There’s finally an English-to-English First Nations Version New Testament (FNV) in the works for the aboriginal people of Turtle Island (North America).
The FNV will help millions of English-speaking First Nations people hear the Creator’s Word in their heart language. Due to forced assimilation, most First Nations people no longer speak their mother tongue, so an English paraphrase that uses the styles, idioms, nuances, thought forms and patterns of the aboriginal languages and cultures is long overdue.
Translation team.
Rain Ministries and OneBook, working with a team of 15 Bible translators representing many tribes, denominations, and churches within First Nations communities, are translating the FNV. “This is an exciting project,” says Wayne Johnson, CEO of OneBook. “We aim to maintain church and local community ownership of the project and the final translated First Nations leadership of the project will be overseen by Terry Wildman and an Indigenous group of Bible scholars, pastors and lay people from across Turtle Island. They have been charged with providing leadership to the translation process in a contextual manner within the framework of biblical excellence.”
Initial responses.
Several hundred First Nations people reviewed a draft of the Gospel of Luke. Teddy Peterson, an elder in Washington State, says, “As a Native American, I could identify with this …” And Native Pastors Jan and Corb Morgan add, “I think that this has an enjoyable flow to it, and I can imagine sitting in a tipi reading it out loud. I believe that the traditional elders would enjoy it …”
Terry Wildman, the First Nations Pastor and musician who initiated the FNV translation, is delighted with the initial response. When conducting a prison Bible study three years ago, he recognized how “many guys struggled with even the NIV – they struggled relating to it … not so much understanding, but relating.”
Potential impact.
While there will no doubt be enthusiastic receptivity to the FNV, and much appreciation for a version that First Nations people can relate to, there may be something deeper and more profound that’s happening with this translation project.
In a sex-soaked, luxury-loving, consumer-driven, selfie-focused culture, people desperately need fullness of life in Christ. Alcoholism and suicide rates among First Nations people are among the highest in the world. More than ever before, revival is needed. But it needs to begin with the Gatekeepers.
In spiritual terms, the First Nations people are the original Gatekeepers of Turtle Island. Biblically speaking, the gatekeepers were the watchmen responsible for protecting the people, keeping them on the right path, warning them of danger, and guiding them in the way of truth. If the ancient paths to knowing and being known by the Creator are to be restored, i.e. if we are going to see a renewal of faith in Turtle Island, then we need revival among the First Nations people. And, revival, as every student of church history knows, is birthed by the Spirit and fueled by Bible engagement. So, pray that the FNV will be the seed that produces a crop that is 30, 60, or 100 times what is sown (cf. Mark 4:20).
Extract.
Creator Sets Free (Jesus) smiled and said to them, “When you send your voice to the Great Spirit, here is how you should pray.”
“O Great Father, the one who lives above us all, your name is sacred and holy. Bring your Good Road to us, where the beauty of your ways in the world above is reflected in the earth below. Provide for us day by day – the elk, the buffalo, and the salmon; the corn, the squash, and the wild rice; all the good things we need every day to feed our families. Release us from the things we have done wrong, in the same way we release others for the things done wrong to us, and guide us away from the things that tempt us to stray from your Good Road.”
Luke 11:2-4 (FNV)
Check this out: First Nations Version Interview With Georgina at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pziur29Mgg&feature=youtu.be
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Summary
The First Nations Version (FNV) New Testament helps English-speaking First Nations people connect with the Creator’s Word in a way that reflects their culture and language. This translation project, led by Rain Ministries, OneBook, and a team of Bible translators from various First Nations communities, offers a version of the Bible that resonates with the spiritual and cultural context of these communities. Early responses to the draft Gospel of Luke were positive, with many Native leaders expressing how relatable and engaging the translation feels. Beyond its practical significance, the FNV catalyzes spiritual renewal among First Nations people who need healing and revival.
© Scripture Union Canada
