Note: We have created 5 Scripture Foundation Discussions — one for each translation principle: Understand, Draft, Check, Support, and Distribute. They help those you are training see that these are not just good translation principles — they are a reflection of Scriptural principles. You do not need to use these discussions; they are just ideas. If you would like to develop your own, we recommend reviewing Scripture Foundation Discussion Framework. You may be a very experienced Bible teacher and think, “I do not need help with this.” That may be true! However, if you want discussions that connect directly to the Bible translation process, this framework could be helpful.

Principle: We check our work because the words we translate are God’s words, not ours.

Why 2 Peter 1:19-21 or 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The purpose of this discussion is to help trainers see why checking is an act of faithfulness, not just a process step. This will be successful if they can explain why the divine origin of Scripture demands careful, humble checking of their translation work.

You may choose to do both devotionals but here are reasons why you may pick one or the other to use.

Trainer’s Selection Guide: Which Passage Should I Use?

| If the Trainers are struggling with... | Use this Passage | Because... | | --- | --- | --- | | Carelessness: They are rushing and treating the draft like "just a job." | 2 Timothy 3:16–17 | It emphasizes that the words are God’s Breath. It raises the level of respect for the text. | | Accuracy: They are adding their own opinions or cultural "filters" to the verse. | 2 Peter 1:19–21 | It warns against "private interpretation." It reminds them that we follow God's lead, not our own. | | Clarity: The draft is technically correct but hard to read or use. | 2 Timothy 3:16–17 | It focuses on the Word being "useful" and "equipping" people for real life. | | Confidence: They are worried that they aren't "smart enough" to translate. | 2 Peter 1:19–21 | It shows that the Word is a "sure light." Our job is simply to let that light shine clearly. |

Option 1: The Divine Source — 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Option 2: The Reliable Light — 2 Peter 1:19–21

Hands-On Activities for This Discussion

These activities can be used with either Option 1 or Option 2. They are adapted from activities in the Activity Catalogue.

Activity 1: 1-2-4-ALL — Finding the Blind Spots

Adapted from 1-2-4-ALL. Time: 15–20 minutes.

This activity helps checking teams see that multiple eyes catch what one person misses — just like cleaning a lamp needs more than one hand.

How to run it:

  1. Alone (1 minute): Each person silently reads the same draft verse. Write down one thing that might be unclear to a reader/listener who does not know the Bible well.
  2. In Pairs (2 minutes): Share your concern with a partner. Did you both find the same issue, or different ones?
  3. In Fours (4 minutes): Two pairs join together. Compare all the issues found. Which ones are most important to fix first?
  4. All Together: Each group of four shares their top concern with the whole room. The trainer writes them on the board.