The first volume of the newly revised French translation of the Pentateuch bible will be released during the World Council of Churches’ conference to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 23, 2004.

The Traduction oecumnique de la Bible(TOB) volume will include a new introduction and annotations that take recent historical accounts and developments in biblical studies.

Following the launch, round table discussions on the history of the TOB project, reasons for a new revision of the Pentateuch and reading and commenting on the Bible will follow.

The new WCC general secretary Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia will also make opening remarks on the release and will participate in discussions throughout the day.

The traditional date for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is 18-25 January. Those dates were proposed in 1908 by Paul Watson to cover the days between the feast of St Peter and the feast of St Paul, and therefore have a symbolic meaning.

Following this tradition, both Protestants and Catholics observe the week of unity, promoting ecumenism through a single common service during the Sabbath.

The following is the full biblical text for 2004, My peace I give to you (Jn 14: 23-31):

Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.”

(New Revised Standard Version)