The number of languages worldwide in which the complete Bible can now be read is 405. A year ago it was 392, according
to figures just released by the United Bible Societies (UBS).
The report says that languages which now have some part of the Bible – a book or books of the Bible – amount to 2,303
(last year 2,287), and the number of languages which have gained a complete New Testament in the last year is 22, taking
the total from 1,012 to 1,034.
There are more than 6,500 known languages in the world.
The translation of the Bible into Tokelau is the only ’first’ Bible translation project underway in New Zealand at
present.
“We have a long way to go with this project,” said Colin Reed, chief executive of the Bible Society in New Zealand, “but
we pass a major milestone next month with the first-ever publication of the four Gospels in Tokelau.”
19 February 2003
Contact: Colin Reed
Phone: (04) 384-4119
Fax: (04) 385-4624
E-mail: bibles@biblesoc.org.nz