Adoniram Judson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adoniram Judson
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Adoniram Judson by George Peter Alexander Healy, 1846
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| Born | August 9, 1788 |
| Died | April 12, 1850 (aged 61) At sea in the Bay of Bengal
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Brown University and Andover Theological Seminary |
| Occupation | Missionary to Burma |
| Spouse(s) | Ann Hasseltine, 1812–26 (her death) Sarah Hall Boardman, 1834–45 (her death) Emily Chubbuck, 1846–50 (his death) |
| Children | (1) Stillborn son, 1813 to Ann Judson; (2) Roger Williams Judson, 11/11/1814 to Ann Judson (lived only 2 wks); (3) Maria Elizabeth Butterworth Judson, 1/26/1825 - 4/26/1827 to Ann Judson; (4) Abigail Ann Judson, 10/31/1835 to Sarah Judson; (5) Adoniram Judson Jr., 4/7/1837 to Sarah Judson; (6) Elnathan Judson, 7/15/1838 to Sarah Judson; (7) Henry Judson, 12/31/1839 - 7/31/1841 to Sarah Judson; (8) Stillborn son named Luther in 1840 to Sarah Judson; (9) Henry Judson, July 1842 (named in honor of baby Henry who had passed the previous year) to Sarah Judson; (10) Charles Judson, 12/18/1843 - 8/1845 to Sarah Judson; (11) Edward Judson 12/27/1844 to Sarah Judson; (12) Emily Frances Judson, 12/26/1847 to Emily Judson; (13) Charles Judson, 4/13/1850 (passed the same day) to Emily Judson. |
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Adoniram Judson (born August 9, 1788 – died April 12, 1850) was an American missionary. He worked in Burma (now Myanmar) for nearly 40 years. At age 25, Judson was sent from North America to share his faith in Burma. His work helped create the first Baptist group in America to support missionaries.
Judson was one of the first Protestant missionaries in Burma. He translated the Bible into the Burmese language. He also started many Baptist churches there.
Contents
Adoniram Judson's Early Life
Adoniram Judson was born on August 9, 1788, in Malden, Massachusetts. His father was a minister. At 16, Judson went to the College of Rhode Island (now Brown University). He graduated at 19 as the top student.
While in college, he became friends with Jacob Eames. Eames was a deist, someone who believes in God but not in organized religion. Judson started to question his own faith because of this friendship.
A Change of Heart
Judson's views changed when his friend Eames became very ill and died. Judson heard the sounds of someone dying in the next room at an inn. The next morning, he learned it was his friend Eames. This shock made Judson think deeply about his beliefs.
He decided to return to his childhood faith. He then attended the Andover Theological Seminary. In 1808, Judson decided to dedicate his life to God. During his last year, he chose to become a missionary.
In 1810, Judson joined a group of students called "The Brethren." They wanted to serve abroad. Judson believed that Asia was the most important place for missionary work. He and three other students asked for support from a church group. This led to the creation of America's first organized missionary society.
Judson's Marriage and Journey
On September 19, 1811, Judson was chosen to be a missionary to the East. He married Ann Hasseltine on February 5, 1812. The next day, he became a minister. On February 19, he sailed on the ship Caravan. He traveled with his wife, Ann (also called "Nancy"), and other missionaries.
Missionary Work in Burma
Arriving in India and Changing Faiths
The Judsons arrived in Calcutta, India, on June 17, 1812. On the ship, Judson studied the meaning of baptism. He came to believe that only people who choose to believe should be baptized.
On September 6, 1812, he and his wife became Baptists. They were baptized by immersion in Calcutta. This meant they were fully dipped in water.
British leaders in India did not want Americans spreading their faith. The Judsons were ordered to leave India. The United States had also declared war on Great Britain. So, American missionaries were not welcome.
On July 13, 1813, the Judsons moved to Burma. On the way, Ann lost their first child. Judson offered to serve as a missionary for Baptists in the United States. This led to the formation of the first national Baptist group in the U.S. in 1814.
Starting the Mission in Burma
It took another year for the Judsons to reach Burma. People told Judson that it would be hard to share Christianity there. Burma was a Buddhist country. Judson already knew Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. He immediately started learning Burmese. It took him over three years to speak it well. Burmese was very different from Western languages. He studied for 12 hours a day.
For a long time, they had almost no contact with other Europeans or Americans. Four years passed before Judson held a public service. He tried to fit in by wearing a yellow robe like a Buddhist teacher. But he soon realized people still saw him as a foreigner.
He built a zayat near his home. This was a traditional bamboo and thatch shelter. It was a meeting place for Burmese men. Fifteen men came to his first public meeting in April 1819. He was hopeful, but they seemed more curious than interested.
Two months later, he baptized his first Burmese convert. His name was Maung Naw. He was a 35-year-old timber worker.
Challenges and Progress
At first, the Judsons found it hard to interest people in Rangoon. Most people followed Buddhist traditions. They did not believe in one all-powerful God. The Judsons' second child, Roger William, died at eight months old.
Judson finished a Burmese grammar book in July 1817. He also translated the Gospel of Matthew. In 1818, he began sharing his faith publicly. He would sit in his zayat and call out to people. The first believer was baptized in 1819. By 1822, there were 18 believers.
