Members of Bible translation review panel announced

A panel of Bible experts has been finalised for the review of SIL and Wycliffe's translation practices.

The review panel will be moderated by Dr Robert Cooley, president emeritus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

The scholars come from around the world and have expertise in theology and biblical studies, as well as missiology and anthropology.

They have been tasked with reviewing SIL and Wycliffe's translation of divine familial terms for editions of the Bible and New Testament in predominantly Muslim countries.

The controversy relates particularly to translations of "God the Father" and the "Son of God".

The panel’s mandate is to “review SIL’s translation practices, set boundaries for theologically acceptable translation methodology, particularly in Muslim contexts, and suggest how to practically implement these recommendations".

The review panel will hold its first working session in Toronto, Canada, at the end of November.

A second session has been planned for early spring 2013 at a location in the Mediterranean region.

A final report is due to be provided to Wycliffe and SIL by April next year.

Wycliffe and SIL have agreed to abide by all the recommendations.

The panel members and their expertise are:
Milton Acosta, Old Testament
Donald Fairbairn, Early Christianity and Historical Theology
Atef Gendy, New Testament
Ida Glaser, Biblical and Islamic Studies
Rob Haskell, Systematic Theology
Karen Jobes, New Testament
Ghassan Khalaf, Biblical Studies and Theology
Melba Padilla Maggay, Social Anthropology
Scott Moreau, Intercultural Studies
Kang-San Tan, Mission Studies
Roland Werner, African Linguistics & Theology
Dudley Woodberry, Mission Studies
Robert Cooley, Panel Moderator