The Rev. John L. Nevius: The Holy Spirit Gives a Lesson in Chinese
This is especially sad because his breakthrough work has more than mere historical value. Its methodology of collecting and analyzing reports, its understanding that present spiritual realities are the same as biblical models, and its overall understanding of the demonic is first rate. And to use the much abused advertising phrase in its correct sense, “it is unsurpassed.” A seminary instructor presenting a class on the demonic and exorcism would do well to use Demon Possession as one of their primary texts.[14]
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Notes
[1] The biography of John Nevius was written by his wife shortly after his death: Helen S. Coan Nevius, The Life of John Livingston Nevius (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1885). This is available as a free e-book via Google Books. A sketch of his life and ministry is provided by Harlan P. Beach in his; Princely Men in the Heavenly Kingdom (New York: The Young People’s Missionary Movement, 1907), chapter IV, “John Livingston Nevius, The Christian Organizer.” For an introduction to the modern reality of the demonic and exorcism in missions see: John Warwick Montgomery (ed.), Demon Possession: A medical, historical, anthropological and theological symposium (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1976), Part Five: Demonology in the Mission Fields.
[2] Norman H. Cliff, “Building the Protestant Church in Shandong, China,” International Bulletin of Missions Research (April 22, 1998).
[3] Charles Allen Clark, The Nevius Plan for Mission Work: Illustrated in Korea, (Seoul: Christian literature Society, 1937). See also: G. Thompson Brown, “Why Has Christianity Grown Faster in Korea than in China,” Missiology: An International Review, 22 #1 (Jan. 1994), 77-88.
[4] John L. Nevius, Demon possession and Allied Themes, 2nd ed., (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1895), 455.
[5] Ibid., 262.
[6] Ibid., 12.
[7] Ibid., 136-137
[8] Ibid.,chapters 4 through 6.
[9] Helen Nevius, Life of John Nevius, 455.
[10] http://www.scribd.com/doc/35853427/DEMON-POSSESSION-AND-ALLIED-THEMES-J-L-NEVIUS-1894
[11] W. E. Soothill, A Typical Mission in China (New York: Young People’s Missionary Movement, 1907), chapter 10, “Medical Work.”
[12] Ibid., 150.
[13] For instance; Everett N. Hunt, Jr., “The Legacy of John Livingston Nevius,” International Bullletin of Missionalry Research, 15 #3 (July 1991) 120-124. and Brown, “Why Has Christiantiy Grown Faster.”
[14] I would add two other works: Francis MacNutt’s, Deliverance From Evil Spirits (Grand Rapids: Chosen: 1995) and Frank and Ida Mae Hammond’s, Pigs in the Parlor (Kirkwood: Impact Books: 1973).
Category: Church History, Spring 2014
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