Latest News #282
June 3, 2004

The following news concerns Vietnam.

Revised Vietnamese New Testament welcomed at Easter sunrise service

Based on a report by Frida May of the United Bible Societies Asia Opportunity Program

Hundreds of people attended the thanksgiving breakfast that followed the launch ceremony of the Revised Vietnamese New Testament on Easter Sunday, 2004. Danang, Vietnam. Photo: UBS Asia Opportunity Program (VNM04DJ-3.JPG)

DANANG, Vietnam — Twelve years ago Vietnamese Christians gathered at a special Easter service to celebrate the arrival of the first Bibles and New Testaments to officially enter the country since 1975; last month, as the sun rose on Easter Sunday, they celebrated another milestone: the publication of the Revised Vietnamese New Testament.

A choir performing at the launch of the Revised Vietnamese New Testament on Easter Sunday, 2004. Danang, Vietnam. Photo: UBS Asia Opportunity Program (VNM04DJ-7.JPG)

The new Scripture is the first revision of the 1926 Vietnamese Bible, which has made it more accessible to modern-day speakers. This, according to the Rev Le Cao Quy, Coordinator of the Vietnamese Bible Production Program, will make it a powerful tool for the Church, which, he said, is experiencing "incredible growth", particularly among young people. In a country where 33 per cent of the population are under the age of 14, presenting the Scriptures in more up to date language is key to the future of the Church.

The Revised Vietnamese New Testament was launched in Tin Lanh Church on Easter Sunday, 2004. Danang, Vietnam. Photo: UBS Asia Opportunity Program (VNM04DJ-10.JPG)

Recognising the significance of the new Scripture, hundreds of Christians gathered at 5am at Danang's Tin Lanh Church to give thanks to God and to pay tribute to the team of revisers, all local people, led by the late Rev Pham Xuan Thieu. The gathering also prayed for the continuing revision work on the Old Testament, which it is hoped will be completed in 2006 - exactly 80 years after the publication of the first Vietnamese Bible.

Le Tan (right), one of the revisers of the Revised Vietnamese New Testament, which was launched on Easter Sunday, 2004. Danang, Vietnam. Photo: UBS Asia Opportunity Program (VNM04DJ-8.JPG)

Speaking at the celebration, United Bible Societies (UBS) Associate General Secretary David Thorne looked back at the positive developments in Bible work in Vietnam over the past 13 years. He recalled how in 1991 he was able to make initial contact with Vietnamese church leaders, which led to the authorities granting permission for UBS to import Bibles for the Vietnamese Church the same year. No Bibles had been imported into the country since 1975, and these had been distributed just before the fall of Saigon.

In 1994, another important step was taken when the first Bibles were printed locally through the Vietnamese Bible Production Program, which is supported by UBS. Since then, 1.23 million New Testaments and 440,000 Bibles have been printed in Vietnam. Mr Thorne thanked Rev Quy and his team for their valuable work in producing Scriptures for the Vietnamese Church.

People were anxious to get a copy of the Revised Vietnamese New Testament following its launch on Easter Sunday, 2004. Danang, Vietnam. Photo: UBS Asia Opportunity Program (VNM04DJ-4.JPG)

Following the two-hour celebration, everyone rushed to the sales table, anxious to secure a copy of the new Scripture. Many immediately opened their copies and began reading, commenting to each other how much easier it was to understand.

The first print-run of 5,000 copies is being distributed to Christians and churches across the country, and it is hoped that another batch will be printed.