Magyar Egyház, 1999 (78. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1999 / 2. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

3. oldal

TWO BILINGUAL NEW TESTAMENTS PUBLISHED IN HUNGARY

The Assembly of the Hungarian Bible Society took place in the headquarters of the Society. This was also the occasion of presenting the Romanian- Hungarian and the Slovakian-Hungarian Bibles. On this occasion, I invited Kalman Tarr, Pastor, Secretary General of the Hungarian Bible Society, Coravu Severineanul Damaschin, orthodox bishop of Romania, Bertalan Gőz, Pastor from the Interdenominational Bible Society, furthermore, A. Miller Milloy, Scottish Pastor, the Secretary of the World Alliance of the Bible Societies, for a roundtable conversation for the Reformpress and for the religious media.

Why did you publish these Bibles?

Kalman Tarr: In Hungary, the edition of bilingual New Testaments has a certain tradition. Namely, the English-Hungarian New Testament appeared already in 1987, and we published the German-Hungarian version in 1991. With these two bilingual editions now we continue this tradition. I have asked the Center of the World Alliance of Bible Societies, to inform us about how many bilingual Bibles exist. In Europe and the Near East, there are only eight bilingual New Testaments, and out of these, four appeared in our country.

And what support was given to this project by the World Alliance of Bible Societies?

They helped our cause right from the start. The Romanian-Hungarian and Slovakian-Hungarian New Testament appeared in 4,000 copies each and they provided the printing paper. The rest of the costs (printing and binding, etc.) were covered by the National Bible Societies.

In your opinion, does this New Testament promote the reconciliation between the people which is very important, does it help mutual understanding and acceptance?

Bertalan Gőz: In the past years, between the Slovakian Bible Society that was founded in 1990, and the Hungarian Bible Society, a close brotherly contact developed. The present edition serves all couples living in a “mixed marriage”, meaning Hungarian and Slovak ethnic background. We hope that with the aid of the bilingual New Testament, every family member will better understand the Word of God in his or her own mother tongue.

Bishop Damaschin: Everything we have done in the interest of publishing this New Testament can also be interpreted as a sort of people’s diplomacy. In fact, the Bible can be a positive tool of this. By reading and by daily use of its people may approach one another, can understand better one another. I believe that the relationship among the churches has to be the example, the model of this positive coexistence. In our country, the Orthodox Church has good relationship with the other denominations.

When we brought the interdenominational Bible Society to Romania, by the collaboration of 10 different churches, there was no one whom we had to get in by force. Even this bilingual New Testament is the product of the ecumenical spirit.

How do you value the edition of these bilingual Bibles from the aspect of the World Alliance of Bible Societies?

A. Miller Milloy: By this edition of the Bible an ancient plan of the World Alliance became reality, namely that the Bible should be made accessible to everybody. This is a magnificent success and this ceremonial introduction today of the Romanian- Hungarian and Slovakian-Hungarian Bible is an evidence of it. The Secretary General of the Hungarian Bible Society already referred to the background of the edition, namely that we took upon us 50% of the costs. But it must also be mentioned that this support was collected by several other Bible Societies.

Interview by Lajos Bekefy

SCRIPTURES ACCOMPANY KOSOVAR HUMANITARIAN AID

Tirana, Albania. For the first time in modern history, the Muslims of Kosovo are open to the Gospel. Albanian Christians who are aiding victims of the gruesome holocaust report an unprecedented opportunity to share their faith with the refugees. They are pleading for the help of North American Christians to do it.

The Bible League began ministry in Albania in 1998, placing Scripture materials and training national Christians to effectively share their faith among their people. But the young Albanian Church now faces a huge test as it responds to the flood of refugees into their nation. Numbering only about 6,000 Christians, Albanian churches have mobilized 80% of their membership to actively assist the Muslim Kosovar people.

At the request of its Albanian National Director, Suzana Sefgjini, The Bible League will provide an additional 25,000 Scriptures for Albanian Christians to use in their relief efforts.

Sefgjini recently reported: “We want to be people of action, not just talk about being salt and light to our nation. In some cases, when the refugees are rested, they are asking our volunteers, ‘Why are you doing this? What is your motivation? “”We want to build relationships and talk with them about our Lord and our salvation.”

The compassion of material relief combined with spiritual nourishment is a powerful gesture toward followers of Islam. The Bible League’s National Director has issued a call for North American Christians to stand with Albanian Christians in their challenge.