Wycliffe USA

Wycliffe Bible Translators USA (also known as Wycliffe USA) is an interdenominational nonprofit organization with a goal to "start a Bible translation in 'every language that needs one' by 2025."[1] Wycliffe USA was founded in 1942 by William Cameron Townsend and is a member of the Wycliffe Global Alliance. There are currently separate Wycliffe organizations in over 60 countries.[2] The organizations are named after John Wycliffe, who was responsible for the first complete English translation of the whole Bible into Middle English.

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As of November 2020, translations of either portions of the Bible, the New Testament, or the whole Bible exist in over 3,400 of the 7,300 languages used on Earth.[3] Wycliffe has translated the Bible into more than 700 languages.[4]

Philosophy and methods

Wycliffe USA bases its philosophy on Townsend's Protestantism which regards the intercultural and multilinguistic spread of Christianity as a divine command. Protestantism, including this organization, adheres to the principle of sola scriptura and regards biblical texts as the authoritative and infallible word of God.[5]

Wycliffe USA is based in Orlando, Florida, but partners with many organizations and churches around the world to help facilitate the work of Bible translation. It is the largest of the many independent organizations that together are part of Wycliffe Global Alliance, which has its headquarters in Singapore.[6]

Wycliffe missionaries develop alphabets, help preliterate people learn to read and write, and translate the Bible into written versions of currently spoken languages.[7] By developing written languages, the organization is helping to "save lost and dying languages."[8]

Due to technological advances, Wycliffe's missionaries in the United States connect with translation teams in other areas of the world to translate the Bible into additional languages. As a result, translations that used to take 20 or 30 years to finish can be completed in six or seven years in some cases.[9]

Wycliffe has also joined with the Deaf Bible Society and other organizations to translate the Bible into sign languages.[10]

Associated organizations

SIL International, originally the Summer Institute of Linguistics, began as a small summer training session for missionaries in Arkansas in 1934. It is a partner organization of the Wycliffe Global Alliance and Wycliffe USA.[11]

A partner organization of SIL International, JAARS, originally the Jungle Aviation And Radio Service, based out of Waxhaw, NC, provides critical transportation and technical solutions for SIL in support of Bible translation across the globe.[12][13]

The Seed Company is a subsidiary of Wycliffe USA that provides support to people doing Bible translations for their own languages.[14]

See also

References
  1. Guthrie, Stan (February 3, 2005). "Wycliffe in Overdrive". Christianity Today. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  2. Wycliffe Global Alliance website
  3. "2017 Scripture Access Statistics". Wycliffe Global Alliance. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  4. Campbell, Ray (December 19, 2017). "Young linguist dedicates career to translating the Bible into rare languages with Wycliffe". Al.com. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  5. Wycliffe Global Alliance doctrinal statement
  6. Wycliffe Global Alliance website: Contact Us
  7. Draper, Electa (June 21, 2020). "Bible translators hope to have every language covered in 15 years". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  8. Parke, Caleb (April 30, 2019). "Translating the Bible is saving languages from extinction". Fox News. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  9. Griffith, Wendy (January 7, 2020). "2020 Is the 'Year of the Bible': Harnessing Tech to Fulfill the Great Commission". CBN News. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  10. Martin, Mark (December 19, 2017). "No Longer Forgotten, Wycliffe Reaches Out to the Deaf with Sign Language Bible Translations". CBN News. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  11. "Partnerships". SIL International. September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  12. https://www.jaars.org/about/changing JAARS is Changing - accessed April 16, 2013
  13. "JAARS is Founded". SIL International. July 23, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  14. Whyte, Liz Essley (Fall 2016). "2 Million Dollars 1 Billion Souls". Philanthropy Roundtable. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
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