But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13, NLT
Prior to Bible translation beginning in the Siwu language, the Akpafu and Lolobi communities were separated. The division was generations old: 200 years. No one could remember how it started.
It was only by God’s grace that local organizers had the foresight to recognize that the Bible was for both communities, not just one. The committee chose a chair from one group and a vice-chair from the other.
And that mattered, because when that New Testament was dedicated in 2009 something extraordinary happened.
Two separate Siwu-speaking communities, the Akpafu and the Lolobi, came together for a dedication, after 200 years apart.
Translating the New Testament brought peace between peoples.
Can you imagine being Akpafu or Lolobi and reading Ephesians 2 for the first time in this moment? For He himself is our peace, who has made two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.
Bible translation brought reconciliation: man to man and man to God. And the Siwu translation team continues, hard at work on completing the Old Testament.
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.
Ephesians 2:14, NLT
Digital linguistics & Bible translation 