How many languages are spoken in Mexico?

While Spanish is the most common language spoken in Mexico, it is not the only one...

There are at least 288 spoken languages in Mexico, including 67 nationally recognized languages.

Of these 288 languages, there are:

• 46 languages whose Scripture status is unknown,

• 47 languages lacking a complete Old and New Testament translation, and

• 24 languages without any Scripture whatsoever.

And these numbers represent people –– people who lack access to Scripture in the language they speak at home and in the local marketplace.

For us, more than the surprise of the vast number of languages spoken in what is considered to be a "Spanish-speaking" country, we were also saddened by the vast number of people who haven't read the Good News in their mother tongue.

In Mexico alone, there are well over 100,000 people without access to the Bible in their heart language.

Wycliffe Associates’ goal is to translate Scripture into every one of those languages, and they recently held a MAST translation workshop where 22 church leaders from 6 indigenous languages in Mexico began translating the New Testament.

Although this was only a short, two-week translation workshop, in their eagerness and excitement to read God’s word in the language of their heart, these native translators completed both Mark and 1 Timothy.

In the gospel of Mark, Jesus begins his public ministry by declaring, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

For the first time, some of our neighbors in Mexico are able to read in their own language the good news of Jesus, the one who takes upon himself the sins of the world. This is the good news they have been waiting to read and understand.

Praise the Lord for his faithfulness in fulfilling his promise to rescue his people!