International (MNN) — In 2007, the Iranian Bible Society in Diaspora (IBSD) released a Farsi Bible translation called Today’s Persian Version. However, language is fluid and changes constantly.
“[In] 2015, our translation teams [started on] a revision,” IBSD’s Nahid Sepeheri says.
“It’s called Today’s Persian Version Revised and is now ready for distribution.”
(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)
Iran is one of the world’s most challenging places to follow Christ, and many Iranians leave the country to practice their faith freely. Approximately two- to three million Iranians live in the diaspora – i.e., outside Iran – but some estimates put the figure as high as five million.
These believers struggle to live for Jesus when they don’t have access to God’s Word. “[The] Bible is meant [for] people to understand,” Sepeheri says.
“Our goal is to make [the] Bible available for people [in] the way they understand without changing the message.”
Even if they have a Bible, some Iranian Christians struggle to understand Scripture because the version is too “advanced” for their literacy level. Using common or simplified language, Today’s Persian Version Revised puts Gospel hope within reach of every believer.
“[We even] have a Bible for children [that does] not use big words,” Sepeheri says.
“This version[’s] audience is people with [a] middle school education. If they can understand, the educated people can understand it too.”
IBSD distributes Bibles to Iranians worldwide. According to Operation World, there are an estimated 1,000 Persian-speaking Iranian churches and house fellowships in the global diaspora, totaling more than 200,000 people.
Ask the Lord to help IBSD reach every Iranian Christian who needs a Bible.
“Iranians are everywhere, so I have to look [for] people [who need Bibles in] each country. It’s a big job,” Sepeheri says.
“Pray God [will] provide [for] us and help us print more to give it free to people wherever they are seeking the Bible.”
Header image is a representative photo courtesy of Engin Akyurt/Pexels.
