Athletes and spectators participating in the summer Olympics in Paris will receive a special edition of the New Testament, thanks to the French Bible Society. The organization plans to hand out 140,000 copies of the New Testament in French and 60,000 copies in English.
The edition features testimonies from Christian athletes, including French handball champion Joël Abati and Australian high jumper Nicola Olyslagers. The French Bible Society is collaborating with various Christian sporting ministries in delivering the New Testaments. It said the collaboration “stands as a beacon of the power of collaboration and the shared values that bring people together, transcending the boundaries of sport and spirituality.”
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A special edition
The special edition of the New Testament, called “More Precious than Gold,” is inspired by 1 Peter 7: “Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
More than 11 million visitors are expected to descend on Paris in the coming weeks for the games. The New Testament copies will be distributed during both the Olympics and Paralympics, which end on September 8. The society originally planned to distribute 100,000 French and 30,000 English New Testaments but had to increase the print run because of overwhelming demand.
“It is so inspiring to read the athletes’ testimonies featured in this special edition of the New Testament,” said Jonathan Boulet, general secretary of the French Bible Society. “These accounts serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact the Bible continues to have in our contemporary world, Moreover, they underscore the vital role that each country’s Bible Society plays in ensuring the accessibility and relevance of this timeless book for all.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice