Learning Chinese Through Scripture

For years, I taught biblical studies, theology, and missiology in Chinese, but had few resources to assist me in learning the language needed for the job. I’m both jealous and ecstatic that such a resource finally exists! For real, this is a game-changer.

But this textbook is next level.

A Basic Overview

Chinese through Scripture is a unique Mandarin learning textbook that incorporates the Bible into the teaching and learning process. It is designed for intermediate-level high school or college students and independent learners who have a reading proficiency of approximately 500 characters. The book caters to people who are interested in using Mandarin for ministry.

This textbook goes beyond teaching the basics of Mandarin. It also introduces essential Christian terms and ideas about God, Jesus, worship, and prayer, among other major Christian ideas. The vocabulary equips you to engage in conversations about Christianity and effectively share the gospel in Mandarin.

BTW, the text provides pinyin for unfamiliar words to support self-study. An appendix has English translations of the themed texts to aid in comprehension. The author has you covered!

Chinese through Scripture beautifully integrates Scripture, with over 600 scriptures included and referenced. The verses and stories cover material understood by people with basic background knowledge of the Bible. The book has 5 main units, covering topics such as the Trinity, Scripture, God’s Grace, Justification by Faith, and God’s Glory. These units can be studied in any order, providing flexibility in the learning process. Each unit consists of three lessons followed by a wrap-up section that serves as a summary.

Bonus Material

But wait, there’s more! There are supplemental materials and extended resources available for free download. You’ll find conversion prayers, explanations of the gospel’s meaning, additional gospel story readings, lists of biblical study terms, and special notes on Chinese characters like “God,” “Sin,” “Sacrifice,” and more. It’s all there to help you dive deeper into the content.

The workbook that comes with the textbook is your go-to for reading and writing exercises. Plus, it delves into traditional Chinese thinking and folk religion. You’ll make connections between Mandarin, culture, and your own linguistic and religious heritage. It’s like a cultural exploration, preparing you for cross-cultural ministry.

The textbook and the workbook are explicitly designed with learners in mind and to help facilitate teaching and assessment. Clear headings are used throughout, making it easy for learners to understand the structure of the information. The book also incorporates various activities, including a daily class devotional.

Chinese through Scripture also gives assessment tools, offering diverse question categories, including warm-up, pre-reading, and post-reading activities, and reflective discussions. Learners have easy access to numerous online audio productions of the Chinese Bible (CUV) for listening practice. Also, online Quizlet flashcards corresponding to the vocabulary words of each lesson are available for language practice.