Tag: King James

Did you know that most of the people in the world cannot read? We take free, public education in the United States for granted sometimes, but with it does come the opportunity for public literacy learning. This is unfortunately not the case worldwide, where political conflicts and poverty take a toll on the educational needs of citizens of other countries. When it comes to reading the Bible, therefore, there are many in the world that simply do not have the skills to do so. The introduction of the audio Bible has brought a solution to this problem.

There are many translated versions of the audio Bible available, the King James audio Bible, for example, brings the wonders of modern technology to bear on the problem of sharing God’s Word in a way that all can understand. The NIV audio Bible, as well as the King James version, come downloaded onto a CD that uses mp3 files to compress the entire New Testament so that it fits on a single CD. People can then listen to the Bible and even conduct audio Bible Study groups using this fantastic audio version of the Bible. Of course, there are thousands of different languages spoken around the world, so how is Bible translation work done so that all listeners can understand what is being said on the CD?

There are several groups whose purpose is to translate the Bible so that everyone in the world will be able to read or hear it in their own language. Wycliffe Bible Translators is one such group. They take a scholarly, linguistic approach to Bible translation. Linguists are sent into the field to work with a people group whose language has never been written down before. These linguists work with native speakers to document a language’s phonetics, phonology, syntax and grammar. After this painstaking research, they apply what they have learned to translating the Bible into this newly recorded language.

Phonetics refers to the sounds of a particular language. The human voice can make many sounds, yet not all of them are used for language production. The linguist’s job is to listen well and document each of the individual sounds used in the particular language, in a way that is verifiable and repeatable by all speakers.

Phonology has to do with how the various sounds identified phonetically function within the language. The linguist will work, after gaining phonetic data out in the field, to identify what the phonemes, or the smallest unit of speech that characterizes meaning, of the language are.

Syntax is the study of sentence structure, and grammar is a listing of the rules that apply to the structure of sentences. Wycliffe, and other Bible translation organizations, apply linguistic standards to the study of languages that have never been written before, and then apply what they have learned to Bible translation. Some of these organizations have also partnered with audio Bible production groups, so that the Bible is now available in languages that many of the world’s speakers can understand.

Susan Slobac studies language and translations and is fascinated with the Audio Bible. Susan uses the the audio Bible on CD and has listened to different tranlsations of the King james audio Bible. She encourages friends within her church to reach out to other non-native speakers with audio Bible translations.

When was the last time you read a book? You might frequent your local library to pick up titles, but unfortunately many people in the United States, over half the adult population, never pick a book up after they leave high school. Many do not spend time each day reading, and this can have an affect on their Christian spiritual growth. People who do not know what the Bible says cannot grow in their faith and knowledge. There is an easy way, however, to add the Bible back into your life, and that is by utilizing an audio Bible. The Audio Bible is available on CDs that can be played on your computer or a CD player, and also in mp3 format. There are also Audio Bible downloads allowing you to play the audio Bible on your computer or through an mp3 player. Now that the Bible is available in a digital format, the audio Bible can be used for sermons, in bible studies, and by individuals with disabilities.

If you are trying to reach a group of people but cannot speak their common language, communication of your message will break down. If you want to share the Bible with them, you will either have to learn to speak the audience’s language well enough to read the Bible to them, or you can rely on other means. The King James audio Bible, for example, is available in digital format in over 250 different dialects. A pastor anywhere around the world can play these digital files for their parishioners, and communicate the Word of God in a meaningful way. Not everyone has the benefit of an adequate public education where they learn to read. That being the case, almost everyone can hear, so one way to learn what the Bible has to say is to listen to it, and digital audio Bibles can make a difference in everyone’s spiritual growth.

Bible studies can also benefit from the mp3 audio Bible. Not everyone has time to settle in for Bible reading, or reading is so unfamiliar that they feel awkward doing it, and so avoid it altogether. On the other hand, if the New Testament is broken down into short sections, anyone can select it on their mp3 player and take it with them on the bus, on the walk to school or work, or anywhere you can listen but need your hands free. Just delving into the content of the Bible will improve students’ understanding of what it says, with spiritual results that can last a lifetime and beyond.

Those with disabilities, such as blindness, might have difficulty with printed material. An audio Bible can be just the item they need to help them stay abreast of Bible teaching, and they too can learn by utilizing this innovative technology. Whether you are out and about, in your car, at work, or at home, you can access the amazing beauty and knowledge that comes from an understanding of God’s Word by listening to an audio Bible.

Susan Slobac is active in her Church and listens to the audio Bible in her free time. She has found many uses for the audio Bible, including for sermons and for people with difficulty reading. Susan has started an audio Bible study as part of her church, where they listen to the King James audio Bible and hold discussion.