The Bible Translation into Welsh (and other Languages)

http://www.llgc.org.uk/big/Chapter1.htm

I found this while trying to find a welsh translation of the Bible. For the upcoming funeral of Dr. Joseph Brown of Llangollen, I have the honour of giving a reading from Isiah 25, verses 6-9. I am to give this reading in both Welsh, and English.

During my search I came across this page from the National Library of Wales, which is the opening chapter on the work of William Morgan, and the things that led to his being able to translate the bible into welsh in 1588. It also includes an interesting pointer about the early Church, and idea that before it became the “Catholic” church, it was all about individual salvation, rather than than general salvation. The Early Church was very much concerned with the early wrightings, and the wrightings of those that knew Jesus, or were from closer to His time. Even then, 300 too 400 years after his death they were still trying to ensure that a true record of Him was being recorded.

The modern Anglican Church (at least, from my small point of view) seems be moving back towards this idea of personal salvation, of the road that people take that brings them to the Good News (for varying definitions of Good News). One of the things that I am itching to start doing is to start looking at the early manuscripts, of learning Greek and trying to make sense of how it was written, in as close as we can get this far removed in history to those that really knew Him.

The translation of the Bible into Welsh was a historic moment for Wales, and indeed, for the World. The English Parlament( by some unknown miracle), suddenly allowed the translation of the Bible into Welsh, not long after it’s translation into English. This would then enable other branches of the Church around the world to be able to translate the Holy Word into their own, native tounge. Finally the word was being spread as it should be, as it was in the Pentacost. In the language of all those that would hear it.

The Welsh have a lot to thank William Morgan, and the mostly unsung Richard Davies that set the ball rolling. There was a law at the time that ensured that if you wanted a job in any public office, you must speak English. To have Welsh back in the Churches was a big step against this silly law (which has now swung almost the other way. If you want a job in public office in Wales, it is preferably that you speak Welsh (but not compulsory in most cases)). It was having this important part of Welsh life back in Welsh that probably ensured that the language continued to today.

BX