First Tuvin New Testament published

The first copies of the Tuvin New Testament, published by UBS and the Institute for Bible Translation (IBT), arrived in the Tuva Republic before Christmas.

Although the new Scripture will only be officially launched in March or April, a few copies from the print-run of 15,000 were taken to churches in the republic by the Tuvin translation team who were in Moscow when the shipment arrived there on November 30.

Distribution to churches, libraries, prisons and other institutions in Tuva will begin before the launch. The translation has been eagerly awaited by the rapidly-growing Tuvin Church.

Dream

“This is a very special day,” said translator Nikolai Kuular. “A dream has come true – many Tuvin Christians have longed for this New Testament in their own language for many years.”

The first fruits of the New Testament translation project – the Books of Mark, Acts and Luke – were published in 1996 and 1997 as separate Scripture Portions. Some churches, however, particularly the smaller, isolated ones, did not have copies and have been translating readings from the Russian Bible into Tuvin during Bible studies and church services.

A number of other Scripture Portions, including the Books of Proverbs and Jonah, were published by individuals eager to help meet the growing needs of the Tuvin Church after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990. These were private publications.

Festival

IBT is now working on the Tuvin Old Testament and expects to publish the Books of Ruth, Esther and Lamentations in the course of this year.

Another important Tuvin Scripture also recently became available – the Children’s Bible in Tuvin was published late last year by IBT. The President of Tuva was presented with a copy while attending a Tuvin cultural festival in Moscow in November. Copies were also given to Tuvin children participating in the festival.

The Tuvins number around 200,000 and their traditional religions are Tibetan Buddhism and shamanism. Since the early 1990s, however, the number of Christians in the republic has increased and today they make up about one per cent of the population. (SR 28/14 - 2.02)