While Matthew Henry was writing his commentary in 1708, China was ruled by one of its greatest emperors, Kang Xi.
His reign lasted 61 years and began when he was eight years old. But what is more interesting about him is that he was very respectful of the Christian faith. He gifted a house within the walls of the Forbidden City to the Jesuits and gave them land upon which to build a church.
Over the door the Emperor wrote an inscription: ‘To the true principal of all things. He is infinitely good and is infinitely just, he illumines, he supports, he regulates all things with supreme authority and with a sovereign justice. He has no beginning and no end. It is he who rules and is the true master.’ It is not believed that he embraced Christianity for his own salvation. Sadly, what a difference for the Chinese nation today. Now a different ‘Xi’ has the ultimate rule: Xi Jing Ping.
Stand-out choice
Around ten years ago it became apparent that a Concise Commentary on the entire Bible would be needed for China, and so a translation of Matthew Henry’s Commentary was begun. Its devotional character and practical application of Scripture that make it accessible to those who have not had much access to education made it the stand-out choice. The one-volume Concise King James edition was selected, with its thousands of Bible references. Working with the US publisher, the Chinese language copyrights were obtained.
With a few teams of translators working on the project, it took four years to complete. The commentary on the Gospels was published inside China with a Chinese ISBN and sold in bookstores throughout the country. Unfortunately, the Bible texts could not be included. In China, all Bible printing is totally controlled by the Government. No one can print or sell Bibles outside the Government-controlled State church.
In 2017 an ISBN for the whole New Testament was obtained. These were also sold across China. Right after this milestone, the window for Christian publishing closed, and permissions by the Chinese authorities for Christian titles slowed. Government control of Christian book publishing has intensified. Thankful for the limited publication, Hudson Taylor Ministries is now looking to a take a different course as the complete study Bible is fully translated.
As the foundation of communism is atheism, the concept of a Christian God only competes with the controlling principles of communist ideology. The Bible is viewed as the primary textbook of Christianity and therefore the Party needs to control its production and distribution. This is taken much more seriously than the production of Christian literature. For this reason, production of the book needs to be done outside of mainland China. The Bible paper would be almost impossible to procure inside China and the specialised equipment needed to print and bind the 2,000-page Study Bibles would not be available, even if it was unofficially printed. Finally, those working on the project would be at great risk.
Distribution challenge
When printing is completed, the question remains as to how to get the books into China. Hudson Taylor Ministries wants to set up relationships with Christian booksellers in places to which Chinese Christians frequently travel. These would include: Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur where Christian conferences are frequently held; Taipei where youths study and businessmen travel; Jakarta where most of the business is conducted by the Chinese residing there; Singapore, a Chinese-speaking nation with some Reformed Chinese churches; and South Korea where many Protestant missionaries travel to teach in Chinese seminaries. Some Christians then may put 10 or 20 copies into their suitcases when they travel home. At one conference alone there is an expectation that up to 2,000 copies of the book will be sold to Chinese Christians attending there.
As a ministry, not only is the printing, production and distribution facilitated through the work, but there is a hope that the cost of the Study Bible will be subsidised. The goal is to make them available at half the normal cost than if they were sold through regular commercial channels. This will bring the cost into the reach of many common Chinese Christians that would otherwise never be able to afford a copy. After the Study Bible is published, there is a hope that a software program could be developed for younger generations to use as a Bible study tool.
The cost of the project in the initial printing of 10,000 Matthew Henry Study Bibles is over 100,000 US dollars. The current mainland Chinese Christian movement is estimated to be between 70 and 90 million Christians.
His ‘word is not bound’ (2 Timothy 2.9), no matter how vigorously it is opposed by earthly authorities. What a blessing it would be if the Chinese church may be blessed by Matthew Henry’s Commentary as have so many in the church worldwide.
