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About Indian Bible Translations

From Bible Translation to Life Transformation

Mission

Our mission is to translate, print, and teach the Word of God in all Indian languages that do not have the Bible yet. We are committed to sending Bible Translators missionaries across India, language by language, and establishing dedicated “Bible Translator Teams” for each language to ensure accurate and meaningful translation.

Vision

Our vision is to translate the Bible into all Indian languages that have not yet been translated, making the Word of God available to every community in their mother tongue.

Rev. Prof. S. Panneer Selvam

How It Started
The Beginning of Our Ministry

India is residents of over a thousand languages, with 1,652 languages spoken nationwide, but not even a portion of the Bible has been translated yet in many of these languages. The Bible records that people heard the greatness of God spoken in their mother tongue (Acts 2:8). Therefore, it is our responsibility to provide every Indian with the Bible in his/ her mother tongue. Rev. Prof. S. Panneer Selvam established the Indian Bible Translators ministry in 1978, with Coimbatore as its headquarters, to meet this great need under the divine guidance of the word of God. The mission of this ministry is to ensure that every Indian can read the Bible in their mother tongue and to spread the Good News of Jesus to all. In line with the vision given to Rev. Prof. S. Panneer Selvam, the initiative began translating the Bible for indigenous mountain-dwelling communities using the script of the languages spoken in their respective states. The founder initially selected 200 languages and conducted detailed research on 50. Finally, he chose 37 languages for translation to accomplish this task. The qualified translators were identified and trained in Bible translation at the IBT centre. These translators began their translation work in their respective communities, ensuring that the Word of God reaches people in their mother tongue.

How Did the Indian Bible Translators Ministry Begin?
(The Director’s Testimony)

In 1974, one day, I was sitting on a moving bus. At that moment, my heart was eager to meditate on the Word of the Lord. As I pondered God's Word, I was thinking in my mother tongue, Tamil (It is a universally accepted truth that no matter how many languages we learn, we always think and reason in our native language). As I was meditating on the verses from the Tamil Bible, a sudden thought struck me: "Who translated the Tamil Bible for us? How many people must have toiled day and night for years to bring this Tamil Bible into existence?" My mind continued to be flooded with thoughts. Only if everyone reads the Lord's word in their mother tongue can they truly understand and grasp it. Then, I wondered, “How many languages are there in India? In how many of these languages has the Bible been translated?” These thoughts, inspired by the Holy Spirit, were about to mark the beginning of a significant era in the sacred mission of evangelizing India. Yet, at that moment, I was unaware of the great journey ahead. The desire and thirst to translate the Bible into languages that had not yet translated grew within me, eventually becoming an unshakable burden in my heart. Determined to bring the vision given by God into action, I set out on this mission.

As a first step, I engaged in translating the Gospel of Mark into the Saurashtra language, the mother tongue of the 500,000 Saurashtra people living in Tamil Nadu, and the Badaga language, the mother tongue of the Badagas residing in the Nilgiris. After several years of intense labour, the Gospel of Mark was successfully translated into both Saurashtra and Badaga languages. The struggles and challenges I faced in accomplishing this task are beyond words to describe

Until then, I had been solely responsible for this ministry. The expenses for translating the Gospel of Mark into the Saurashtra and Badaga languages were met through my own offerings and the generous contributions of a few other believers.

However, God made me realize that this translation work could not be accomplished by a single person—it required a dedicated team. With this understanding, I began sharing the vision of this ministry with fellow believers whom I knew. In every spiritual gathering I attended, I consistently emphasized the need to translate the Bible into Indian languages that had not yet received the Bible. It became a usual thing for me to narrate the histories of John Wycliffe, the one who first translated the Bible into English, William Tyndale, and Ziegenbalg, the pioneer of the Tamil Bible translation.

As a result of sharing this ministry with many people in various places, God placed the burden for this mission in the hearts of several individuals. He called many to join and actively participate in this work. Thus, through prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Indian Bible Translators Ministry was established.

To introduce this new ministry to others and to share its progress, we began publishing the Indian Bible Translators Newsletter in both English and Tamil. Many who read it have come forward to support this mission.

Though this endeavour may seem small at the moment, there is no doubt that it will grow into a great achievement in the future.

"Who dares despise the day of small beginnings?" — Zechariah 4:10

IBT History

1978

  • In the year 1978 Indian Bible Translators was founded by Prof. S. Panneer Selvam.

