Mnema Bible Revision

• Location: Asia
• Pseudonym: Mnema (pronounced mnay’-mah)
• Bible Completion Dates: 2010 and 2019 (state script)
• Bible Completion Dates: 2022 (Roman script)
• Bible Revision Target Date: 2026

The Mnema people reside in Asia and number over 2.2 million people worldwide. Approximately 34% claim Christianity. Other prominent religions include Islam, Sanamahism, Buddhism, and Judaism, but most follow the national religion.

William Carey translated the original Mnema Bible in 1827, which is now only seen and read in museums. It was the first American missionary to the Mnema people, William Pettigrew, who developed the Mnema dictionary in 1895. In 1936, Baptist Mid-Missions missionaries began to translate the Mnema New Testament in the state script. The local Bible society took the manuscript of this translation and printed the first Mnema New Testament in 1969. Those missionaries, with the help of native speakers, began translating the Old Testament in 1971.

After the founding of Bibles International, the national translation team started a new Mnema Bible translation in 1982. Meanwhile, the local Bible society finished the Old Testament and published the first Mnema Bible in the state script in 1984. However, as the church people grew in the Lord, they discovered many translation problems, errors, and omissions, particularly in the Old Testament. Finally, after more than two decades of labor, the translation team completed a new Mnema Bible in the state script in 2010.

The ancient script of Mnema was used for more than 3,500 years, until the 18th century, when a new state script replaced it. Schools and colleges began to teach the ancient script again in 2006, and the use of the ancient script has surpassed that of the state script today. As a result, young people today can no longer read publications written in the state script, including the Mnema Bible.

When the stock of 2010 Mnema Bibles diminished, the question arose over which script to use for the reprint. Many pastors desire to use a Mnema Bible in the Roman script, since there are difficulties caused when translating the Mnema Bible from the pulpit. Bible teachers, who cannot read the state script, also face problems in conducting vernacular short-term Bible schools. Taking these concerns into consideration, the translation team decided to slightly revise and reprint the Mnema Bible in the state script for the older generation, and then transliterate that revised Bible into Roman script for the younger generation. The Mnema held a dedication for the revised Bible on August 29, 2019, with all the 2010 translation team members present.

The transliteration of the Mnema Bible into Roman script was completed in 2022. This version proved to be more popular than the state script version and quickly sold out. An unforeseen blessing came to neighboring tribes, who also spoke Mnema and could now read the Mnema Bible in Roman script. In late 2025, Bibles International readopted the Mnema Bible in order to make minor revisions and print additional copies to meet the growing demand.