The Bible Thrives Amid COVID-19

By David Ettinger

Translating God’s Word
COVID-19 has strangled the economy, lifestyles, businesses, social lives, and church attendance, but it has not touched the Bible. According to the Christian Post, “Despite challenges presented by the pandemic, Wycliffe Associates saw the completion of more Bible translations in 2020 than in any other single year.”[1]

If this doesn’t elicit a “Praise God,” I don’t know what does.

Wycliffe Bible Translators has been translating Bibles into the world’s numerous and diverse languages since 1942. The ministry completed New Testament translations in 141 languages in 2020, and has added another 8 for the Old Testament.

The reason for the surge has been the improvement in online technology. According to Tim Neu, interim president and CEO of Wycliffe Associates, “COVID lockdowns kept Bible translators at home, but our online Bible translation system enabled many to continue their work together.”[2]

And the beat goes on. Wycliffe is currently working on 773 Bible translations, and has received requests from 273 language groups wanting Bibles.[3] The current output continues the breathtaking trail Wycliffe has been blazing. In the past 17 years, Wycliffe – thanks to improving technology – has increased Bible translations from 7.5 per year to 29.4, a fourfold expansion.[4]

Can’t Be Stopped
And all this as Western nations have been declaring war on the Bible and Christians. And all this as third-world and Communist-led nations have been doing their best to destroy Bibles, churches, Christian resources, and decimate their Christian populations. And all of this while COVID has closed churches and diminished Christian fellowship by keeping people locked in their homes.

The message is clear: God cannot be stopped. The Bible cannot be stopped. The Church cannot be stopped. Try as the world may to annihilate Christians, destroy churches, and eradicate the Bible, it will never succeed. As Jesus said, “the gates of Hades will not overcome” the Church (Matthew 16:18).

Instead, at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to Earth at the end of the age, the godlessness of this world will be judged and ended, and a new era of peace and goodness will rise.

In the meantime, the Bible marches on, changing lives from the inside out, and bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the deepest corners of our lost and dying world. May God’s work continue to thrive in these dark and ruthless days!

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[1] https://www.christianpost.com/news/despite-covid-wycliffe-sees-record-number-of-bible-translations.html

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

Tagged: Covid-19, Increase in Bible Translations, Reaching the World for Christ, The Bible Rules!, The Unstoppable Bible, The Unstoppable Church, Wycliffe Bible Translators

Posted in: Christianity, Commentary, Culture, Current Events, Dedication to Christ, Editorial/Blog, Glorifying God, News, The Bible, The End of the Age, The Millennial Kingdom, The Return of Christ