In the history of China's modern missions, the British missionary Hudson Taylor undoubtedly has a very important status. The China Inland Mission established by him has not only changed the development of the Chinese church at that time, but its ideology has also influenced the Chinese church development for a long time.
To know Hudson Taylor, it is important for us to know people who have an influence on him. And Hudson Taylor's father-in-law, the missionary of the London Society, Samuel Dyer, is such a great man.
Born in 1804, Samuel Dyer was one of the early missionaries among the Chinese people in the London Missionary Society. When he was young, there is one sentence in Revelation: "Brothers have overcome it because of the blood of the Lamb and the Word they have witnessed. Although they die, they do not spare their lives." (12:11) The sentence inspired his enthusiasm of mission to the Far East. He arrived in Southeast Asia with his wife in 1827, preached among the overseas Chinese community, and prepared for entering Chinese missions. He got to know Robert Morrison and other staff here. Under the training of Robert Morrison, his spiritual maturity has gradually matured and his various abilities have gradually increased.
The most important ministry of Samuel Dyer's life is the language and the Chinese translation of the Bible. He used the western orthodox method of creating living characters to create long-term Chinese characters. He re-translated the Bible in simple and plain Chinese. Because of his in-depth study of the original text of the Bible, and his direct experience in missionary work in China, his opinion was adopted by the London Club, with the composition of the "Commissioned Translation Committee" and the publication of the commissioned translation. This book makes a detailed record and research of the life story of Samuel Dyer. In 1843, Samuel Dyer could finally enter China, but he stopped his mission and rested in the arms of the Lord.
More than ten years later, Hudson Taylor came to China with the enthusiasm of evangelism. He soon met Mary, the daughter of Samuel Dyer, and soon became married. After Hudson Taylor inherited his father-in-law's unfinished business, he founded the Mainland China Association, which has a significant influence on the history of mission, so that the gospel can spread and take root in China.
The book As To Death - Biography of Samuel Dyer written by James Hudson Taylor III, is an excellent spiritual biography. The author James Hudson Taylor III (1929 -2009), was born in Kaifeng, Henan Province, China. He is the fourth generation's descendant of Hudson Taylor, and his father was James Hudson Taylor II. In 1980 he became the seventh Chief Director of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship. He moved to Hong Kong with his wife in 1991. In 1993, the International Professional Services Agency (MSI) was established in Mainland China.
As To Death-Biography of Samuel Dyer is a good book worth reading. For the Christian, we can learn from the short life of the legend of this spiritual man, imitating his loyalty to the Lord, the noble qualities of working till the rest. It has a very important learning significance for our life today and participating in church service. For researchers in modern Chinese churches and the Chinese translation of the Bible, this book provides a lot of useful historical information and has very important reference value.
- Translated by Kevin Feng
《虽至于死——台约尔传》
在中国近代宣教历史上，英国人戴德生（Hudson Taylor）无疑有着非常重要的地位，其所建立的内地会，不仅在当时改变了中国教会的发展，其思想理念更是长久地影响着中国教会进程。
我们了解戴德生，了解对他有影响的人也是非常需要的。而戴德生的岳父——英国伦敦会宣教士台约尔，正是这样一位属灵伟人。
台约尔（Samuel Dyer）生于1804年，是英国伦敦会早期在华人中的传教士之一。年轻时，在《圣经·启示录》中的一句：“弟兄胜过它，是因羔羊的血，和自己所见证的道，他们虽至于死，也不爱惜性命。”（12:11）的启发下，激发了到远东宣教的热忱。他于1827年携妻子到达东南亚，在华侨群体中宣教，并为进入中国宣教做准备。他在此结识了马礼逊（Robert Morrison）等同工，在马的培养下，灵命日益成熟，各种能力逐渐增进。
台约尔一生最重要的事工莫过于文字与《圣经》汉译。他以西方正统的造活字方法，造出汉字长久性字范；以简易浅白之中文重译《圣经》；由于他对《圣经》原文的深入研究，也因他在传教上直接的经验，他的意见为伦敦会所采纳，而有“委办译本翻译委员会”之组成与委办译本出版。本书对台约尔一生的事迹做了翔实记录和研究。1843年，台约尔终于可以进入中国，但却停止了宣教脚踪，在主怀里安息。
