News from the Lebanese Bible Society. https://www.biblesociety.org.lb/news/mosul.htm

The Lebanese Bible Society Publishes the Mosul (Nineveh) Bible

THE PESHITTA BIBLE
The first copies of the Mosul Bible, also called the Arabic Peshitta Bible, have arrived in Iraq. Fr. Yousef Touma, the visionary behind the project, was besides himself with joy when presented with the first copy: �I can hardly believe what I�m holding in my hands, and just in time for our 250th anniversary! What a joy and privilege to follow in the tradition of our Dominican Fathers who more than a century ago translated this Bible into Arabic. Thanks to the great job the Bible Society did in printing this Bible, the final result speaks for itself.�


After innumerable hurdles and long delays this nineteenth century translation has been reprinted all in one volume, something Fr. Yousef�s predecessors had not been able to accomplish.

His Beatitude, Rofial I Bidawwid (Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church), said, �This is a great event for the Church of Iraq. The translation is close to our hearts because it is based on the Aramaic translation of the Bible, the Peshitta. Even today 80 % of all Christians in Iraq speak a language that comes from Aramaic, the language that our Lord Jesus also spoke. When we read the Mosul Bible we understand it, its dialect is our own and it speaks to us.�

BACKGROUND
The Mosul Bible is one of the four Arabic translations of the whole Bible completed in the 19th century, together with the Shidiak, the Bustani-Van Dyck � Smith, and the Jesuit translations. Out of these four translations only the Bustani-Van Dyck-Smith translation is still widely in use. A revised edition of the Jesuit translation has been printed twice in the past ten years by the Bible Society. The Shidiak translation has had limited demand.

The first translation of the Mosul Bible was carried out by the Dominican Fathers in Mosul (Nineveh) during the Ottoman (Turkish) era. It was first printed in 1885 in that same city on the Dominican Printing Press. The press was later destroyed by fire. Consisting of 3 volumes, it was never printed as a single book. Depending on need or demand, either of the three volumes would be printed and distributed. As a result, each of the three volumes contains many pages of imprimaturs (official license to print given by, in this case, the Roman Catholic Church). This new reprint is the first time the whole Bible will be published in one volume.

It was extremely difficult to find all three volumes of the original Peshitta. Once located, the Bible Society of Lebanon scanned the copies in order to produce the �new� old Bible. Although practically unobtainable, the Iraqi church nevertheless has a special feeling towards this translation, which was done in their country and translated from their own dialect.

Over the years the idea of a reprint of the Mosul Bible has been discussed many times. Finally, when the Dominican Fathers started preparing for their 250th anniversary as a community in Iraq the idea became reality. The goal is to make this Bible available for monasteries, churches and clerical schools where there has been a long demand for it. But many individuals will also enjoy owning a copy. Altogether 3,000 copies have been printed.

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In reply to message #0
 
Akhi Paul:
I think its wonderful to have a Modern Bible in arabic for allArabic speaking peoples numbering over 200 Million world wide. this is especially true of one that follows the sacred tradition of the Peshitta Qadisha, and not merly a western approach based on the Hebrew and Greek. I am sure you will aprecaite getting a copy very much. this is a wonderful tool for your church and the education of Arabic speaking peoples every where. Mazala tova! Shlama W'Berkhate, Shmuel Eliezer

In reply to message #1
 
Shlama all--

I concur. This is a wonderful event. As a Jew, I honestly think that the best shot for mutual understanding between all Semites is the Aramaic language. We all had that at one point, and to share the Gospel with a billion plus Muslims outside of a Semitic framework is madness-- especially when we know that was how it was revealed in the first place.

But, getting Muslims to the table of dialogue should begin by dealing with their language of Arabic first, and this will assist in those efforts greatly. Surely to go from one member of the Semitic Language Group to another is far easier and more effective than even putting it in English.

Shalom and Salaam
Andrew Gabriel Roth

In reply to message #2
 
Akhi Andrew:
I whole heartly agree with you. but notice I said arabic speaking peoples, not Christian or Muslium, Jewsih ,nor Hindu or whatever. I am refering to not Arabic peopel as arabs alone , but the 200 million or so that use Arabic as their mother tongue or Imma Lishona(Umma Lishona) I think in Arabic.Most Musliums speak English or Indonesian, Urdu, Persian, Turkinsh or a numbre of other languages mostly non-semetic. also most Aramerican Jews understand only English fluently,myself and maybe you as well included. You know most people in this world Islamic nations included as well as native assyrians do not practice their respective religions, but live theri lives apart from God's presence. yes many profess to be Muslium or Jewish, Hindu, or even Christian , but really they are not. what they are is people of different ethnic and cultural backgrouds lost from God and in desperate need of Maran Eashoa, and I believe any thing that can make this clearer to these lost souls if wonderful and should be honered as it honors our Maran Eashoa and Abbba yahweh as well. Shalom, Mazol tov! Todah Rabbah. All the best of everything in God's grace through Yeshua Mishiheinu,Amein! Shmuel Eliezer