Bishop translator welcomes
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SANGMÉLIMA, Cameroon — Monsignor Raphaël Marie Ze, Roman Catholic Bishop of Sangélima, was the principal translator of the four Gospels in the new translation of the Bulu Bible with Deuterocanon. The new Bulu Bible with Deuterocanon is currently being prepared for printing at the UBS Africa Inter-regional Service Center in Nairobi.
“We are eager to receive the new Bulu Bible and see it used throughout southern Cameroon in the churches,” said Bishop Ze at his home in Sangmélima. “We are also very grateful to the Bible Societies for their support in the completion of this project. Its launch will be one of the most significant events in the history of the Bulu people.
“When we started work on the Bulu translation of the Bible they wanted to impose a phonetic system used by other languages. We preferred to devise one specifically for Bulu. Abstract words are often translated by phrases in Bulu: it is easier to find a picture that expresses the concept, whereas a single word would only give an approximation,” the bishop explained.
“Challenges such as the ‘divinity of God’ had us searching: we had to use phrases such as ‘the state of God’. The Book of Esther and the deuterocanonical Book of Wisdom presented us with many abstract words.
“When I started I did not write down the translation. I read the Latin and expressed it in Bulu. Bulu can be a heavy enough language on its own without weighing it down with complex language construction. For example, where a passive mood occurs in the Greek, trying to find an equivalent in Bulu burdens the language. In time, the Bible Society provided us with scholarly helps.
“Despite all the difficulties, I found the work inspiring. For me, one of the greatest realisations was that God did not write the Bible: he spoke it and any translation should reflect that.
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| Monsignor Raphael Marie Ze, Roman
Catholic Bishop of Sangmélima, Cameroon. Photo: UBS/Geoffrey
Stamp (CAM01DJ-1.JPG) |
“The TOB version (Traduction Oecuménique de la Bible, or ‘ecumenical Bible translation’) was excellent as our basic text. This version was done by the Bible Societies for French-speaking people. It reflects the historic context and often quotes St Jerome, an historian well respected in Catholic theology.
“We are hoping to broaden the use of the Bible in the diocese. We welcome the production of the Children’s Bible in Français Fondamental (basic French). We want to introduce the Bible in primary and junior schools and this Bible will help us to do that. It is beautifully illustrated and produced and is sure to generate a lot of interest.
“The Bible is key in my diocese. We have been encouraged to get involved in Bible work by the example of the Protestants. They have always been quick off the mark in translation work or in Bible distribution. So now we have Bible readings every day. We love the Word of God, and our catechists cannot operate without sound and broad biblical instruction.
“When we have the new Bulu Bible, I believe that the church will find so much benefit, and people will know more about God’s revelation to us. The churches need to be ready with planned Bible instruction so that the thirst of the people can be satisfied.
“For people like the Baca, who are basically unreached, we need to develop materials in education and other areas of aid which will reach them. It was St Paul who spoke of development – that it was not about eating and drinking but about the spirit.
“We must work to develop the divine in mankind. We are all a
mixture of the human and the divine. We are also all a mixture of the
educated and the less educated, the sophisticated and simple, whether
in culture or in lifestyle. We must find ways of working together to
give everyone the opportunity to develop.”
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The bishop felt that the Bible did not negate a culture for the sake
of imposing another. Rather it sought to develop the spirit inside a
person and their response to a benevolent but all-powerful creator.
The expression of these things was coloured with Jewish culture, but
that did not prevent the truth from being revealed. In the same way,
the Christian had to be careful not to impose a false culture upon others
in the guise of the biblical message.
“‘In the beginning was the Word’ — John opens his Gospel with these words, emphasising that Christ came to verbalise God’s wish to reconcile mankind to himself. When we return to the Bible as the spoken Word we rediscover something of the revelation which can be lost in the printed Word,” said Bishop Ze.
He encouraged the Bible Society to develop more audio cassettes in local languages so that those who could not read would benefit from hearing the Gospel message. (WR 371/7 - 10.02) [PHOTOS]