Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 35:140 (Oct 1878)
Article: The Controversy Among The Protestant Missionaries On The Proper Translation Of The Words God And Spirit Into Chinese
Author: S. Wells Williams

BSac 35:140 (Oct 1878) p. 732

The Controversy Among The Protestant Missionaries On The
Proper Translation Of The Words God And Spirit Into
Chinese

S. Wells Williams

The following list enumerates the principal pamphlets and articles on this discussion which have been written by Protestants: An Essay on the proper rendering of the words Elohim and Theos into the

Chinese Language. By William J. Boone, D.D. pp. 69. Canton.1848.

Defense of an Essay on the proper rendering, etc. By William J. Boone,

D.D., Missionary Bishop, pp. 169. Canton. 1850.

Remarks on the best Term for God in Chinese; also on the proper Basis of Compromise on this subject. By Rev. L. B. Peet of Fuhchau. pp. 31.Canton. 1852.

Shin vs. Shangth A review of the Controversy and Statement of the Evidence, etc. By a Life Member of the Bible Society [Rev. Jacob Tomlin, of the L. M. S. Mission at Malacca], pp. 20. London. 1854. Letter from the Bishop of Victoria on the Chinese Version of the Holy Scriptures, to T. W. Meller, Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, pp. 26. Hongkong. 1851.

Report on the Chinese Version, presented to and adopted by the Directors of the American Bible Society. Signed by S. H. Turner and R. S. Storrs, Jr. pp. 4. New York. 1850.

The Term Question; an Inquiry as to the Term in Chinese which most nearly represents Elohim and Theos, etc. By W. A. Russell, D.D., Missionary Bishop, pp. 47. Shanghai. 1877.

The Chinese Term for God. A letter to the Protestant Missionaries of China. By J. S. Burdon, Bishop of Victoria, pp. 17 Hongkong. 1877. — Another was addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The above are the leading pamphlets in favor of Shin as the translation of Elohim. Besides them, the Chinese Repository, Missionary Recorder, and China Review, periodicals printed at Canton, Shanghai, and Hongkong during the last thirty years, contain other articles on both sides.

BSac 35:140 (Oct 1878) p. 733

The following list contains the leading pamphlets in favor of Shangti as the proper word for God in Chinese.

An Inquiry into the proper Mode of rendering the word God into the Chinese Language. By W. H. Medhurst. pp.170. Shanghai. 1848.

Letter to the Protestant Missionaries laboring in China (proposing the transfer of Aloah as a rendering of Elohim and Theos). By W. H. Medhurst, and five others, pp. 22. Shanghai. 1850.

On the true Meaning of the word Shin as exhibited in the Imperial Thesaurus. By W. H. Medhurst. pp. 88. 1850.