Recently we received this message:
Why do you offer a catholic Bible? By catholic do you mean Roman Catholic?
Actually we offer, 4 catholic Bibles: the Latin Vulgate, the English Douay-Rheims, Chinese Catholic Bible – Traditional characters, and the Mandarin Catholic Bible. If you are interested, in this link, we explain how some Catholic Bibles compare with the authorized version, the KJV. The KJV is by far the most widespread and accepted English translation in the world, today and ever since 1611 AD.
With the wideapread and promotion of modern translations, Bible versions became an issue in recent years. The Latin Vulgate is in our site because it precedes the KJV, and for many centuries was the only Bible available in the world. As for the Chinese Catholic versions, we decided they were helpful in the context of the field we were living and working in for so many years: China. In fact, as we send Bible verses to Chinese Catholic friends everyday, we find that after translation, (using an authomatic translation program), the spirit of the verses in the Chinese Catholic Bible is very much the same as the equivalent English (KJV). We also find that it matches in spirit and many times in wording the CUV Chinese version. That has been very encouraging to us, because for many years we were told that the Catholic Bibles were different from the so called Protestant Bibles. We find that is not the case. After a brief study on the topic, years ago, we found that modern Catholic Bibles, just like modern so called Protestant Bible versions, are very different in word and many times, in spirit, from older versions. So, it seems that the corruption of scriptures comes from the modernization of Bible texts, not from whether the Bible is Catholic or not.
Let us see the Verse of the Day we sent out today:
你們祈禱時，不要嘮嘮叨叨，如同外邦人一樣，因為他們以為只要多言，便可獲得垂允。 你們不要跟他們一樣，因為你們的父，在你們求他以前，已知道你們需要什麼。瑪竇福音 6:7-8 (Catholic Bible)
Translation:
When you pray, do not chatter, like the Gentiles, for they think that if they speak more, they will be answered. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
你们祷告，不可像外邦人，用许多重复话。他们以为话多了必蒙垂听。 你们不可效法他们。因为你们没有祈求以先，你们所需用的，你们的父早已知道了。马太福音 6:7-8 (CUV Bible)
Translation:
When you pray, do not use many repetitions as the Gentiles do. They think that if they talk too much, they will be heard. Do not imitate them. For your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
English versions:
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him Matthew 6:7-8 (KJV)
And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard.
Be not you therefore like to them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him. (Douay-Rheims)
As you may see, the difference is not abysmal. I find it quite good, in spite of the machine translation, and I find them spiritually coherent. At WP you may even compared all those versions, in this LINK:
A point to be remembered: Get a good Bible version and let us obey it. Amen?
This past month, we have invested more time in expanding our social media output. We really do not see ourselves as youtubers or tweeters but, since most of the people are spending hours and hours of time on these platforms, we should, as much as possibe, have a presence there and, in this case, hopefully, a stronger presence. We have taken the opportunity of being in a nature gifted country, to make more youtube videos and try some more instagram and tiktok content.
You may check it out in the links below.
If you wish to help with this mission, the aim thereof is to promote the Lord and His word, you may click the ‘like’ button, if you like it, of course. As you know, the ‘likes’ in particular, help with giving visibility to the channel. You may also produce content and send to us to be used with scriptures. Thanks. For the moment it is all free for the mission, no monetization – one day you may wish to change that, but that is probably beyond my tenancy.
TikTok is also in the works:
Do not feel discouraged for the meager viewers so far. Any effort we make to bring the message of Christ even to one soul, it is worthy. Forget not the days of small things and, as the saying goes, ‘little is much if the Lord is in it’. We started very slow, years ago, with WP online bibles, and today we have a steady flow of users, as you may see for yourself in the stats below:
WP user comment:
Just for keeping up with the tradition, here is one of the comments we received this month in our mailbox:
'Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. How can I help? Finding believers in the United States is actually harder than you may think. Having a building that you call a church does not actually make it a church. I want to serve our Creator more than I do so I am hoping that you have a believer that can reach out to me to offer direction. I can not contribute money as I have none. I do not seek money either. I have skills that I can offer but to find out about them I will need to talk to someone directly. If God has sent me they will know. I was so glad to see such a large assemblance of the spoken word because Faith cometh by hearing. Sincerely,' J.L.
Other than that, hopefully we will be able to get back to producing Audio Bibles for Africa soon. Thank you for your support and prayers.