by Matthew A. Vogan, Editorial Director

In our world of instant downloads, same-day deliveries, and lightning-fast communication, we’ve grown accustomed to immediate results in virtually every area of life. While modern technology has certainly accelerated Scripture distribution and supports aspects of translation work, the complete process remains deliberately measured. In fact, compared to many things in our world, Bible translation seems stubbornly slow. Many wonder why our projects require year after year of painstaking work. This concern arises from a genuine desire to have a faithful translation in people’s hands as soon as possible.

The reality is that Bible translation is an intensive process that requires much knowledge, prayer, dedication, and attention to detail. While some aspects of technology can facilitate and accelerate parts of the process, patient and prayerful precision will always be required for faithful rendering and publication of Scripture. Of course, in many ways this is how it ought to be; Scripture stands out from mere human products. It is unique and translations of it should be enduring. We should also recognise that translators cannot always devote all the time they would like to the work. Translators must balance the project with family, job, and often pastoral commitments.

Sometimes an optimistic date for completion is suggested but it is not attained. In the Lord’s sovereign providence, unforeseen events such as health challenges, political instability, war, economic hardship, IT challenges, or severe weather can impact a project’s timeline. There are further factors to bear in mind when we are wondering about the length of time needed for a project. Some languages have features that make translation choices much harder than in other languages. Many languages have a limited vocabulary, particularly for theological terms, and so a choice has to be made whether to borrow a word from a related language, coin a new word, or transliterate the underlying Hebrew and Greek. Beyond these factors, faithful Bible translation involves a complex process with multiple stages of careful work to ensure accuracy.

Here is a general outline of what might be expected in this journey, although no two projects are ever the same. The process generally remains the same and is repeated for all stages of translation: Gospel, New Testament, and Bible.

Translation Process

1. Start

Finding individuals with the right qualifications presents the first challenge. Translators first must be born again. After that they need appropriate language skills, Biblical understanding, spiritual maturity, and a thorough understanding of the target language. Even when qualified candidates emerge, they must demonstrate commitment to our translation standards and principles which govern all our projects. The General Committee grants formal approval only after the Editorial Department has ensured rigorous vetting of potential translators and careful assessment of the need for the translation

2. Draft

Translation typically begins with the Gospel according to John. Translators may work independently, in pairs, or in collaborative groups to draft this foundational text. When confronting complex theological or linguistic challenges, they consult with our resident expert in Biblical Hebrew and Greek and linguistics. This stage often presents the greatest difficulties as translators wrestle with finding appropriate vocabulary and navigating the grammar of the target language. Many languages lack established terminology for Biblical concepts, requiring careful creation of new terms or thoughtful adaptation of existing ones or even borrowing from related languages. Once completed, it undergoes its first comprehensive review. It is vital to lay the right foundation for the project in this way.

3. Review

A fresh set of eyes meticulously examines the initial draft, enhancing both linguistic quality and textual accuracy. When working with a translation team, this review comes from a colleague not involved in creating the draft. Alternatively, the review may happen in collaboration with our linguistics experts and other qualified reviewers. This joint approach ensures the translation reflects collective wisdom rather than a single perspective. These subsequent reviews scrutinise grammatical structures and verify faithful representation of the original meaning, often requiring multiple rounds of revision before moving forward.

4. Assessment

After individual reviews, the translator or team conducts a thorough assessment. Reading through the manuscript together, they ensure natural flow and coherence in the language. This collaborative reading typically reveals issues, inconsistencies, or awkward phrasings previously overlooked. A translation might sound technically correct when examined sentence by sentence but still feel unnatural when read as a complete text. A translation that reads well aloud is particularly important in cultures where literacy levels are low.

5. Community Check

An essential step involves native speakers from the community—individuals not previously involved in the translation—reviewing the text. They provide invaluable feedback on word choices, grammar, and comprehensibility, which is accepted or rejected according to TBS principles of translation. This stage helps ensure the translation communicates clearly to its intended audience across different age groups, education levels, and regional dialects.

6. Analysis

The text then moves to our Editorial Department, where an independent native speaker conducts a detailed analysis. This step applies particular scrutiny to verify appropriate translation choices. As an additional verification measure, key verses are back-translated into English as literally as possible to check the meaning. Important theological terms receive special attention to ensure accuracy of translation and adherence to the Received Text (the traditional Greek text that underlies historic translations like the Authorised (King James) Version). Our linguistic consultant carefully examines this analysis, often raising questions about specific word choices or phrasings that require further discussion with the translation team. This process ensures the translation captures the correct meaning of the providentially preserved text in a way that is as literal as possible and only as free as necessary. The translator then makes the necessary corrections and resubmits the file. The text is also run through detailed Editorial System checks, which tests for potential problems.

7. Approval

Once all queries are resolved, the translation can be recommended for publication by the Society. This recommendation proceeds to the TBS General Committee, who receive supporting documentation and may ask additional questions before authorising the publication process to begin. This important step ensures every translation meets our established standards for faithfulness and clarity.

8. Publication

With the translation finalised, attention turns to presentation. The manuscript undergoes final formatting improvements and thorough proofreading, before being published online and typeset. Typesetting is a very complex and painstaking process, that involves a great attention to detail. Even with a typeset text, there are typically many rounds of corrections as the translation team identifies issues not previously noticed and the files undergo careful checking to make sure every verse is present and formatted correctly. Decisions about paper quality, binding, font size, and other physical characteristics all contribute to creating a durable, readable Bible that will serve communities for years to come.

9. Thanksgiving

For a completed Bible or New Testament, a special thanksgiving service acknowledges the Lord’s blessing on the dedicated efforts of all who contributed to bringing Scripture into this language—either for the first time or in a more faithful rendering. Such thanksgivings mark a significant milestone for language communities and provide an opportunity to dedicate the work to God’s glory.

10. Conclusion

This extensive process explains why faithful Bible translation requires significant time—typically 12–15 years for a complete Bible, sometimes more. Each stage serves a vital purpose in ensuring God’s Word is accurately and clearly communicated to every language community in a form they can understand, trust, and cherish for generations to come. In a culture focused on speed and instant gratification, Bible translation stands as a powerful reminder that some of the most valuable work cannot be rushed. ‘The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.’ (Isaiah 40.8). This enduring quality deserves our patient commitment to excellence in translation.

First published in Quarterly Record 653. Published online 27 October 2025.