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Young people engage with God's Word at open-air festival

Heat and mosquitoes could not prevent thousands of young people from getting into the spirit of a Christian festival held in Hungary at the end of July.
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The Hungarian Bible Society that carefully looks after the text of the New Protestant Translation made the decision at its December 5th 2005 Board meeting to launch the preparatory work for a newer, revised translation of the Bible in Hungarian.
In connection with this, therefore, we would like our twelve member churches, our ministers, and every Bible reading Christian and Bible-lover, to be very much aware that from April 2006, The Hungarian Bible Society has been looking forward to receiving any comments, remarks or suggestions that might improve the text of the Protestant New Translation, first published in 1975 and revised in 1990.

The Year of the Bible 2008

"Happy is the one who reads this book..." (Revelation 1:3)
2008 is the Year of the Bible in Hungary
www.bibliaeve.hu

This much-welcomed initiative in several European countries has aimed to help people "rediscover" the Bible in today's modern society, so that they can acquire a general knowledge of the Bible while the Word of God is made more widely known.
Another aim, which counts on the help and co-operation of the wider Hungarian society, is the appreciation of the Bible as a precious piece of fine literature which has had a great impact on our culture, and forms part of our cultural heritage. In this, we hope to get the various fields of culture, art and education interested, and support the work of popularising the Bible.
"The year of the Bible 2008" initiative has its key elements in locally organised events. Local churches and civic cultural bodies can also join in, either individually, or in joint efforts with others. The Hungarian Bible Society provides ideas, tools and information as the main agent entrusted with the work of organising the programme from Autumn 2007 onwards, but suggestions received from elsewhere will also be published in a booklet as well as on our website. The organising committee, consisting of Roman Catholic and Protestant members, is coordinating the following key events:

January 2008 - the launching of the "Year of the Bible 2008" programme.
Ecumenical week of prayer
23-26 June 2008 - International Biblical Symposium in Esztergom:
Theme Title: "The effect and role of the Bible in a secular-, consumer- and media-driven society"
21 November - Bible exhibition at the National Széchényi Library
The exhibition will put on display the archaeological-, historical, artistic and cultural relevance of the Bible, as well as mentioning the unique impact it has had both on Judaism and Christianity.
30 September 2008 - Organ and choir music concert at The Palace of Arts with musical pieces inspired by the Bible
Januay 2009- The official closing of the season of key events

During "The Year of the Bible 2008" and with the financial help of its member churches as well as the international partners of these member churches, the HBS is planning a wide ranging Bible distribution campaign among social and ethnic minorities such as the refugees and Roma communities. We will distribute the Bible in whatever format is suitable for these special audiences (foreign language Bibles, Children's Bibles, illustrated Bibles, Bible on audio tapes and CDs).

"The Year of the Bible 2008"
We want to encourage every Bible-loving member of the Society to join "The year of the Bible 2008" programme series. We also welcome ideas and suggestions, in writing, by phone or by e-mail, to the address of the Hungarian Bible Society.

Welcome to our Readers

Welcome to the the Hungarian Bible Society's internet site!
Read on, have a look around!

The Bible Society exists because within a Bible there is a treasure that belongs to us all. This is a highly esteemed, rich library which we are to care for. The great privilege of our human existence is the unrepeatable chance in this life to look into the majestic works of God as frail human beings and find out the meaning of our complex existence.
We care for the Bible not by hiding it on shelves leaving it unread. We should not put it away in a safe place, nor hide it "under a bowl". If we did that we would not keep and treasure the Bible, but would put out its light and get rid of the influence that lies in the reading of its pages. A Bible left on a bookshelf to be covered in dust is just a nicely- bound bundle of paper. But the Bible that is read daily is nothing less than "the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes". (Romans 1:16)

For its reader, the Bible opens itself up gradually, making its message clearer by each reading. There is no need for pre-education, training or a level of preparedness, because the Bible - as the reformers put it - explains itself. And even a particular text that is difficult to understand could act as an encouragement to continue reading and to get to know and understand the Bible better.

This is a wonderful journey a reader undertakes; a journey to a better knowledge of God, world and self. 'Holy' does not mean 'untouchable', but in this case refers to the Bible as a book that belongs to God. We should not be afraid of the fact that it contains thoughts that go back many thousands of years in places. When one reads them, one will see them as modern answers to our contemporary challenges. And we should not think that the Bible is a book that belongs to the church only. The Bible belongs to all of us, because it was written "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)

The main ministry of the Hungarian Bible Society, we believe, is that whatever we do, even in its various forms, may it be the distribution or the popularisation of the Word, we help our fellow Hungarians to have access to the Word of God in many forms and ways. There are many of us who read the Bible on a daily basis. But there are even more of those for whom the Bible is a strange, unknown "thing". Our mission - to put it briefly - is to change the ratio over so there would be more of those who read, love and understand the Holy Scriptures.

Ottó Pecsuk
General Secretary of the HBS