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Missionaries explain that the stories of the Old Testament connect well with many people groups, who often share the ancient Israelites' tribal lifestyle of sacrifices, patriarchy, and agriculturalism. Increasingly, translation projects in the world's three areas with the most need—the Indo-Pacific, Central Africa, and Central Asia—begin with the Old Testament.

The Old Testament also connects powerfully with Muslims. "Muslims are already familiar with the characters of the Old Testament—Abraham, Jacob, and especially Joseph," said Natalia Gorbunova of the Moscow-based Institute for Bible Translation. "In this way, the OT becomes a bridge into the New Testament."

The institute, which seeks to bring the Bible to 130 non-Slavic language groups living in Russia and Central Asia, has 22 Old Testament projects, primarily for Muslims. A recent translation in Crimean Tatar, called "Prophets," contains selections from Genesis, Exodus, and other OT books and tells the stories of biblical characters known in both Islam and Christianity, accompanied by relevant New Testament excerpts.

Although access to the New Testament has birthed many churches, translators say the Old Testament is needed to ensure churches' long-term health and growth. "Since churches must go beyond evangelism, they need the whole picture and the whole Bible," said Phil Towner, director of translation services for United Bible Societies. "It's not just a matter of evangelism. It's a matter of being in this Christian adventure for the long haul."

Some translators attribute syncretism in Africa and other parts of the world to imbalanced and inadequate exposure to biblical truth. "For the sake of a long-term, growing church that is going to face problems of theology and practice," said Wycliffe's Hill, "they will want to consult the whole Bible."

Today, translation experts estimate that about 500 of the 1,700 translations underway are full Bible projects. Most of the rest involve at least some parts of the Old Testament, often short, straightforward narratives like Esther, Ruth, and Jonah.

"We would not be involved in an Old Testament project except that the people say they want it," said Walt DeMoss, director of program ministries for Lutheran Bible Translators. "They just develop a hunger for more of God's Word."

Some groups request specific Old Testament passages regarding the Creation, suffering, or other themes. But many express the same wish as Lama translators in Togo, who want the whole story simply so they can understand Jesus better.

"In many cultures, knowing someone's background, someone's grandfathers, is quite important to knowing them," said DeMoss. "And where do you find these 'grandfathers' to know more about Jesus except in the Old Testament?"

OT projects have become more feasible due to another movement: the increasingly central role of national translators. Nationals now compose 90 percent of the world's translation force. They generally produce higher quality translations at a faster pace, because they know their own language and culture well. Many translation agencies have begun using Western missionaries primarily as quality-checkers and advisers—especially for comparing translations against the original Hebrew and Greek—while nationals do the actual translation work.

"The future of Bible translation in the world is in empowering and releasing nationals to do the work," said Véroni Krüger of Word for the World, a whole-Bible translation group founded in South Africa. "I don't see any other way in which we can complete the task."

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September 2006, Vol. 50, No. 9