1979

  • IBT Office was established at Coimbatore on rental basis.
  • Gospel of Mark was dedicated and released in the Sourashtra Language.

1980-1982

  • In 1981,Gospel of Mark was dedicated and released in the Badaga Language.
  • Promotional meetings & Ezra Camps started to spread their wings across all States & Districts.
  • For the first time 3 days Gospel meetings were started in Northern parts of India.

1983

  • In 1983, Planning meeting was conducted at IBT Office and it was decided to rename the annual camp as LOGOS.
  • The First Logos camp was held in Coimbatore from 12th to 15th.

1984

  • In this year IBT Magazine was started to publish in Tamil & English language once in every month.
  • Gospel of Mathew was dedicated and released in Badaga Language at Kothagiri.
  • Logos Camp was held from May 10th to May 12th.

1985-1988

  • In 1985, Gospel of John was dedicated and released in Badaga Language.
  • IBT Director visited North America to explain about IBT ministries.
  • Construction work of IBT building was inaugurated in Coimbatore on 13th February.

1989-1992

  • In the year 1991, IBT Founder Prof. S. Panneer Selvam dedicated himself to Full time ministry & Inauguration of Bible Translation Training Center.
  • Various meetings and missionary activities were held in multiple locations.

1994-1997

  • In 1994, IBT released its Calendar.
  • In 1996 land was purchased in the Bindra mission field for building a church.
  • Audio-visual training workshop took place in IBT Office Coimbatore.

1998-2002

  • In 1991, a new Church was constructed and inaugurated in Pindra.
  • New Testament was released in Badaga Language in Ooty.
  • In 2002, Gospel of Mark was dedicated and released in Irula language.

2003-2006

  • In 2003, IBT Magazine got its new name as “Saththiya Vaarthai".
  • In 2006, New Testament was dedicated and released in Chattisgarhi language.

2007-2011

  • In 2007, New Testament was dedicated and released in Bhojpuri language.
  • Gospel of Mark was dedicated and released in Marwari Language in Jodhpur.
  • Construction work of IBT building was inaugurated in Coimbatore on 13th February.
  • In 2007, New Testament was dedicated and released in Deshia language.

2012-2016

  • In 2012, IBT church at Sirumapandi in Odisha was dedicated.
  • IBT Director was promoted to Heavenly Glory on June 2nd 2013.
  • IBT Church was dedicated in Pothargan, Odisha.
  • The New Testament in Paniya language, the Gospel of Matthew in the Vagri language, and the Gospel of Matthew and John in the languages of Kuduk, Halbi, and Bagheli were released.

2017-2018

  • In 2017, the Toda New Testament and Introduction to the Books of the Bible were released.
  • In 2018, The Gospel of Matthew was released in Koya and Sora. The book “Viviliya Payanathin Vidivelli” written by Co-founder Mrs. D. Sudandiradevi which contains the Biography of Rev. Prof. Panneer Selvam was also published on the same day.

2019

  • In 2019, New Testament in Irula Velliyangadu, Irula Kunjapani, Yerava; Psalms and Proverbs in Bhojpuri, Mirgan, Kalahandia and Toda; Gospel of Luke in Kuvi and Gospel of Matthew in Bhovi were released in the Logos Camp.
  • The book “Deva Satham” was also dedicated and released.

2020

  • In 2020, The book "Sorvum Theervum," written by Prof. Panneerselvam and translated into English in the name of “Defeat the Despair.
  • IBT's new administrative members were selected: Mr. P. Jabez Selwyn as the New President of the Indian Bible Translators ministry, Mr. Varamaniraj as the New Secretary, and Mr. John Sekar as the Treasurer in November.

2021-2022

  • In 2022, Sourashtra Bible was dedicated and released in Madurai.

2023

  • In 2023, Audio recording devices for the New Testament in Irula-Velliyankadu language were dedicated and released.
  • Mr. P. Jabez Selwyn was re-elected as the President of the Indian Bible Translation Ministries, with Mr. Varmaniraj as the Secretary and Mr. John William as the Treasurer.

OFFICE BEARERS

Mr P.Jabez Selwyn

S/o Rev. Prof. S. Panneer Selvam
President

Mr G.Varamaniraj

Secretary

Mr M.John William

Treasurer