Did You Know?
What is a Bibleless people group?
Bibleless. That’s not a real word, right?
While it may be true that you won’t find “Bibleless” in any dictionary, the meaning behind the constructed word is nonetheless very real. There are people groups in the world today that do not have the Bible in a language they can understand. Because it is not in their heart language, or mother-tongue, they cannot fully understand God’s Word, if at all. They do not have access to the life-saving, life-giving message found in Scripture. They are, therefore, “Bibleless.”
Yes, even in this day in age, when we—the speakers of majority languages—enjoy unprecedented access to the Scriptures in a variety of translated versions, there are still people groups with no Bible. Some have not yet heard the name of Jesus.
Many of these Bibleless people groups are small, speaking minority languages that are known only within their communities. Others may be significant in size, but difficult to access because of their remote or sensitive locations. Whatever the case, Bibleless peoples are not unknown to God. He loves all of them. And His Word is meant for them as much as it is meant for you and me.
Now that you know “Bibleless” is a very real word, will you pray with us? Let’s pray together that one day soon, that word need never exist.
- Pray that the Lord will create a hunger and thirst for Himself in those who have not yet heard. Pray that He will create a desire for His Word among Bibleless people groups.
- Pray for workers to be called and sent to each Bibleless people group. Ask God to raise up skilled and passionate mother-tongue translators and advocates from within groups needing the Scriptures.
- Pray for unity among churches, mission partners, and individual believers working to share the gospel with Bibleless people. Pray for fruit produced by the Holy Spirit.
“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20, NLT).
Coming on Day 4: Reaching the Bibleless
This post is a part of a 20-day series celebrating the 30th anniversary of Wycliffe’s
Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project. To commit to pray for a Bibleless people, sign up here.
