New Testaments launched in Lima

LIMA, Peru — The Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) was the special guest at the Peruvian Bible Society’s (PBS) launch of translations of the New Testament in two Quechua languages in September.

The event, at the PBS offices in Lima, was part of a program celebrating the Month of the Bible.

After a welcome to all those present from Dr Roberto Moisés Miranda Moreno, President of the PBS board, a video entitled En Su Idioma (‘In His Own Language’) was screened, showing the importance of easy access to the Word of God for all who speak the Quechua languages.

A reading of Matthew 7:24-27 encouraged those hearing the words of Jesus to put them into practice “like the wise man,” and James Roberts, the General Director of the Peru branch of SIL, confirmed the challenge for the Quechua-speakers: “Now they have the responsibility of being obedient to the Word,” he said.

There followed a presentation about a combined project of SIL and the Peruvian Bible Society in Cuzco. The Society collaborated with the churches in translating the Bible into Cuzco Quechua, and SIL is supporting the production of reading support materials in Quechua. Three weeks after the event Catholic and Evangelical Christian communities were due to distribute nearly 4,000 copies of the new Bible.