top of page

Chinese New Version (CNV)'s Brief History

Western missionaries made a significant contribution to the translation of the Chinese Bible. 112 years after Rev Robert Morrison arrived in the East, translating and publishing the first Mandarin Bible, the "Chinese Union Version" in 1919 was a significant accomplishment. It also inspired future Chinese biblical scholars to continue this vital work.

 

The following 50 years saw significant political and linguistic changes, new archaeological discoveries, and modern linguistic studies. Biblical scholars were driven to re-examine the original biblical languages. Advances in textual criticism led to the recognition of more authoritative texts, providing insights unavailable 50 or 60 years ago. As a result, many outstanding Chinese scholars emerged, making a new Chinese translation project possible in 1972.

 

This project involved over 30 bible college presidents, deans, lecturers, more than 10 church overseers, pastors, elders from various denominations, and several Chinese language experts. They collaborated on translation, consultation, revision, and linguistic refinement. The project aimed to be faithful to the original text, communicatively adaptive, and elegantly portrayed. After gathering church-wide feedback and a final review by experienced biblical scholars, the CNV New Testament was published in 1976, and the Old Testament in 1992. This provided the global Chinese community with a Bible translation that was faithful to the original texts, easy to understand, evangelical in faith, and Christ-exalting.

 

In 2001, the Turn-of-the-Century Edition was published. Bible professors were invited to add book introductions and chapter outlines to help readers understand and appreciate God's Word. The Chinese New Version has continued to make progress and adaptations. The Worldwide Bible Society was established in 2001 to promote and publish this work.

The New Chinese Bible Center, established in 1972, was the forerunner of the World Bible Society (WBS). At that time, some Chinese church leaders recognized the need for a new Chinese Bible translation. This translation would prioritize faithfulness to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts while using contemporary and accessible Chinese language. The goal was to publish a Bible suitable for evangelism and exalted Christ.

 

A team of 100 Chinese Bible scholars and language experts worldwide was assembled to achieve this goal. Under the leadership of Revs. Drs. Philip Teng, John Pao, Samuel Tang, the late James Taylor III, Timothy Lin, Andrew Song, Wu Ming Chieh, and others. Rev. Paul Yung was appointed General Secretary to oversee the project.

 

By 1992, the project was completed, and the Chinese New Version (CNV) was born—the first Chinese Bible translated by Chinese scholars directly from the original biblical languages. The Tien Dao Publishing House published the CNV that same year. Since the initial release of the Gospel of John in 1972, millions of copies of the CNV Bible have been distributed in various formats, including individual gospel booklets, the New Testament, and the complete Old and New Testaments.

The CNV: Its Characteristics

Four Key Traits of the CNV Bible
 

1. Accurate and Consistent

  • The CNV Bible remains faithful to the original languages of the scripture, preserving linguistic nuances and avoiding any additions or omissions.

  • It values consistency and clarity, steering clear of overly complex expressions.
     

2. Easy to Read and Understand

  • The CNV Bible uses modern and accessible language, avoiding outdated vocabulary that can hinder comprehension.
     

3&4. Christ-Centered and Faithful to Biblical Theology

  • The CNV Bible focuses on the full deity and humanity of Christ and the redemptive nature of his work.

  • It aligns with the overarching theological message of the Bible.

《聖經新譯本》介紹——傳承與開拓

 

  聖經是神的聖言,是永恆的真理。在神的智慧安排下,它卻在特定的歷史時空用希伯來文、亞蘭文和希臘文寫成,又透過歷代譯經先賢的努力,讓各時各地的讀者能夠以自己最熟悉的言語,接受這萬古常新的真理。聖經翻譯,以及使譯文隨時代變遷而不斷更新,都是華人教會的使命和需要。

  西教士對中文聖經翻譯事工貢獻巨大。1919年即馬禮遜來華112年後,《國語(官話)和合譯本》出版,一方面標誌西教士將中文聖經翻譯史推至顛峰,另一方面卻期待華人聖經學者快快興起,承接譯經的重任。之後,五十多年悠長的歲月,戰火連綿,中文也有很大的變化。在這期間,考古學的發現、近代語言學的研究,使聖經學者對聖經原文有更新且更深入的認識,加上近代的版本校勘學有不少發展,也提供了許多在二十世紀初無法得到的寶貴資料,包括更具權威的原文版本。更重要的是,經過半個世紀,華人聖經學者人才輩出。

