• Home
  • The Mission
    • About us
    • Prayer & Praise Updates
    • Priority Projects
    • Boxes with Love
    • Prayer Articles
    • Prayer Maps
    • Projects
    • Literature4Africa
    • Missionary Reports
    • Hammond Family News
    • In Memorium
  • Video & Audio Gallery
    • Audio Gallery
    • Video Gallery
  • Newsletters
  • Resources
    • Digital Resources
    • Articles >
      • Articles
      • News
      • Africa
      • Animals
      • Animism
      • Bible Teaching
      • Christmas
      • Family
      • Gun Control & Self Defense
      • History
      • Islam
      • Missions
      • Persecution
      • Political & Social Issues
      • War and Terrorism
    • Film Reviews
    • Bible Studies
    • Answers to Critical Questions
    • Skeptics Questions Answered
    • Articles in other Languages >
      • Afrikaans
      • German
      • French
      • Danish
      • Chinese
      • Russian
      • Chichewa
      • Czech
    • Links
    • Resource Posters
    • Books published by Dr Peter Hammond
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
Frontline Fellowship
  • Home
  • The Mission
    • About us
    • Prayer & Praise Updates
    • Priority Projects
    • Boxes with Love
    • Prayer Articles
    • Prayer Maps
    • Projects
    • Literature4Africa
    • Missionary Reports
    • Hammond Family News
    • In Memorium
  • Video & Audio Gallery
    • Audio Gallery
    • Video Gallery
  • Newsletters
  • Resources
    • Digital Resources
    • Articles >
      • Articles
      • News
      • Africa
      • Animals
      • Animism
      • Bible Teaching
      • Christmas
      • Family
      • Gun Control & Self Defense
      • History
      • Islam
      • Missions
      • Persecution
      • Political & Social Issues
      • War and Terrorism
    • Film Reviews
    • Bible Studies
    • Answers to Critical Questions
    • Skeptics Questions Answered
    • Articles in other Languages >
      • Afrikaans
      • German
      • French
      • Danish
      • Chinese
      • Russian
      • Chichewa
      • Czech
    • Links
    • Resource Posters
    • Books published by Dr Peter Hammond
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • Donate

Robert Moffat - Pioneer Bible Translator

1/4/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
Robert Moffat (1795-1883), was brought up near Edinburgh by devout Christian parents, who filled his heart and mind with accounts of the exploits of missionaries in other countries. After being apprenticed as a gardener and a brief experience as a sailor, Robert Moffat determined to join the London Missionary Society. However, his first application was rejected. Undaunted, the Scot tried again the next year and was accepted.
 
Commissioned
In October 1816, at Surrey Chapel in London, he and 8 others were set apart for the work of the LMS. One of the others was John Williams, who was destined to lose his life at the hands of cannibals in the South Seas. Robert Moffat set sail for Africa, arriving in Cape Town in January 1817.

Picture
First Fruits
The government officials frowned on missionary activity as being likely to provoke unrest amongst the natives of the interior. The journey into the interior was long, dangerous and arduous. He came near death on several occasions, including from lions, poison and starvation. Robert was shocked at the low standards of behaviour and prevalent immorality as he set out to establish a mission station amongst the tribes along the Orange River. However, his first missionary journey was blessed with the conversion of the most notorious bandit and murderer in the country, Afrikaner. His name was synonymous with terror. He was a killer who had murdered a white farmer and his family, he was feared throughout the territory. When Robert returned to Cape Town with Afrikaner, the entire community was stunned at the obvious transformation of this notorious savage into a gentle and humble Christian.
 
Marriage
In December 1819, Mary Smith, whose parents had initially refused permission, arrived from England to marry Robert Moffat. Together they set off for Bechuanaland and settled at Kuruman. For the next 50 years, the Moffats would develop this mission station into a model that many others copied. Mary and Robert became one of the greatest husband-wife teams in missionary history.
 
Courage
Their prospects for success seemed bleak indeed, as the Tswanas were gripped by witchcraft and threatened the Moffats, demanding that they left. The resolution of the Moffats in standing their ground completely amazed the Tswana, who declared that they had never seen such bravery before.

Picture
Kuruman
During a tribal war, Robert Moffat’s intervention secured peace and deep respect and gratitude. However, it was 9 years before the first converts were baptised and the Church at Kuruman established.
 
Tswana
After learning the Tswana language, Robert Moffat translated the Westminster Catechism and some great Hymns of the Reformation into Tswana. He was the author of the very first Hymn in Tswana. He then translated the Gospel of Luke into Tswana and ultimately the whole Bible. This was the very first complete Bible to be translated into an African language.
 
