A Christian group, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, insist that they have completed the translation of the Holy Bible in American Sign Language, describing it as a record.
This, according to the sect, seen worldwide as a conservative religious organization, is a way of breaking the barrier on evangelism.
A statement by a member of the Public Information Department of the church, Mr Obinna Igwe on Sunday in Umuahia described the document as “non-Avail hi-tech Bible that assists the disabled users access the Holy scriptures”.
He disclosed that the sect also released the new translation in 33 languages which is considered as the most in any year since 1950, that available records reveal that by December 2020, the New World translation is being published in no fewer than 195 languages.
Quoting a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Governing Body, Geoffrey Jackson who is based in Florida, the United States, Igwe said, “As far as we know, Jehovah’s Witnesses are the first organisation or group of persons to release the complete Bible on Sign Language. And probably that means it is the first to complete Sign Language in the world and in the history of mankind.
His word, “This is an incontrovertible statement. The organisation also during the period released the New World Translation in Bistania, a language spoken by about 10,000 people in the small Island of Vantuatu, about 1,100 North of Australia”.
According to him, the gesture will improve the access of the Bible by the people living in the area.
“Free from religious enigma, politics and leadership crises associated with contemporary religious organisations, Jehovah Witnesses have been relentlessly involved in the onerous task of propagating the gospel of Jehovah since the 20th century. It acquired the printing rights from King James and the American version of the scriptures
“Equally noteworthy is the fact that as far back as the 1940s, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been engaged in gradual, but steady translation of the Bible to modern English aimed at establishing and restoring the name of God- Jehovah, as opposed to other religious interpretations.
“Expectedly, the translation has received positive reactions and commendations from notable scholars”, Igwe opined.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
