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Tonga

Celebrating the Tongan Compact Bible at Queen Salote College Centenary

The centenary of Queen Salote College marks a milestone in the history of education and Christian witness in Tonga. As students, teachers, alumni, and families gather to celebrate 100 years of faith and learning, it is fitting that the Word of God holds a central place in these celebrations.
 
A highlight of the centenary is the revised Tongan Compact Bible (Moulton Version), prepared and printed in time for this historic occasion. For generations, the Scriptures have guided the spiritual formation of students at Queen Salote College, shaping character, faith, and leadership among its alumni.
 
The preparation of the revised Bible manuscript was a careful, collaborative effort. This project involved not only the Bible Society of the South Pacific, but also the Bible Society of Korea, the dedicated work of Rev. Saimone from Tonga, and the DHL team who ensured the safe and timely shipment of the Bibles. Together, these collaborations ensured that the manuscript was reviewed, corrected, printed, and delivered in time for the centenary celebrations.
 
On this special occasion, we extend heartfelt appreciation to all involved. Their tireless efforts reflect the ongoing mission of the Bible Societies: to make the Word of God available and meaningful for communities throughout the Pacific.
 
As Queen Salote College celebrates 100 years of education and Christian values, the presence of the Tongan Compact Bible reminds us of the enduring role of Scripture. It is both a tribute to the past and a gift for future generations, guiding and inspiring students, alumni, and the wider community for years to come.
 
*These Bibles are available at Friendly Islands Bookshop at Taufaʻahau Road, Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga.
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Advancing Bible Translation and Mission in Tonga

Advancing Bible Translation and Mission in Tonga

The work of Bible Translation continues to be at the heart of Bible Society Oceania – Tonga Missions in 2026. With dedication and unity, our teams are prayerfully working toward completing three major Bible projects this year: the Tonga West Revised Version, the Tongan Contemporary Bible, and the Tongan Catholic Bible.

These translation projects represent years of faithful service by church leaders, theologians, language experts, and committed volunteers from different denominations. The goal is clear — to make the Word of God accessible, accurate, and relevant for every Tongan reader, in language that speaks clearly to this generation while preserving theological integrity.

At present, our proofreading teams are actively reviewing translated portions to ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency. This stage is critical. It ensures that every verse communicates the intended biblical message faithfully and naturally in the Tongan language. Our teams meet regularly, carefully examining Scripture texts before final publication.

Beyond translation, Bible Society Oceania – Tonga Missions continues its outreach through:

  • Monthly Radio Programs — sharing Scripture reflections and encouragement.

  • Church Engagement Programs — strengthening partnerships with local congregations.

  • High School Visits — inspiring young people through the Word of God.

Preparing for Trauma Healing Workshop at Hu’atolitoli Prison
09–12 March 2026

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TONGA: Bible Work in Tonga

Translation work on the Tongan Contemporary Old Testament began with a translators workshop in October 2014 conducted by Dr Daud Soesilo. Seventeen translators were involved. In April 2015, the project was officially launched. The translators were given the “Book of the Twelve” to begin with. By the end of 2016, the first draft of the OT had already finished. Currently, we are up to stage 2 reviewing this project while also reviewing the New Testament to be combined with the OT, as the Tongan Contemporary Bible. The work is ambitiously projected to be completed at 2023.

The Launching of the Book of the Twelve
In line with the working objectives of UBS that once some part of a translation project has been completed then it can be launched as a way of informing the church, we had aimed to do the launching of the Book of the Twelve during the Annual Conference of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. This is because, the Free Wesleyan is the mainline denomination in Tonga.

The Conference lasted from Monday the 24th of June to Monday the 1st of July, 2019. Prior communication with the church leaders and the local Bible Translation Committee in Tonga resulted in the leaders of the Free Wesleyan Conference agreeing to launch the Book of the Twelve on the opening night of the Conference by presenting it to the King of Tonga, His Majesty King Tubou VI. This was considered a great privilege for the project. The organization of the launching was for the chairperson of the Bible Translation Committee in Tonga, Lord Matoto, to present the work to the King but he was not available. So, I was asked to present the Book of the Twelve to the King on the opening of the Conference.

Aftermath
BSSP had printed 500 copies of the The Book of the Twelve. We are dividing it up between the denominations that are taking part in the translation of this project – Roman Catholics, Wesleyans, Free Church of Tonga, Constitutional Church of Tonga, Tokaikolo Fellowship and the Anglicans. The aim is to get copies of this part of the project to church members to read and if possible to give us feedback for the reviewing stages 3 and 4 of the Tongan Contemporary OT.

The Director Translation BSSP Rev. Apenisa Lewatoro visited the Tongan Translation Projects from February 25th – March 2nd, 2020. Rev. Lewatoro expressed his appreciation to Mr. Viliami Falekaono for organizing the meetings and also to the Catholic Church in Tonga for the provision of their facilities for BSSP programs since the beginning of the project.

Rev. Lewatoro carried out various activities involving discussions on the status of the Tongan Contemporary OT project, the installations of Paratext 8 for a couple of translators, a one-on one Paratext Training, the checking of the Tongan Bible (West) “Word List’ and Book of Psalm spot checking. The team are currently working on the translation of the Tongan Contemporary Old Testament and the proofreading of the scanned text of the Tonga Bible (West).

The Bible Society thanked God for the support from all the Churches in Tonga and individuals who are involved in the two projects. BSSP also thanked the UBS and donors of the project.

 

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