Discipled by the West?—The Influence of the Theology of Protestant Missionaries in China on Chinese Christianity through the Translation of the Chinese Union Version of the Bible

Chao-Chun Liu

doi:10.3390/rel12040250

Abstract

Over the last one hundred years, the Chinese Union Version of the Bible (CUV)—translated by Western Protestant missionaries—has enjoyed an unparalleled status as the Chinese Bible or the “Authorized Version” of the Chinese Bible. However, despite such towering significance, no scholarly works to date have systematically examined the influences of Protestant missionary theology on the translation of the CUV and, in turn, on Chinese Christianity. As an introductory attempt to explore this question, this paper first highlights this gap in current scholarship and the importance of filling this gap. Then, it presents four factors and two limitations in examining the theology of the CUV and conducts a case study on the theological topic of dichotomy versus trichotomy in the translation of the CUV along with four other Chinese Bible translations. After examining how the translators’ theology might have influenced these translations, it suggests how such influence through the translation of the CUV might have shaped Chinese Christianity both past and present, thereby demonstrating how the understanding of Chinese Christianity can be deepened by examining the relationships between missionaries’ theology, their Bible translations, and the development of Chinese Christianity.

Highlights

A Gap in Current Scholarship on Chinese ChristianitySince the 1980s, as a result of a paradigm shift in the field of Chinese studies, the indigenization of Christianity in China has increasingly become the focus of scholarship on Chinese Christianity in the English-speaking world (Ying 2005, pp. 204–10)
Christianity are authentically “indigenous” and what are heritage from the West? In this intercultural transmission of faith, what theological elements have faded over time and what have proved long-lasting? This paper can only present one way of addressing some of these questions. Even though it has been generally recognized by scholars that Bible translation is “a theological task from beginning to end—from interpretation to choice of word and phrase“ (Ogden 2002, p. 316)6, and even though many studies have been done on Chinese Bible translation (CBT) and on the Chinese Union Version of the Bible (CUV), overall the influences of the translators’ theology on both CBT and the CUV is still an underresearched area
Besides introducing the importance of a new research field combining theology, mission history, and Bible translation in the study of Chinese Christianity, this paper hopes to contribute to the larger argument that the history of Christianity cannot be studied in isolation from the history of Christian mission and the history of theology

Summary

A Gap in Current Scholarship on Chinese Christianity

Since the 1980s, as a result of a paradigm shift in the field of Chinese studies, the indigenization of Christianity in China has increasingly become the focus of scholarship on Chinese Christianity in the English-speaking world (Ying 2005, pp. 204–10). There is still not a one-volume survey of the theology of Protestant missionaries in China , let alone a survey of its overall influences on Chinese Christianity. In the case of China, many important questions along this line are yet to be answered, such as, how has the theology of the missionaries shaped the development of Chinese Christianity? 316) , and even though many studies have been done on Chinese Bible translation (CBT) and on the CUV, overall the influences of the translators’ theology on both CBT and the CUV is still an underresearched area.. Wigram’s work on Hudson Taylor (Wigram 2007) None of these present a comprehensive view of the theology of the Protestant missionaries in China. Besides introducing the importance of a new research field combining theology, mission history, and Bible translation in the study of Chinese Christianity, this paper hopes to contribute to the larger argument that the history of Christianity cannot be studied in isolation from the history of Christian mission and the history of theology

Examining the Theology of the CUV’s Translators

Case Study

Influences of the CUV’s Dichotomous Position on Chinese Christianity

Conclusions