by Theresa Kim Hwa-young

"With this Korean translation, God can come closer to us," says Cardinal Kim.

Seoul (AsiaNews) – After 17 years a new Korean language edition of the Holy Scriptures has been published—Seonggyeong is the first translation done only by Catholics.

The tome was presented October 10 at a ceremony organised by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK) that was attended by some 200 Bible scholars, Korean language experts and Protestant leaders.

CBCK chairman Fr Andreas Choi Chang-mou said in his welcoming address: "The Bible is the Word of God written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I believe that 17 years of our efforts for this translation also has been guided by the Holy Spirit. . . . I hope the Christian life of Korean Catholics can be more vitalised and renewed by using this Seonggyeong in the sacred liturgy, lectio divina, Bible studies and daily prayers. 'The Word became flesh and lived among us' (Jn 1:14). Now, we must live out this Word."

Father Choi's address was followed by those of His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim; the Most Rev Dr Matthew Chung Chul-bum, Primate of Korea and Bishop of Seoul of the Anglican Church; Rev Paik Do-woong, General Secretary of the (Protestant) National Council of Churches in Korea; and Rev Min Young-jin, General Secretary of the Korean Bible Society.

Cardinal Kim said that that "with this Korean translation, God can come closer to us . . . . The Bible is not a simple book, but it feeds and nurtures us as the Word of Life. Therefore, we Christians take this Word as spiritual food and conform ourselves to Him more and more."

He also remembered and thanked the late Rev Joseph Im Seung-pil, who devoted his life to the translation of the Bible and passed away in 2003.

Reverend Min pointed out some important changes from the previous ecumenical translation, including the title of Seonggyeong itself (literally Holy Scripture) and the change from Yahweh to Junim (Lord), and added: "I am sure that Seonggyeong, though translated only by Catholics, will make a great contribution to the history of Bible translation in Korea."

Fr John Chrysostom Kwon Hyok-ju, chairman of the CBCK Biblical Committee, offered thanks to all those who collaborated in the translation and publication of Seonggyeong, which is closer to the original Aramaic and Greek texts than previous editions.

 

 

• south
• korea
• bible
• catholic
• church
• seonggyeong