Last month, a brother from the publisher of the books we have been translating and distributing wrote to us, the serving ones in the minsitry of the word in India, to write a report on the distribution and the appreciation of the New Testament Recovery Version in India that were recently released, printed, and distributed in Malayalam, Mizo, Tamil, and Telugu. Initially, I thought to request to postpone this article as the distribution just began and the Mizo speaking saints had not yet receive the printed copies yet then though they already receive the Gospel of Matthew a few years ago, in fellowship with my coordinationg brother, we felt good to not change anything. So, as I considered before the Lord the points to write. The Lord gave me the burden to call up the leading brothers who oversee the churches speaking these languages. Therefore, I called up one by one, and got their feedback. Besides, I also requested them to collect testimonies of some saints who were so blessed by these Bibles. When I received the feedback and comments, I compsoed an article and compiled all the comments together. After checking with my coordinating brother again, some changes were made, and finally I submitted the article before the due date. On 16th Sept 2022 the article was published online.
A Report from India on the Distribution and the Appreciation of the New Testament Recovery Version in Malayalam, Mizo, Tamil, and Telugu (lsm.org)
The article that was submitted is below:
In answer to the Body’s prayer and the supply from
the Lord through the Body, the printed copies of the New Testament Recovery
Version in Malayalam, Mizo, Tamil, and Telugu are now available! We praise and
thank the Lord for His sovereignty and blessing over the entire project.
The distribution of these Bibles is now being
carried out. Initially, to the saints in the Lord’s recovery speaking these
languages and then, to the saints in various Christian groups. As soon as the
printed copies were available, the saints started purchasing them for
themselves, and some, for others for distribution within their relatives and friends’
circle. With the burden to help the readers to get the maximum benefit, we have
started a weekly presentation for each language group highlighting the changes,
with a view to preparing the readers to receive the New Testament Recovery
Version with an open heart.
Preparation of the Readers
The translation teams in fellowship and
coordination with the leading brothers in the churches speaking these languages are preparing a PowerPoint presentation every week on the crucial changes from
the existing translations. For example, new words and phrases used are being explained
in relation to the original Greek text, and the proper interpretation based on
the English Recovery Version. This presentation is being carried out weekly
online and is open to all the saints speaking that language.
Reading Schedule
The saints are now pursuing the New Testament Recovery
Version with the footnotes daily following the reading schedule prepared for
two years.
Participation in Distribution
All the saints in these four languages are also encouraged
to participate in introducing and distributing the Recovery Version to their relatives
and friends. As much as it was through the supply from the Body that these New
Testaments were made available, so much more the introduction and distribution
be through the function of the Body.
Plan for Distribution
Besides email, phone calls, and social media
promotion of the Recovery Version to all our Christian contacts, personal visits
to the Christian leaders, bookstores, and Bible colleges have begun. One-on-one
introduction has been very effective while pointing out some key verses and
footnotes as a foretaste to the riches contained in this New Testament.
For Mizo in Mizoram, where almost the entire
population embraces the Christian faith, we felt it best to conduct a formal
meeting inviting all the prominent Christian leaders of various Christian
groups and seekers for a day of the Mizo New Testament Recovery Version Introduction
on 8th September 2022 at Aizawl, Mizoram. Following this, a day or
two of visiting the ones who could not make it to the meeting is also planned
so as to ensure our best efforts to reach out to all the Christian groups making
known the availability and benefits of the Recovery Version.
Testimonies from Readers
And when Philip ran up, he heard him
reading Isaiah the prophet and said, Do you really know the things that you are
reading? And he said, How could I unless someone guides me? Acts 8:30-31a
And they read in the book, in the law
of God, interpreting and giving the sense, so that they understood the
reading. Nehemiah 8:8
Many Christians have been reading the
Bible, yet to understand the reading, interpreting and giving the sense, there
surely is a need for someone to guide them. The Recovery Version serves as a
wonderful study aid in interpreting and giving sense to the word of God. Many readers have testified the blessings they have
received from the studying of this New Testament, particularly as a study aid
to understanding the scriptures better with the interpretation of crucial
verses, phrases, and words based on spiritual revelation. Below are some testimonies from the readers.
“I am reading
the Telugu New Testament Recovery Version for more than a month now. This
version is undoubtedly an indescribable gift to the Telugu speaking seekers of
the Lord in and through His living Word. This translation is the Lord's
marvelous work for the building up of His Body in this century. The language
used for the translation of the text as well as the footnotes is quite simple for
the readers to understand the new words used and the structure of the
verses. One unique feature of the Telugu
Recovery Version is the footnotes that unlock the unsearchable riches of the
Lord. May our dear and precious Lord use this Telugu Recovery Version to
recover the lost, misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misaimed truths in the
Word of God.” IB
“I have
been reading Telugu New Testament Recovery Version with great joy, because it
gives light, life supply, and understanding of the Word of God. I am able to
see the riches in the Word, which I never saw in my entire Christian life.
