Scottish Catholic Observer

A NEW translation of St John’s Gospel into contemporary Gaelic was launched on Wednesday at the Gaelic Mod in Thurso.

The new translation, Soisgeul Eòin, is part of the translation of the whole of the New Testament from Greek into contemporary Gaelic and is being undertaken by a small committee, comprising of two Church of Scotland ministers, a Free Church minister and retired Catholic priest Canon John Macdonald, of Argyll and the Isles Diocese.

No more fitting a venue could have been chosen for the launch of Soisgeul Eòin than Scotland’s biggest celebration of Gaelic culture and life—which was formally opened in Thurso and is taking place in Caithness for the first time.

The book has been published by the Scottish Bible Society and, according to Canon Macdonald, could not have been completed without the help of Rev Paul Ellingsworth, eminent Biblical Greek scholar and Methodist Minister.

“His guidance has been essential to the work being done,” Canon Macdonald said. “The initiative was taken up by the Scottish Bible Society and our group has been meeting up for around two years now.

“Everybody has brought their own area of expertise to the group and Rev Ellingsworth, although he doesn’t speak Gaelic, has been our guiding light when it comes to Greek translation.”

Canon Macdonald highlighted that as the group reached a final text for Soisgeul Eòin a copy was distributed to a host of Gaelic speaking academics whose opinions were sought on the translation, ensuring it would be ready for this week’s launch.

“A great deal of very useful help was given to us, which we appreciated, including that of Ian MacDonald director of the Gaelic Books Council.”

The group now hopes that the next publication from the translation team (under the aegis of the Bible society) will be available for Christmas, taking the form of a booklet of the Nativity story including the prologue of St John, the account of the Nativity of Jesus from St Luke and the visit of the Magi from St Matthew.

A NEW translation of St John’s Gospel into contemporary Gaelic was launched on Wednesday at the Gaelic Mod in Thurso.

The new translation, Soisgeul Eòin, is part of the translation of the whole of the New Testament from Greek into contemporary Gaelic and is being undertaken by a small committee, comprising of two Church of Scotland ministers, a Free Church minister and retired Catholic priest Canon John Macdonald, of Argyll and the Isles Diocese.

No more fitting a venue could have been chosen for the launch of Soisgeul Eòin than Scotland’s biggest celebration of Gaelic culture and life—which was formally opened in Thurso and is taking place in Caithness for the first time.

The book has been published by the Scottish Bible Society and, according to Canon Macdonald, could not have been completed without the help of Rev Paul Ellingsworth, eminent Biblical Greek scholar and Methodist Minister.

“His guidance has been essential to the work being done,” Canon Macdonald said. “The initiative was taken up by the Scottish Bible Society and our group has been meeting up for around two years now.

“Everybody has brought their own area of expertise to the group and Rev Ellingsworth, although he doesn’t speak Gaelic, has been our guiding light when it comes to Greek translation.”

Canon Macdonald highlighted that as the group reached a final text for Soisgeul Eòin a copy was distributed to a host of Gaelic speaking academics whose opinions were sought on the translation, ensuring it would be ready for this week’s launch.

“A great deal of very useful help was given to us, which we appreciated, including that of Ian MacDonald director of the Gaelic Books Council.”

The group now hopes that the next publication from the translation team (under the aegis of the Bible society) will be available for Christmas, taking the form of a booklet of the Nativity story including the prologue of St John, the account of the Nativity of Jesus from St Luke and the visit of the Magi from St Matthew.