HISTORY
The project of translating the IBP Hindi Bible
was formally declared opened on Tuesday, May 7, 1974, in New Delhi
by the evangelical Christian leaders of India. In the beginning
the project was called the New Hindi Bible Commission (NHBC).
All the churches in India, particularly the evangelicals, were
invited to send their representatives to discuss this important
project. After several such meetings it was unanimously resolved
that a completely new translation of the whole Bible should be
taken up. Hence, the New Hindi Bible Commission was formed. The
very people who had signed the declaration paper of the formation
of the Society, later on became the founding members and the governing
body of the India Bible Publishers.
After numerous meetings, prayerfully, these members
selected some well-known theologians, academicians, pastors, evangelists,
translators, editors and the leaders of the evangelical beliefs
from different churches and organizations of India. As per policy
of India Bible Publishers, in order to give honour and glory only
to God Himself, the names of the translators and editors are not
made public here. However, to provide assurances of the reliability
of this translation and its thoroughly evangelical underpinnings,
the names of the translators and editors will be given to any
one specifically requesting them, by writing to the Executive
Secretary, IBP.
Dr. Kenneth McVety, a man of God from The Evangelical
Alliance Mission (TEAM), who at that time functioned as the Director
of the Word of Life Press Ministries in Tokyo, Japan, was the
main person to initiate this important project. He acted as our
International Consultant. He functioned as the resource person
in providing financial assistance to pay honorariums, travel expenses,
local accommodations, etc. for the Hindi Bible translators to
come to Delhi and to work on the translation verse by verse with
the help of various dictionaries and commentaries. The translators
were assigned separate portion to translate at home and then to
bring the translation to New Delhi and Lucknow (India) for checking
by the Central Checking Committee. They all were well equipped
with necessary tools - the dictionaries, commentaries, concordances,
lexicons and many other helpful books required - to translate
accurately from the Original Greek and Hebrew into language that
could be understood by common readers, keeping in view the dignity
of the Word of God. In addition, the following English translations
were referred to as the primary reference works: The American
Standard Version (1911), the New American Standard Bible (1971)
and the New International Version (1978).
It will not be justified, if we don't at this
juncture also mention a person, without whom we do not know exactly
what would have been the fate of this project. It was none other
but Mr. Dale R. Seefeldt, a linguist and an expert in Hebrews
& Greek with formal training and degree from the Wheaton College,
IL, USA. Since he spent most of his early days with his missionary
parents in India, he knew Hindi and some other Indian dialects
quite well, which was very beneficial for this project. He was
young, energetic, loving, jovial and over all, a very dedicated
and hardworking person. He worked day and night with an editorial
team, based in New Delhi, to get this project accomplished. We
are grateful to the TEAM for supporting him for 14 years (1976
-1990) for this vital project in India.
Finally, in the history of IBP, many Christians
in Japan, especially the publishers of the New Japanese Bible,
will not in a slightest way be forgotten for their perseverance
and the extent to which they loved the Word of God and supported
the project so sacrificially. Despite so many hurdles and hardships,
these men and women of God never gave up, but prayerfully kept
on supporting this project wholeheartedly, both morally and with
their resources - until the project of Pavitra Bible was accomplished.
The work thus continued in God's providence,
and under God's help and provision we had the pleasure of releasing
its first New Testament on May 1, 1982, at the YMCA, New Delhi.
Later on in 1991, by God's grace the India Bible Publishers was
able to complete the translation of the entire Bible, called the
Pavitra Bible (Holy Bible). It was released on July 27, 1991,
in New Delhi. This wonderful Bible has been widely accepted by
all the churches, Christian organizations and numerous individuals.
We just praise God for His mercy and grace, and all the provisions
for this project.
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