Over time, I have come to appreciate that Bible translation is an extraordinary calling which demands gifting in several distinct areas. When I first began my journey with God seventeen years ago, I did not realize that I had these gifts, nor did I suspect the vision for ministry which God would later give me. It is my testimony that God carefully guides us at every stage of our lives to prepare and equip us for ministry.
Analysis of God's Word
Bible translation requires a profound appreciation of the biblical text. My early experiences in the church during my grade-schooling made it difficult for me to respect the Bible in this way. From my perspective, the Bible was presented either as a list of do's and don’ts or as a spiritual textbook setting forth abstract principles of truth which were completely irrelevant to modern people.
As I grew in my relationship with God, however, I began to understand the Bible differently. I came to see that the Bible was the grand history of God’s plan of redemption for His people, and this helped me to appreciate its importance, relevance and power. The profundity of this plan captured my interest, not only on a personal level but also on an academic one. I have always enjoyed rigorous analysis, and in fact, I focused on physics during my college studies. I realized that I could apply the same rigor to the study of the Bible, in exploring both the details and the big picture. I relished the intricate nuances which were communicated in the original languages of the Bible, while also appreciating its unity and its climactic fulfillment in Christ. My analytical mind found satisfaction in the study of God’s Word, because I realized that this was a text that was certain to be fruitful for anyone searching intently for its truth.
Fascination with Language
A career in biblical translation also demands an appreciation of languages, both for the linguistic complexities that color self-expression and for the boundaries that they create between people. I am the first son of Korean immigrants to the United States, but despite my obvious connection with Korean culture I grew up dismissing my ethnic heritage and refusing to learn the language of my ancestors. I think that this visceral rejection grew out of my perception of the surrounding, predominantly Caucasian way of life as a dominant and superior cultural paradigm.
Even when I came to faith and submitted my life to Christ, for many years I still failed to recognize that my unconscious rejection of my ethnic heritage was displeasing to God. As I found acceptance within the church, however, I began to accept my identity: God intended my ethnic identity to be a part of my ministry to others, much in the same way that Paul’s identity was integral to his relationships with others. I grew up as an outsider both among “Americans” and “Koreans,” but I am growing into a man who yearns to cross bridges to understand others. In this pursuit, God has livened in me a penchant for linguistics, an area of exploration that began in junior high school with the study of Latin and Greek, developed through my seminary years as I studied the Bible in the original languages, and crystallized as I focused my attention on the Chinese language.
Passion for People
The last area of gifting required for work in Bible translation is a passion for the people of other cultures. Without commitment and love, the work of Bible translation would be vain. For a young and educated person in America, being willing to go overseas is perhaps the most difficult aspect of the calling, and it certainly was not easy for me. I had never enjoyed travel or unfamiliar foods. I did not relish hardship or adventure, and subjecting myself to the challenge of new and demanding environments had never been my idea of a good time.
Yet, God patiently and forcefully dealt with my objections. He transformed my life through John Piper’s book Desiring God. He silenced my fears by giving me an opportunity to travel to China. My time there was unexpectedly exhilarating. And along the way the Lord was continually encouraging me through the life stories of professors, students and ordinary people like me who were simply obeying God. I kept praying for God’s direction, and He kept sending me back to China, for four straight summers, and then for two straight years. I never had a chance to look back, because God kept opening the doors in front of me. It was His joy—and mine—to reveal to me His heart for the lost.
The latest door God has opened for me has led to Wycliffe Bible Translators. Like the formative experiences God has led me through, it is a perfect opportunity and a reflection of His perfect understanding and love for me, as my heavenly Father. Surely our God knows exactly what He is doing with each of our lives (Matthew 10:30)! How wonderful a God we serve, that He should be pleased to use ordinary jars of clay to display His power to the world (2 Corinthians 4:7).