TIEN DAO, A MUCH-NEEDED RESOURCE FOR THE CHINESE-SPEAKING CHURCH: AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. DAVID PAO
by Jennifer Guo The Tien Dao Bible Commentary series was recently completed, a landmark achievement as the first complete commentary series originally written in Chinese by Chinese biblical scholars. We had the privilege of interviewing the New Testament editor for the series and the author of the two volumes on the Gospel of Luke, Dr. David W. Pao. As a scholar who regularly preaches and teaches in churches and seminaries in Mainland China and Hong Kong (as well as in diaspora Chinese churches throughout the world), Dr. Pao has rich first-hand knowledge of the Chinese church and Chinese theological education. We are pleased to share some of these insights with our readers, as well as introduce the Tien Dao Bible Commentary series.
Q:
Please tell us a little about the state of theological Chinese theological education. What are some encouraging trends/ developments, and what are some challenges for theological training in China?
It is difficult to provide a brief comment on the current state of Chinese theological education. Perhaps a historical overview may be helpful. Prior to 1949 (the year of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China under the Chinese Community Party), missionaries from the West established missionary schools, Bible institutes and seminaries, and Christian universities in the different regions of China. After 1949, centers of Chinese theological education shifted to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. Some young Mainland Chinese Christians who had the opportunity to leave China in the late forties and early fifties had also been able to receive further training in theological institutions in the West. Those who returned to Asia were able to provide fuel for revival in theological education among the Chinese churches,
64
