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The Bible and Mission in Faith Perspective J. Hudson Taylor and the Early China Inland Mission

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The Bible and Mission in Faith Perspective J. Hudson Taylor and the Early China Inland Mission The Bible and Mission in Faith Perspective J. Hudson Taylor and the Early China Inland Mission De Bijbel en Zending vanuit Geloofsperspectief J. Hudson Taylor en de vroege China Inland Mission Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Universiteit Utrecht op gezag van de Rector Magnificus, Prof. Dr. W.H. Gispen, ingevolge het besluit van het College voor Promoties in het openbaar te verdedigen op woensdag 3 oktober 2007 des voormiddags om 10.30 door Christopher E.M. Wigram geboren op 2 maart 1954 te Letchworth, United Kingdom Promotoren: prof.dr. Jan A.B. Jongeneel prof. dr. Anthony N.S. Lane, London School of Theology, London dr. Brian Stanley, Fellow, St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge. prof. dr. Ruth Tucker Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids Uitgeverij Boekencentrum, Zoetermeer Preface Most missionaries would testify to the importance of some aspect of Biblical teaching in providing a motivation for their involvement in mission. Even if they subsequently serve in supportive roles, they still use the Bible for personal edification, guidance and a search for greater understanding of the ways of God. At the popular level, many consider this to be sufficient in itself to do mission. At the beginning of my involvement with world mission I fitted into the above category. I was motivated by my reading of scripture and the supposed urgency of the task. The insistent clamour that the prolonged study of the Bible, in order to prepare for mission, was short-sighted in the light of eschatological realities was still a part of the mission context in some quarters. The pragmatic aspects of mission overrode any consideration of the need for biblical reflection. At this stage I had no theological foundation for ministry. Exposure to the many aspects of mission in South America, in the early eighties, opened up a variety of differing experiences among the various Christian communities that I encountered. There seemed to be a welcome exuberance that was manifested in rapid church growth, but I also noticed that the place of the Bible was not as prominent as it could have been for distinctively Christian communities. This gave cause for reflection. After a period of theological study in Britain my family joined OMF International (UK) to work in the Philippines. The nine years that we served in the Philippines were fascinating as the country changed under the influences of globalisation and the more democratic structures after the end of the Marcos political era. The ministry there involved various aspects of theological education. Immersion in another context and culture is a great privilege but it often seemed that in the Philippines there was an over reliance on imported methods of doing theology and mission and not enough biblical reflection from within on the Filipino context, although there are some notable exceptions. When we returned to the UK in 1998 in order to take up a leadership role with OMF I needed to gain a wider understanding of what was happening in East Asia rather than just the Philippines. I also wanted to delve into the history of our own mission and learn from it. Here was an opportunity to gain an historical perspective on the use of the Bible in mission through one specific missionary and to see to what extent the Bible functioned as a motivator within one particular mission. At a time when many other methodologies were proposed for mission, it seemed important to analyse the place and role of the Bible in the development of mission historically in order to try and better understand the present. During the writing of this dissertation I have been greatly helped by the advice and observations of many people. I would particularly like to express my thanks to Prof. Dr. Jan Jongeneel of the University of Utrecht, for acting as my supervisor for the writing of this dissertation. He has provided a firm guiding hand in giving overall direction and avenues of study. It was a great privilege to meet him in his home in the Netherlands and also to host his visit to the UK where he joined a missiological forum. Dr. Brian Stanley of the Henry Martyn Centre for the study of mission and world Christianity in Cambridge has been my UK-based supervisor. He has continually provided encouragement and informed insights that have helped to steer me in the right direction. The visits to Westminster College for lunch and prolonged discussions were always stimulating and eagerly ii anticipated. Prof. Dr. Ruth Tucker has also provided valuable insights and further stimulation for research from her perspective in the United States. Prof. Dr. Anthony Lane of the London School of Theology has also read the manuscript and given me time to discuss the text. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the development of Christian doctrine has been a great benefit especially in the historical areas of the study. None of the above can be blamed for any errors in understanding or perspective. Those faults lie squarely at my door. I would also like to thank the staff at the British Library in London and at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) for providing the material with which to study and a place to do it. The latter have been fine custodians of the CIM Archives and the unfailing courtesy of the staff in dealing with the many requests for its use is greatly appreciated. My local Sevenoaks library have been assiduous in tracking down a huge variety of books and articles, maintaining efficiency in the midst of a major building project. Many of my colleagues both here and in East Asia have encouraged me along the way. They have provided a context that has esteemed further theological and missiological study as an essential part of the life of someone in leadership and I deeply appreciate that value in OMF International. My wife Susanne and our three children, Jessica, Michael and Stephanie have given me the time and space to pursue this project without which it would not have even begun. iii Abbreviations BFBS British and Foreign Bible Society BIAMS British and Irish Association for Mission Studies BMS Baptist Missionary Society CES Chinese Evangelization Society CIM China Inland Mission CM China's Millions CMS Church Missionary Society CSAC Centre for the Study of Australian Christianity IBMR International Bulletin for Missionary Research IVP Inter Varsity Press JHT James Hudson Taylor LMS London Missionary Society LXX Septuagint NIV New International Version NT New Testament OMF OMF International, formerly Overseas Missionary Fellowship OP Occasional Papers OT Old Testament OUP Oxford University Press RTS Religious Tract Society RV Revised Version of the Bible (1881-85) SOAS School of Oriental and African Studies SPG Society for the Propagation of the Gospel WEF World Evangelical Fellowship iv TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE i ABBREVIATIONS iii 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Stating the problem 1 1.2 Methodology 7 1.3 Structure of the study 8 1.4 Sources for the study 9 1.4.1 Primary sources 9 China’s Millions 9 China’s Spiritual Need and Claims 11 Other Publications by Taylor 12 1.4.2 Secondary sources 12 2. THE BIBLE IN MISSION BEFORE J. HUDSON TAYLOR 2.1 Introduction 18 2.2 Roman Catholicism 18 2.2.1 Roman Catholicism and the Bible 18 2.2.2 Roman Catholicism and Mission 20 2.3 The Reformation 22 2.3.1 The Reformation and the Bible 23 2.3.2 The Reformation and Mission 24 2.4 Puritanism 26 2.4.1 Puritanism and the Bible 26 2.4.2 Puritanism and Mission 29 2.5 Pietism 30 2.5.1 Pietism and the Bible 30 2.5.2 Pietism and Mission 33 2.6 The Moravian Brethren 35 2.6.1 The Moravian Brethren and the Bible 36 2.6.2 The Moravian Brethren and Mission 37 2.7 Early Methodism 39 2.7.1 Methodism and the Bible 39 2.7.2 Methodism and Mission 41 2.8 Conclusion 43 v 3. THE IMMEDIATE INFLUENCE OF MOVEMENTS AND INDIVIDUALS ON J. HUDSON TAYLOR 3.1 Introduction 46 3.2 Enlightenment and Romanticism 46 3.3 Methodism 51 3.4 Holiness Movement 52 3.4.1 Mildmay Conferences 55 3.4.2 Keswick Convention 56 3.5 George Müller and the Open Brethren Movement 58 3.6 Andrew Jukes 63 3.7 Karl F.A. Gützlaff in China 64 3.8 William C. Burns in China 67 3.9 Conclusion 69 4. THE BIBLE IN J. HUDSON TAYLOR’S SPIRITUALITY 4.1 Introduction 71 4.2 Basic Insights 71 4.2.1 Spiritual Science 71 4.2.2 Doxology 72 4.3 Prayer 74 4.3.1 The Nature of Prayer 74 4.3.2 Prayer and Fasting 75 4.3.3 Prayer for Special People 76 4.3.4 Unanswered Prayers 79 4.4 Spirituality 80 4.4.1 Self-surrender to God 80 4.4.2 Perfect Holiness 81 4.4.3 Entire Consecration 84 4.4.4 Higher Plane 85 ‘Higher Life’ 86 4.4.5 Consolations of Christ 87 4.4.6 Praise and Glory to God 88 4.5 Faith 89 4.5.1 Exercising Faith 90 4.5.2 Faith in God’s Faithfulness 90 4.5.3 The Rest of Faith 93 4.6 Faithfulness 96 4.6.1 Enjoying God’s Rest 96 4.6.2 Abiding in Christ 98 4.6.3 Faithfulness in Daily Life 99 4.7 Conclusion 101 vi 5. THE BIBLE IN J. HUDSON TAYLOR’S WORLDVIEW 5.1 Introduction 104 5.2 Theoretical Reflections 104 5.2.1 Living in the Atmosphere of the Bible 104 5.2.2 The Bible as the Word of God 106 5.2.3 The Authority of the Bible 107 5.2.4 Biblical Languages 110 5.2.5 Bible Translation 111 5.3.
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