By Mark Lehman, lifelong resident of Taiwan
PINGTUNG — When people imagine a Bible museum, they often think of cities like Jerusalem or London. Few would expect to find one in southern Taiwan. But in Pingtung, a unique museum dedicated to biblical translation sits quietly inside Pingtung Presbyterian Church (屏東基督長老教會).
The church has devoted an entire floor of its modern building to a collection of more than 600 Bibles in 300 languages, offering visitors a global view of how the text has been translated and transmitted across cultures.
The collection is organized by geographic region, grouping European, African, and Asian languages together. One standout section features translations from the Philippines, with more than 70 versions represented from that country alone. Visitors can also find multiple Chinese translations, along with portions of the Bible rendered in Taiwan’s Indigenous languages.
Among the most personal exhibits are handwritten Bibles by the late Kuo Li-li (郭莉莉), who copied the text by hand in four languages: Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese Romanization, Japanese, and English. Also on display are a Bible once owned by former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), a prison-used Bible, and another that belonged to a sailor who worked aboard a whaling vessel.
The museum also highlights the long history of biblical translation. Exhibits include a facsimile of Martin Luther’s 16th-century German translation, considered a milestone in European religious history. Other displays focus on missionaries who spent decades learning unwritten languages, developing writing systems, translating scripture, and teaching local communities to read.
Rather than promoting religious doctrine, the museum presents the Bible as a historical text shaped by centuries of linguistic and cultural exchange. The displays emphasize the human labor behind translation efforts across generations.
Admission is free, but visits are by appointment only. A minimum group size of two is required, and guided tours are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Reservations can be made by calling 08-732-3585.
