DIKW, Missiology of Progress in Bible Translation

This article is a brief adapted summary of the original academic text “A missiology of progress: Assessing advancement in the Bible translation movement - Kirk J. Franklin”, analyzed through the lens of the DIKW framework (Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom).

The article "A missiology of progress: Assessing advancement in the Bible translation movement" aims to develop a missiological foundation for missional progress, particularly in Bible translation, by considering broader factors beyond just quantifiable measurements. While statistical analysis has been a common method for determining progress in missional activity, the study identifies gaps, including biblical, sociological, theological, and missiological factors. Through a qualitative study utilizing a questionnaire given to leaders within the Bible translation movement, the research explores their understanding of factors for a missiology of progress, revealing insights into increased collaboration, improved relationships with local churches, and theologically significant milestones. The study concludes that progress must be considered within the broader context of God’s mission, emphasizing collective reflection and learning within the movement.

Assessing progress in missional activity has traditionally relied heavily on quantifiable measurements and data collection, stemming from the belief that "you are what you measure" or "what gets measured counts". This approach often involves compiling data such as percentages of Gospel exposure, available literature, or the status of church planting. However, the article highlights the limitations of this purely statistical view, citing church history examples like the early 20th century's bold vision for missionary triumph, which statistically resulted in a regress in the global percentage of Christians by 2005. This historical perspective underscores that simply measuring numerical growth can be misleading and that declaring bold pronouncements of progress based solely on statistics is not a wise tactic. The sources suggest that a complete picture of progress requires considering qualitative factors beyond mere quantitative statistics, demanding "more insight, more innovation and better eyes" to extract "useful truth" from data.

Defining progress in the context of God's mission and the Bible translation movement extends beyond a simple count of completed translations or languages. Biblically, progress is envisioned as "more people able to praise God’s name in their own language", knowing God, and becoming "real followers of Christ" (Revelation 7:9–10). It also involves the earth being "filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord" (Habakkuk 2:14) and "more people having access to Scripture" (Colossians 1:24–29). Fundamentally, progress within the missio Dei (God's mission of redemption and reconciliation) means Bible translation is "fitting in with the purpose and mission of God". Qualitatively, this includes people accessing God's Word in their heart language, and, crucially, local language groups owning the translation process and Scripture use as a fundamental part of their church life. Progress is seen when local believers make informed choices about which language best "incarnates Jesus in the Word for them," leading to transformation in lives, communities, and nations. It also involves increased collaboration, unity, and improved relationships among Bible translation agencies and the local church, with greater participation and leadership from the end-user church and community.

Applying the DIKW (Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom) hierarchy to the assessment of progress in Bible translation provides a deeper understanding. Data are the raw, quantitative statistics, such as the number of languages needing translation or those with completed Bibles. When these statistics are organized and presented, they become Information, offering a factual overview of the translation landscape. However, the article argues that simply having more data isn't enough; it requires "more insight". This insight transforms information into Knowledge, which is a qualitative understanding of the why and how of progress. This is evident in recognizing the importance of collaboration, improved relationships, and the local church's ownership of the translation process, rather than just the number of translations completed. Finally, Wisdom represents the highest level of understanding, where progress is assessed within a broader missiological and theological context. This involves discerning what God truly considers progress, integrating biblical visions, understanding church history (where progress in one era might be regress in another), and prioritizing values like unity, humility, love, and serving marginalized groups. This level of wisdom emphasizes that "participation counts more than productivity" and focuses on the way ministry is conducted, not just the numbers achieved.

In conclusion, the research highlights the multi-faceted nature of determining progress in the Bible translation movement, advocating for a shift beyond solely quantifiable measures. While quantitative data provide foundational information, a comprehensive understanding of progress necessitates integrating qualitative factors, such as increased collaboration between agencies, improved relationships with local churches, and significant community ownership and involvement in the translation process. This emergent "missiology of progress" is firmly embedded in the missio Dei, God's overarching mission, and emphasizes the importance of theological reflection, learning from church history, and unified participation from all stakeholders. The ongoing nature of Bible translation, recognizing that there may be no absolute "finish line" due to language evolution and ongoing needs, further underscores the importance of a holistic, wisdom-driven approach to defining and assessing progress.

Representação visual da hierarquia DIKW aplicada à missão de tradução da Bíblia — do dado à sabedoria, com foco na colaboração, diversidade e propósito divino.