New Testament Translation Project

In 2017 the Trinitarian Bible Society began to undertake a new translation of the Bemba New Testament in partnership with Free Grace Evangelistic Association (FGEA), which has been active in Zambia since 2010 among Bemba speaking churches. The aim is to prepare a faithful edition of the Bemba New Testament based on the Received Text, produced with primary reference to a Received Text interlinear New Testament and the Authorised (King James) Version. As the work progresses we seek the Lord’s grace that He would raise up a Bemba speaker with knowledge of the original languages of the Bible, who could join the project.

It is with thankfulness to God that the Bemba Gospel according to John was published in 2021. The printing was made in the UK, and copies first arrived in June 2022 for distribution in Zambia, where they were eagerly received. The translation team have made good progress with Matthew, Mark, and Luke at the second draft stage and these books have just been reviewed by an independent native Bemba speaker for TBS. The team in Zambia are currently working on Acts and Romans. The Society is grateful to the Free Grace Evangelistic Association (FGEA) for their partnership with us on this project.