During the Christmas season, millions return to church, even those who have distanced themselves from religion. They listen to the story of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, born in a stable due to a lack of space in the inn. For Christian missionaries, this story is a tradition and a global task: to share the biblical text in every language.
The Bible is the most translated book in history, available in over 750 languages. Yet there are around 7,000 living languages, and many lack even fragments of the Scriptures. Today, religious organizations are leveraging technologies, particularly large-scale language models and AI, to speed up this process.
Translating biblical texts is a complex task. The Old Testament has about 600,000 words, traditionally translated by 70 scholars in the 3rd century BC. The New Testament is in colloquial Greek, complicating translation. Some words remain ambiguous, like ἐπιούσιον (epiousion) in the “Our Father” prayer, debated to mean “daily” or “spiritual” bread. Such decisions have significant theological implications.
Historically, translating the Bible was perilous. In the Middle Ages, translators faced execution. Post-Reformation, it was safer but arduous. In 1999, Wycliffe estimated 150 years to cover all languages using traditional methods. Involving local linguists reduced translation time to about 15 years.
AI is changing this. Experts suggest AI can help translate the New Testament in two years, the Old Testament in six, drastically reducing timelines. Missionary groups aim to have parts of the Bible in every language by 2033. The IllumiNations coalition reports the project is over halfway complete, raising nearly $500 million.
Meta’s 2022 machine translation model, initially for digital services, has been adapted for biblical texts, using secular technology for sacred work. Yet AI isn’t a universal fix. Many “low-resource” languages lack materials for AI training, requiring manual translation initially. Determining the minimum data for effective AI results remains a technical challenge.
AI’s use raises theological concerns. Some worry it replaces spiritual inspiration. Proponents argue AI is merely supportive, with human review ensuring accuracy. Cultural challenges persist as AI struggles with metaphors. For instance, “bat” might require descriptive terms like “weapon of war.”
Cultural perceptions vary: “receive Jesus into your heart” isn’t universally understood; some cultures view the liver or stomach as the emotional center, necessitating adaptable translations that convey meaning without distortion.
For some Christians, translating the Bible has eschatological significance, believing Christ’s return hinges on scripture accessibility. For others, it’s a missionary duty. The project also preserves rare languages, builds linguistic databases, and advances translation technologies, turning an ancient text into a catalyst for modern tech with effects beyond religion.
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