  1972年,華人終於負起重譯聖經的重任。一班屬靈前輩從神領受和承擔了這個任重道遠的使命,組成中文聖經新譯會,創會委員包括戴紹曾博士、滕近輝博士、鮑會園博士、唐佑之博士、桑安柱監督、謝友王博士、陳終道牧師、吳勇長老、邵慶彰牧師、麥維惕博士和容保羅牧師。他們本著譯經先賢那種排除萬難的精神,開始了重譯中文聖經的艱巨工程,務求把一本忠於原文、易讀易懂的新譯本呈獻給華人教會。容保羅牧師四出奔跑穿針引線、籌募經費、羅致人才,使譯經計劃得到眾多聖經學者、教會領袖和文字工作者的參與和支持。經過多年的默默耕耘,《聖經新譯本》新約全書於1976年出版,舊約全書也於1992年完成。自面世以來,幫助了無數讀者清楚且準確地明白神的話語,鞏固純正的信仰,並高舉基督,深受各地華人教會愛戴。

 

參與《聖經新譯本》翻譯事工的團隊

 

中文聖經新譯會(環球聖經公會前身)

 

創會委員

滕近輝博士(主席)、戴紹曾博士、鮑會園博士、唐佑之博士、桑安柱監督、謝友王博士、陳終道牧師、吳 勇長老、邵慶彰牧師、麥維惕博士(Dr. Kenneth McVety)

 

總幹事

容保羅牧師

 

翻譯組組長

鮑會園博士

 

舊約譯者

唐佑之博士、周永健博士、鄺炳釗博士、詹正義博士、洪同勉博士、陸蘇河博士、馬有藻博士、畢維康博士、沈介山教授、甘汝誠先生、陳玉棠牧師

 

新約譯者

鮑會園博士、張修齊博士、謝友王博士、沈介山教授、陳宏博博士、陳終道牧師、李靈新牧師

 

集修仲裁組

唐佑之博士、周永健博士、鄺炳釗博士、馮蔭坤博士、楊錫鏘牧師、詹正義博士、洪同勉博士、沈介山教授、甘汝誠先生、馮耀榮博士、梁 薇博士、馬有藻博士、吳迺恭院長、孔慶明醫生、陳惠榮牧師、陳玉棠牧師、陳黔開牧師、潘仕楷先生、何海濤博士

 

語文組

于中旻博士、朱兆祥教授、張曉風女士、蘇恩佩女士、趙 聰先生、陳錫麟先生、滕近輝博士、陳終道牧師、桑安柱監督、吳明節監督、吳恩沐牧師、胡問憲牧師、邵遵瀾牧師、寇世遠監督、陳振興長老

 

資料研究組

李保羅博士、陳惠榮牧師、黃漢森博士、潘理豐牧師

 

撰寫跨世紀版《聖經新譯本》總論、簡介的作者(按姓名筆畫排序,下同)

何 傑博士、吳獻章博士、呂紹昌博士、李春榮博士、周兆真博士、邵晨光博士、邵樟平先生、孫寶玲博士、區伯平牧師、區應毓博士、張 略博士、梁國權先生、郭文池博士、馮兆成博士、馮耀榮博士、黃浩儀博士、黃儀章博士、楊詠嫦博士、黎永明先生、黎業文牧師、蕭楚輝牧師、賴建國博士、謝慧兒博士

Contact Us

Address:

1160 Cadillac Court, Milpitas, CA 95035

Tel: 1-408-996-8388

Email: info@wwbibleus.org

Copyright@Worldwide Bible All Rights Reserved

DONATE by Cheque(支票奉獻):

Check Title(支票抬頭): W B S 
Address(郵寄地址):1160 Cadillac Ct, Milpitas, CA 95035

DONATE by Zelle (Zelle 轉賬奉獻

WBS Zelle Account : info@wwbibleus.org

Please double-check and confirm before you send out the payment.

敬請註明奉獻收據郵寄地址。

DONATE by Credit Card/PayPal (網路奉獻):                   

info@wwbibleus.org

image.png
bottom of page