In 1820, Judson and another missionary asked the Emperor of Burma, King Bagyidaw, for permission to preach. They also asked him to remove the death penalty for Burmese people who changed their religion. The king ignored their request. He threw one of their Gospel papers to the ground.
The missionaries returned to Rangoon. They knew that spreading Christianity would be slow and dangerous. It took Judson 12 years to get 18 converts. His wife, Ann, was even better at speaking Burmese than he was. She made friends with people from all walks of life.
A printing press arrived from India. A missionary printer, George H. Hough, printed the first Burmese materials ever in Burma. These included 800 copies of Judson's translation of the Gospel of Matthew.
One early follower was U Shwe Ngong. He was a teacher who questioned Buddhism. He was interested in Judson's message. Judson asked him if he believed Jesus died on the cross. U Shwe Ngong struggled with this idea at first. But later, he accepted it because it was in the Bible.
Judson's preaching combined truth with reason. He strongly believed in the Bible. He wanted to make Christianity understandable to Burmese people. By 1823, the church had 18 members. Judson finished the first draft of his translation of the New Testament into Burmese.
The Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826)
The First Anglo-Burmese War began in 1824. Burma wanted more land, and Britain wanted more trade. Americans were mistaken for enemies and suspected of spying.
Judson was imprisoned for 17 months during the war. He was held first at Ava and then at Aung Pinle. Officers violently arrested Judson. They threw him to the ground and tied him up. He was dragged to prison.
Twelve months later, Judson and other Western prisoners were forced to march. They spent six more months in a village near Mandalay. Most of the British prisoners died. Judson spent 20 months in prison.
Ann Judson visited her husband in prison. She brought him food and helped him survive. After Judson was released, Ann hoped the war's end would help the mission.
Ann died on October 24, 1826, in Amherst, Burma. Their third child died six months later. Ann died while Judson was exploring a new area. After the war, the number of Baptist church members in Burma grew quickly.
Judson was released from prison. He was then asked to help translate for peace talks. Most of the church growth happened in British-controlled areas, not in the Burmese kingdom. Many new followers came from animist tribes, not from the main Buddhist group. Ko-Thah-a, one of the first converts, became the first Burmese pastor. He helped restart the church in Rangoon.
The Karen People
The Karen people were a minority group living in the forests. Judson first met them in 1827. He helped free a debt-slave named Ko Tha Byu. Ko Tha Byu was illiterate and had a troubled past.
In 1828, Ko Tha Byu was sent south with new missionaries, the Boardmans. He went to preach to his own people, the Karen. Surprisingly, the Karen were ready for his message. Their old traditions had stories similar to the Old Testament. They believed in one powerful God who created the world. They also believed a Great Messiah would come to save them. They expected white foreigners to bring them a sacred scroll.
While the Boardmans and Ko Tha Byu worked in the south, Judson overcame a period of sadness after his wife's death. He traveled alone into the jungles to share his faith with the northern Karen. He also worked tirelessly on his goal: translating the entire Bible into Burmese. He finished it in 1834, after 24 years of work. It was published in 1835.
In April 1834, he married Sarah Hall Boardman. She was the widow of another missionary. They had eight children, but only five lived to adulthood. Sarah's health failed, and she needed to return to America. She died on the way, on September 1, 1845.
Judson continued home to America. He was greeted as a celebrity. He toured the eastern U.S. to raise money and support for missions. He had a lung illness and could barely whisper. So, an assistant spoke for him during his public talks.
On June 2, 1846, Judson married for the third time. His new wife was writer Emily Chubbuck. They had a daughter in 1847.
Judson's lung disease worsened. Doctors suggested a sea voyage. On April 12, 1850, he died at age 61 on a ship in the Bay of Bengal. He was buried at sea. He had spent 37 years abroad, with only one trip back home.
Judson's Legacy
By the time Judson died, he had translated the Bible into Burmese. He also started a Burmese-English dictionary. Burma had 100 churches and over 8,000 believers.
By 2006, Myanmar had the third-largest number of Baptists worldwide. Most were from the Karen, Kachin, and Chin ethnic groups.
Judson created the first Burmese-English dictionary. All dictionaries and grammar books in Burma since then have been based on his work. Judson became a symbol for Protestant missionaries who translated the Bible. In the 1950s, Myanmar's prime minister, U Nu, praised Judson's translation. He said it captured the Burmese language perfectly. Judson's translation is still the most popular Bible version in Myanmar.
Every July, Baptist churches in Myanmar celebrate "Judson Day." This day remembers his arrival as a missionary. Yangon University has a Judson Church named after him. In 1920, Judson College merged into Rangoon College, now Yangon University. Judson University in Illinois, USA, was also named in his honor.
Judson's decision to change his views on baptism led to the founding of the first national Baptist organization in the United States. This group later led to all American Baptist associations. His wife Ann's letters about their mission inspired many Americans to become missionaries. At least 36 Baptist churches in the U.S. are named after Judson. The town of Judsonia, Arkansas, is also named for him.
Published Works
- Burmese Bible (parts published before the whole text was done)
- A Burmese-English dictionary
- A Burmese Grammar
- Two hymns: Our Father, God, Who art in Heaven and Come Holy Spirit, Dove Divine
See Also
- John Alexander Stewart (scholar), another first compiler (with C.W. Dunn) of a Burmese-English dictionary
Images for kids
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Nai Naw, the first convert to Christianity