Although there are many changes with new words, the language used is very
simple and footnotes are so helpful to understand the new words, which are
different from the old version. Weekly Telugu
Recovery Version presentation meetings also are a great help to me, where brothers
are explaining the new words or change of sequence in the verses according to the
Greek text. Through such an explanation I am able to understand fully the
reason for every change and we realize what light or revelation we missed in
the previous version. So, I really treasure this Bible. Praise and thank the
Lord for this wonderful gift, the properly translated, interpreted, and
explained word of God in my language.” RK
“The
footnotes in Matthew 1:3, 5 concerning the five women and the
explanation in Mathew 6:6 concerning the private room are really wonderful! I
have never seen these before. In Matthew 1:12, just as for the first coming of
Lord Jesus, there was a need for some to come onto the right ground, there is
now a need for some to come onto the right ground (the ground of the church)
for His second coming. In Matthew 5, the explanation of the difference between
the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of heavens is marvelous!” DA
Comments on the Tamil New Testament Recovery Version
From
a Bible translator (PR), conversant with Greek and Hebrew, who took the lead in
the latest revision of the most popular existing version of the Tamil Bible.
1. Improvement in accuracy is
noticed in several places compared to the already available versions of the Bible.
2. It is good to see that the
already existing Tamil translation for common theological terms such as Faith,
Grace, Heaven, Prophets, Father, Son, Salvation, Baptism, Fasting, Altar are
retained in this version.
3. The verse restructuring or
re-ordering done wherever required, has enhanced the accuracy.
4. Good to see that slangs and
obsolete words used in other versions have been replaced with more commonly
used words.
5. So far in all the places I
have read, grammar mistakes have been corrected well.
6. It is good to see that the
rendering of some proper names which are not consistent with Old Testament in
the existing translation have been made consistent in the Recovery Version.
7. It is good to see words
like Sanhedrin, Synagogue, Sabbath and several others have been transliterated,
giving the unique meaning. The footnotes adequately explain their meaning.
Compared to all previous Tamil versions, this Recovery Version is truer (nearer) to the Greek
Text. When read with the footnotes,
it gives new insight into the Scripture, and believers can enjoy the Word more. In
summary, this is sincere hard work done with zeal for the Word of God. Their labor
in the Lord is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58)
“Praise
be to our Lord Jesus Christ!
I got
this Tamil New Testament Recovery Version on 07.07.2022. I have no words to
express my joy. This Bible is the greatest work in this century, and a precious
gift from above.
Whenever
I read this Bible, I feel that I am brought into the presence of the Lord.
After receiving this Bible, I am always reading and keeping this in my hand and
never feel like keeping it aside.
The first
verse Mathew 1:1 starts with the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. After reading
the footnote of this verse, I was excited to read that the New Testament is all
about Jesus Christ. For 25 years I had a longing to study the Bible. God,
through this Bible with its footnotes and cross references, fulfilled my
longing.
My past
experience is that when I read the verses from my earlier version of the Bible,
I couldn't understand much. But the Recovery Version Bible helps me understand
the truth in each verse and gives me additional facts and information. Also,
while reading this Bible, I am able to touch God and know God in a deeper way.
The
footnotes help me to clearly understand God's economy. Also, the Footnotes are
clarifying all my questions and are an effective tool in studying the Bible.
The outline of Matthew helped me to have a bird’s eye view of the entire Gospel
of Matthew.
I thank
the Lord for this wonderful Bible. I thank the Lord for this ministry, for the
translation work and all the faithful serving ones who labored for the release
of this Bible.” GS
“The
footnote in Matthew 24:14 on the gospel of the kingdom is a new revelation to
me. I was saved by grace, so I only knew and care for the gospel of grace. But
when I read this footnote, it speaks about the meaning of the gospel of grace and
the gospel of the kingdom in a clear way, which is so wonderful.” LBM
“Mizo
Recovery Version Matthew 16:18 footnote explains the Lord’s building of His
church on the day of Pentecost and how it can only be fulfilled through the
Lord’s recovery, in which the building of the genuine church is being
accomplished. This really opened my eyes.” CST
“The Mizo
New Testament Recovery Version helps me to understand God’s word clearly,
especially concerning the nature of the kingdom people in Matthew 5, 6, and 7
with its footnotes, which portion I never understood from the reading of the existing
versions. Other versions translate Matthew 5:3 as "poor in heart, for
theirs is the heaven", but in the Recovery Version, "poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens" and its footnote clearly explains
what the kingdom of the heavens is and not merely heaven as in other versions.”
LSZ
“In Matthew
13:31-32, most existing versions in Mizo say, ‘and becomes wood,’ which does
not give any meaning at all, but the Recovery Version says, "and becomes a
tree" and explains what that means in the footnote.” FK
“Coming from a Pentecostal
background, I was taught that the baptism by fire mentioned in Mattew 3:11 is
the same as the baptism by the Spirit. Though I had my doubts about this
interpretation I wasn't clear until I read the footnote of this verse in the
Malayalam New Testament Recovery Version. Now I really understand the
difference between the two.” AR
“In Matthew 1:11, the deportation to
Babylon, the existing version renders a meaning of voluntarily going to
Babylon, but the new Recovery Version translates the word accurately. Today
when I read this version, I have total assurance and peace that this
translation is accurate or closest to the original text. It gives tremendous
confidence to one who loves to study the Bible in his native language!” GM
Overall, the saints’ reception of the
New Testament Recovery Version has been very encouraging. We trust the Lord
that the availability of the interpreted word will uplift the level of truth in
this country and pave the way for the Lord to move further and faster in a
fuller way.
Please pray for the Lord to bless the ongoing distribution
of the New Testament Recovery Version in India, and for the readers of these
Bibles to be brought into the full knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).