Tracing the history of the translation of the Bible into the Telugu language-1

Disclaimer: This is meant to be a description of the lineage of the Telugu Bible translation. Any commentary on or allusions to historical, social and non-theological themes are descriptive and not prescriptive. The theological and social impressions and perspectives of the translators is a matter of separate study.

People may be familiar with ascribing the Telugu Bible translation to William Carey or his mission (missions group). It turns out that the translation history and lineage not only precedes Carey but is also rich in story and effort. It starts off in September 1719 when Benjamin Schultze arrived in Tranquebar (present day Tharangambadi). He took over the mission and ministry of Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg, one of the two first protestant missionaries to India.

World at this point in history: Britain was the super power of the World and King George I was the monarch. Pilgrims had landed in America but America as a nation was yet to be born. The age of enlightenment was starting, if not flourishing, in Europe. The French Revolution was to start seventy years later. Pope Clement XI was the reigning Pope. The printing press was in use.

India and the Telugu Speaking region at this point in history: Farrukhsiyar was the Mughal emperor. The East India Company was setting up establishments in India. Denmark had settlements in Tranquebar. Although there was considerable telugu literature, the demarkation of Telugu speaking land of the 18th century might be difficult (the Vijayanagara empire comes close but not quite).  Hyderabad existed and was ruled by a Nizam viceroy of the Mughal emperor. 

Christians at this point in history: The protestant reformation had taken place and the doctrines defended by the reformation altered the course of history. The Gospel and reformation doctrine flourished particularly in Germany (Luther), France (Calvin) and Switzerland (Zwingli). The message of salvation through faith alone in Christ alone by Grace alone known through the final authority of the Bible alone for the glory of God alone (popularly known as the five solas) was being spread to the East and to the West. The passion for this Gospel was accompanied by a commitment to provide  the Bible for the peoples of the world in their own language.

Against this backdrop, Benjamin Schultze arrived in India. Ziegenbalg had translated the entire New Testament and the Old Testament, until the book of Ruth, into Tamil when he died in 1719 at the age of thirty-six. Schultze continued the work of Ziegenbalg and finished the translation and revision of the Tamil translation of the Bible by 1727 (1728, if you count the Apocrypha). Immediately, he started work on parsing the Telugu language and authored the first printed book on Telugu grammar in 1728. He then started working on translating the Bible into Telugu.  

(to be continued, Lord willing...)