Here & Now
An invitation to Pause, Encounter, and Grow together.
22. The Christmas Story.
Shining Light Tells the Good Story
The Gospel of Luke 2
THE FIRST NATIONS VERSION—An INDIGENOUS
TRANSLATION of the NEW TESTAMENT.
2 Humble Birth
1-2When the time drew close for Bitter Tears (Mary) to have her child, the government of the People of Iron (Romans) ordered that the people be numbered and put on government rolls. This happened during the time that Powerful Protector (Quirinius) was the governor of Bright Sun (Syria). 3All the Tribal Members were required to travel to their own ancestral village to register.
4-5He Gives Sons (Joseph) and Bitter Tears (Mary) set out on a long journey from Seed Planter Village (Nazareth) in Circle of Nations (Galilee), to House of Bread (Bethlehem) in the Land of Promise (Judea), the village of their ancestor, the great chief Much Loved One (David).
The journey took several long days and cold nights as they traveled over high hills and through the dry desert. When they arrived, tired and weary, they entered the crowded village.
6The time for Bitter Tears (Mary) to have her child was upon her! 7But no place could be found in the lodging house, so He Gives Sons (Joseph) found a sheep cave where it was warm and dry. There she gave birth to her son. They wrapped him in a soft, warm blanket, and laid him on a baby board. Then they placed him on a bed of straw in a feeding trough.
8That night, in the fields nearby, shepherds were keeping watch over their sheep. 9Suddenly a great light from above was shining all around them. A spirit-messenger from Creator appeared to them. They shook with fear and trembled 10as the messenger said to them,“Do not fear! I bring you the good story that will be told to all nations. 11Today in the village of Much Loved One (David) an Honored Chief has been born who will set his people free. He is the Chosen One!”
12The spirit-messenger continued, “This is how you will know him—you will find the child wrapped in a blanket and lying in a feeding trough.”
13Suddenly, next to the messenger, a great number of spirit-warriors from the spirit-world above appeared giving thanks to Creator, saying, 14“All honor to the One Above Us All, and let peace and good will follow all who walk upon the earth.”
15When the messengers returned to the spirit-world above, the shepherds said to each other, “Let us go and see this great thing Creator has told to us.” 16So they hurried to the village of Chief Much Loved One (David) and found Bitter Tears (Mary), He Gives Sons (Joseph), and the child, who, just as they were told, was lying in a feeding trough!
17The shepherds began to tell everyone what they had seen and heard about this child, 18and all who heard their story were amazed.
19Bitter Tears (Mary) kept these things hidden in her heart and wondered what all this would mean. 20The shepherds returned to their fields, giving thanks to the Great Spirit for the wonders they had seen and heard.
“All honor
to the One
Above Us All,
and let peace
and good will
follow all who
walk upon
the earth.”
Editor’s Note
The First Nations Version
By DEBORA BUERK
Writer. Editor.
Selah Companion.
The First Nations Version (FNV) is a retelling of Creator’s Story—the Scriptures—following the tradition of the storytellers of these oral cultures. Many First Nations tribes communicate with the cultural and linguistic thought patterns found in their original tongues. This way of speaking, with its simple yet profound beauty and rich cultural idioms, still resonates in the hearts of First Nations people.
The FNV is a dynamic equivalence translation that captures the simplicity, clarity, and beauty of Native storytellers in English, while remaining faithful to the original language of the New Testament. Whether a Native or not, the translation will provide an experience through Scripture in a fresh and new way.
This translation is not intended to be tribally specific but to present the Scriptures in a general way, attempting to represent some of the simple yet profoundly beautiful ways our languages can be expressed in English.
The translation aimed for a style that is easy to read, with an attempt to present, in writing, the cadence and feel of an oral storyteller. A contextual approach was adhered to, using English word choices and idiomatic phrases that are culturally relevant, with an effort to refrain from a stereotypical or culturally degrading simplicity.
Names of persons and places. The FNV decided to follow the Native naming traditions and use the meaning of names for persons and places in this Great Story
Gender and the Great Spirit. We are of the understanding that the Great Spirit is neither male nor female. However, the original writers of the New Testament present the Great Spirit as Father, a male term. However, it is clear in the Scriptures that Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was literally born into this world as a male human. In this translation, we follow in the footsteps of the writers of the New Testament and use male pronouns for the Great Spirit. This was also the practice of many of our Native peoples as they spoke of the Supreme Being.
FIRST NATIONS VERSION: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament is available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com.
—Published by InterVarsity Press, Downer’s Grove, Illinois
2023 is unusual because Christmas Eve falls on the fourth Sunday of Advent.
We are combining days in the Lectionary. We light two more candles in our wreath for a total of four.
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
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Luke 1:46b-55
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Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
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Romans 16:25-27
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Luke 1:26-38
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Savor today’s Scripture in an art slide show.
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