Translating the Bible
Saturday, November 2
Bible Verse:
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. ‘Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.’”
— Proverbs 30:5-9 (EHV)
Devotion:
After standing up for God’s Word at the Diet of Worms, Martin Luther had to hide for a while to stay safe. But he didn’t waste any time! While he was hiding in a castle called Wartburg, Martin worked on one of the most important jobs of his life—translating the Bible into German. Before this, most people couldn’t understand the Bible because it was written in Latin. That meant only priests and scholars could read it. Martin wanted everyone to be able to read God’s Word for themselves, so he spent many months carefully translating the Bible into a language that ordinary people could understand.
This was a big deal because now people didn’t have to rely on others to tell them what the Bible said—they could read it for themselves! Martin’s work helped spread the truth of God’s Word to many people. Today, we are blessed to have the Bible in so many different languages so that people all over the world can read and understand it. Like Martin Luther, we should always be thankful for God’s Word and make it a special part of our daily lives. The Bible is a shield that protects us and helps us know God better.
Questions to think about:
1. Why did Martin Luther translate the Bible into German?
2. How do you think it would feel if you couldn’t read the Bible in your own language?
3. Why is it important for everyone to be able to read the Bible?
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for giving us Your Word. Help me to love reading the Bible and to learn more about You every day. Amen.
Activity Idea:
Draw a picture of Martin Luther working on translating the Bible.