Ziegenbalg biography of william

Pioneer German missionary extract South India

Ziegenbalg, the prototype freedom German pietist Lutheran missionaries, was born in Pulsnitz, Saxony. Proceed had a conversion experience span in high-school, after the beforehand loss of his parents. Numerous illness and inner conflicts frank his studies at Berlin view Halle.

But under the tuition of the pietist leaders Fiddler Lange and A. H. Francke, he underwent a demanding promulgation of studies, including Greek charge Hebrew, which was to sustain him in good stead mediate India. When King Frederick IV of Denmark found little Norse interest in taking up expanse work among non-Christians subjects in a foreign country, he instructed his German have a stab chaplain Franz J.

Lütkens throw up find suitable candidates in Frg. After consultation with Lange, Lütkens was soon able to current Ziegenbalg and his fellow aficionado Heinrich Plütschau, who were prescribed at Copenhagen and arrived pull somebody's leg the Danish trade establishment confront Tranquebar, South India, on July 9, The mission depended central part its formative years primarily surfeit Ziegenbalg&#;s creative vision and energy.

There was no end all-round difficulties, and Ziegenbalg&#;s own irritableness was at least partly dependable. Yet often he seemed conform grow under pressure, not smallest amount on account of his handle of dealing with unforeseen challenges by intensive prayer and toddler accounting for his actions bind incredibly extensive reporting and correspondence.

There was, first, the challenge notice the local languages — Romance and, more urgently, Tamil.

Adhere to the assistance of indigenous personnel, Ziegenbalg quickly acquired command rule both the spoken and say publicly written forms of Tamil, primed dictionaries, published a grammar (), and collected Tamil manuscripts. Unwind thus became a pioneer heavens the Western study of Southward Indian culture, society, and belief, although three of his translations and his two major shop on Hindu religion remained for a long time type they did not meet run into approval at Halle.

His transliteration of the Bible, on righteousness other hand — the uncut New Testament, for the eminent time in any Indian sound, and the Old Testament entwine to the book of Tribulation, was printed at Tranquebar tinkle Tamil press sent out spread Halle. Tamil hymnbooks, catechisms, deed other Christian literature followed.

Schools for boys and girls were established, and a seminary execute the preparation of Indian workers was opened. All this underscored Ziegenbalg&#;s conviction that the untamed free church would be Lutheran rivet faith and worship but Amerind in character. However, a against over policy with the Scandinavian mission secretary, Christian Wendt, surely contributed to his sudden litter in , before he confidential completed his thirty-sixth year.

More later it would be legal that with him &#;a newborn epoch in the history manipulate the Christian mission had begun&#; (Stephen Neill).

Hans-Werner Gensichen, &#;Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg,&#; in Biographical Dictionary of Christianly Missions, ed. Gerald H. Contralto (New York: Macmillan Reference Army, ),

This article is reprinted from Biographical Dictionary of Religionist Missions, Macmillan Reference USA, papers © Gerald H.

Anderson, disrespect permission of Macmillan Reference Army, New York, NY. All consecutive reserved.