十多年后，戴德生带着福传的热情来到中国，他很快结识了台约尔的女儿马利亚，并很快结为伉俪。戴德生之后继承岳父的未竟事业，创立了在宣教历史上有重大影响的中华内地会，让福音得以在中国传播与扎根。
由戴德生后代戴绍曾撰写的《虽至于死——台约尔传》是一部优秀的属灵传记。作者戴绍曾(James Hudson Taylor III，1929 -2009)，生于中国河南省开封市，戴德生第四代子孙，父亲是戴永冕牧师。1980年成为海外基督使团第七任总主任。1991年与太太移居香港。1993年在中国内地创办“国际专业服务机构”(MSI)。
《虽至于死——台约尔传》是一部值得阅读的好书。对于基督徒来说，我们可以通过这位属灵伟人的传奇而短暂的一生，效法他忠心为主，做工直到安息的高贵品质。对于我们今日过属灵生活，参与教会侍奉有着非常重要的学习意义。而对于近代中国教会与《圣经》汉译的研究者来说，这本书提供了很多有用的历史资料，有着非常重要的参考价值。
In the history of China's modern missions, the British missionary Hudson Taylor undoubtedly has a very important status. The China Inland Mission established by him has not only changed the development of the Chinese church at that time, but its ideology has also influenced the Chinese church development for a long time.
To know Hudson Taylor, it is important for us to know people who have an influence on him. And Hudson Taylor's father-in-law, the missionary of the London Society, Samuel Dyer, is such a great man.
Born in 1804, Samuel Dyer was one of the early missionaries among the Chinese people in the London Missionary Society. When he was young, there is one sentence in Revelation: "Brothers have overcome it because of the blood of the Lamb and the Word they have witnessed. Although they die, they do not spare their lives." (12:11) The sentence inspired his enthusiasm of mission to the Far East. He arrived in Southeast Asia with his wife in 1827, preached among the overseas Chinese community, and prepared for entering Chinese missions. He got to know Robert Morrison and other staff here. Under the training of Robert Morrison, his spiritual maturity has gradually matured and his various abilities have gradually increased.
The most important ministry of Samuel Dyer's life is the language and the Chinese translation of the Bible. He used the western orthodox method of creating living characters to create long-term Chinese characters. He re-translated the Bible in simple and plain Chinese. Because of his in-depth study of the original text of the Bible, and his direct experience in missionary work in China, his opinion was adopted by the London Club, with the composition of the "Commissioned Translation Committee" and the publication of the commissioned translation. This book makes a detailed record and research of the life story of Samuel Dyer. In 1843, Samuel Dyer could finally enter China, but he stopped his mission and rested in the arms of the Lord.
More than ten years later, Hudson Taylor came to China with the enthusiasm of evangelism. He soon met Mary, the daughter of Samuel Dyer, and soon became married. After Hudson Taylor inherited his father-in-law's unfinished business, he founded the Mainland China Association, which has a significant influence on the history of mission, so that the gospel can spread and take root in China.
The book As To Death - Biography of Samuel Dyer written by James Hudson Taylor III, is an excellent spiritual biography. The author James Hudson Taylor III (1929 -2009), was born in Kaifeng, Henan Province, China. He is the fourth generation's descendant of Hudson Taylor, and his father was James Hudson Taylor II. In 1980 he became the seventh Chief Director of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship. He moved to Hong Kong with his wife in 1991. In 1993, the International Professional Services Agency (MSI) was established in Mainland China.
As To Death-Biography of Samuel Dyer is a good book worth reading. For the Christian, we can learn from the short life of the legend of this spiritual man, imitating his loyalty to the Lord, the noble qualities of working till the rest. It has a very important learning significance for our life today and participating in church service. For researchers in modern Chinese churches and the Chinese translation of the Bible, this book provides a lot of useful historical information and has very important reference value.
- Translated by Kevin Feng
Book Recommendation: As to Death - Biography of Samuel Dyer
