Tigrigna New Testaments welcomed
in rural areas

A girl carrying a load on her back. The Bible Society of Eritrea is seeking to bring the Bible in an appropriate format to people like this. Eritrea. Photo: UBS/Maurice Harvey (ERT93T-79.JPG)

ASMARA, Eritrea — While the Talking Bible has great potential to bring the Scriptures to Eritrea’s non-readers [More...], the Bible Society also remains committed to distributing the Bible in printed form.

One particularly successful project has been the interconfessional edition of the Tigrigna New Testament. This is now being widely used in Orthodox churches where previously the Scriptures were only read in Ge’ez, a language which is not spoken by ordinary people.

Following widespread distribution of the Tigrigna New Testament in rural areas, the Society has received many positive reports about its impact. In some places, neighbours are coming together to read the Scriptures, while in others children are taking their New Testaments to school to read in class. Farmers, too, are taking them into the fields to read during breaks in their working day.

Making the Scriptures available in the language of ordinary people is “a great leap forward”, according to Bible Society Executive Secretary Habte Negash, who adds that the interconfessional nature of the latest edition of the Tigrigna New Testament appeals to Christians of all denominations. (WR 381/15 - 11.03)