct application to believers but that is not true in teaching. After all, since a seminary is mainly a training ground for ministers, a seminary teacher has to consider whether what he teaches is relevant to his students who will face a variety of practical problems as preachers. In the past, I seldom thought about this issue. My Bible translation work helped me come to a greater understanding of the Bible, but how can I pass on my understanding to students? Will what I pass on to students meet their needs? I do not yet have a grasp of these kinds of problems. My teaching experience in the past two years tells me that these are worries I must take seriously. Through trial-and-error and hard work, I have made improvement, but I know I have a long way to go. I must face the fact that I will continue to face these problems as a teacher in the days ahead. Therefore, as I am about to begin my full time teaching ministry, I do so with fear and trembling. As today I have been called by God to set forth on the road of teaching, I can only humbly come before the Lord, relying on Him to empower me. I am convinced that as the Lord has chosen me and allowed me to walk on this road, He will certainly continue to guide me and safeguard me as I press forward.

My Goal on the Road of Teaching

　　I am well aware that I have never been an ambitious person. Never have I dreamed of doing something that would rock the universe, nor have I ever aspired to rise high in life, towering over others. Having come to this stage to be a seminary teacher, I can only say it is all because of God’s grace. Therefore, when it comes to setting a goal for myself for the road ahead, I dare not have any ambition. As God has taught me to be humble in my days of Bible translation, I can only envision the road ahead with a heart of humility. My wish is that I can be faithful to the post to which God has assigned me, as I work hard to prepare my lessons well and as I care for each student with whom I have contact. I hope that throughout my teaching at the Seminary, I can walk beside each of my students so that we can learn and grow together. That is already good enough for me!