Singapore Bible Society Releases Copy of Morrison's Bible

Oct 05, 2007 09:47 AM EDT

The Singapore Bible Societ has unveiled a limited-release of Robert Morrison's Chinese-translation of the Bible.

The original “Shen Tian Shen Shu” is now on display at the biblical ministry exhibition,

Commemorating the arrival of the 19th-century missionary, the Bible Society of Singapore has published the Morrison Chinese Bible in a series of 21 books.

Distributors say that the books will inspire Christians to pursue the exploratory spirit of their English Christian "ancestors," whom had followed the example of Jesus Christ to spread the message of salvation.

Morrison finished translating the Old and New Testament of the Bible, “Shen Tian Sheng Shu" 200 years ago.

Spending day and night, Morrison meticulously translated the Bible using the language-style of ancient China and the Cantonese-dialect, which was known for its simplicity and elegance.

This allowed those who lived with the confines of Qing Dynasty China to receive comprehensive understanding of truth.

Under the request of the Bible Society of England, the first edition of “Shen Tian Shen Shu” was published in 1823.

Though the expression of “Shen Tian Shen Shu” is outdated, it is seen by scholars as a great achievement in the history of Chinese bible translation.

Various editions of the Chinese Bibles were later translated and revised using Robert Morrison's Bible as a foundation, according to experts from the Bible Society of Hong Kong.