Paama Bible Portions (PMAWBT)

Overview

The Paama Bible Portions contain Scripture translated into the Paama language, spoken by approximately 11,000 people on the island of Paama and neighboring areas in Vanuatu's Malampa Province [1][2]. Christianity was introduced to the island by the Rev. Maurice Frater, a Scottish Presbyterian missionary who arrived on Paama in 1900 when outsiders were treated with great hostility; he remained for 39 years, building 21 churches and converting the majority of the population [2][3]. Paamese served as the language of education in Presbyterian mission schools and Bible-study groups for much of the twentieth century, and hymn books and partial Bible translations were circulated during this period [3]. The modern translation was published in 2011 by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. [4], and a complete New Testament followed in 2016 [1]. Paama is among the completed translation projects in Vanuatu, a nation with roughly 110 living languages across 83 islands, where the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu and Wycliffe have collaborated to advance Scripture translation [5].

Language and People

Paama (ISO 639-3: pma) is spoken by approximately 6,000 people in Vanuatu. [Glottolog: paam1238]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.

References