We are excited to work with translators on the book of Ezekiel. And this translation work on the Old Testament joyfully follows Jesus' commission in Matthew 28:19-20; we argue that translation of Ezekiel is one of the implications of the Great Commission.
Observe the following:
- Jesus' disciples are to teach all nations to observe His commands (Matt 28:20).
- "All nations" do not speak one and the same language; there are about 7,000 languages used in the world today (over 500 in Nigeria alone).
- Teaching is most effective and best understood in one's own language (e.g., when Jesus taught the 12, He did not speak in a language foreign to them!), so to effectively teach the nations, we should translate Jesus' commands!
- In Luke 24:44-47, Jesus' similar command to call all nations to turn to Him flows from His Christ-centered reading/teaching of the Old Testament; the Christ is written about "in the Law of Moses and the Prophets [this includes Ezekiel!] and the Psalms."
Conclusion:
To effectively disciple the nations to follow Jesus' commands includes the implication that Jesus' disciples should translate the whole Bible (including Ezekiel and the rest of the OT).
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