Printing
After his painstaking work in translating the Gospel of Luke, Moffat travelled to Cape Town to have the translation printed, but was astounded to find the printers unwilling to accept the work. He realised that the only alternative was to print it himself. So, he was forced to learn printing skills and to acquire a printing press. This he took back with him to Kuruman. By 1840, the New Testament was completed and to print this required his return to England. ​

Picture
Vision
During this time in Britain, he challenged David Livingstone to respond to the “smoke of a thousand villages where the Name of Christ has not yet been preached.” Livingstone was later to become Moffat’s son-in-law.
 
Publishing
By 1851, Moffat had completed the translation of the Old Testament into Tswana. It had taken him 29 years to translate the whole Bible into Tswana. He also wrote “Missionary Labours and Scenes in South Africa” and translated “Pilgrim’s Progress” into Tswana.
 
Evangelism
Robert Moffat was a tireless evangelist and on one visit to a neighbouring village he was awakened by “the eager clamour of the natives who had gathered.” He preached to them and then retired to wash. He returned to his tent for breakfast, only to find that the people had gathered there for a second sermon. The people listened attentively and discussed what they had heard and later were back that same day for another service.

Picture
Mission to the Matabele
Another amazing achievement of Robert Moffat was the friendshiphe developed with Mizilikazi, the King of the Matabele (in present day Zimbabwe). Mizilikazi was a vicious tyrant feared by his people and the long-suffering neighbouring tribes, many of whom were enslaved by him. Yet Mizilikazi developed a strong respect for Robert Moffat and they struck up a friendship which lasted 30 years. When the London Missionary Society proposed to establish a mission amongst the Matabele, Robert’s own son, John Moffat, was the first to volunteer for this daunting task. Robert Moffat had the satisfaction of seeing his work in Kuruman reproduced some 700 miles away by his own son. They were the first missionaries among the Matabele.
 
Abiding Fruit
Of the seven children born to Robert and Mary Moffat, five became actively involved in missionary service. His daughter became a teacher at the mission school in Kuruman. Education and literacy training were always of great importance in Moffat’s missionary strategy.
 
Deputation
In 1870, after 53 years of service in Africa, the Moffats retired to Britain. His last 13 years were devoted to promoting the cause of Christ in Africa, travelling the length and breadth of the British Isles.

Picture
Pioneer Bible Translator
Although Robert Moffat was overshadowed by his famous son-in-law, often being referred to as the father-in-law of David Livingstone, Moffat was the more effective evangelist, Bible translator and educator of the two. David Livingstone was, without doubt, the greatest missionary explorer and the most effective campaigner against the slave trade in Africa, but it is to Robert Moffat that the honour belongs of first translating the complete Bible into an African language

“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Picture
Dr. Peter Hammond

This article was adapted from the first chapter of The Greatest Century of Missions book (224 pages with 200 photographs, pictures, charts and maps), available from 
​Christian Liberty Books,
PO Box 358 Howard Place 7450
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-7478,
Fax: 086-551-7490,
Email: 
admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za, 
Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.

none
1 Comment
J K. Timothy link
9/8/2022 13:29:55

Thank you brother, for this post. Came to know about Moffat clearly.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    More Articles

    All
    15 YEARS IN THE FRONTLINE
    Adoniram And Ann Judson - Missionaries To Burma - GCM 2106
    AFRICA FOR CHRIST - BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW SUMMIT
    AFRICAN AMERICANS CHALLENGED TO MOBILISE THEIR CHURCHES FOR WORLD MISSIONS
    Africa - The Challenge
    America's First Foreign Missionaries - Adoniram And Ann Judson
    An Interview With GEORGE VERWER
    Answers To Prayer From The Frontline Mailbag
    ANSWERS TO PRAYER FROM THE FRONTLINE MAILBAG 2019
    BEARING WITNESS TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST WITH PEOPLE OF OTHER FAITHS
    BIBLICAL FAITH And MODERN COUNTERFEITS
    BUILDING THE PEACE OF CHRIST IN OUR DIVIDED AND BROKEN WORLD
    BUT DOESN'T GOD LOVE EVERYONE EQUALLY?
    CAPE TOWN 2010 CONGRESS ON WORLD EVANGELISATION
    Celebrating 50 Years Of Marriage And Ministry
    CHINA PREVENTS PARTICIPATION IN MISSIONS CONGRESS
    CHRISTIANS MUST CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION
    CLAIMING CITIES FOR CHRIST
    CONFRONTING COMMUNISTS WITH THE GOSPEL.
    Congo For Christ
    CONGO RIVER MISSION
    C.T. Studd - Cricketer For Christ - GCM 2016
    David Livingstone - The Best Friend Africa Ever Had
    Dealing With Pathological Antagonists
    Do You Want To Change Your World?
    Dr James Kennedy - A Friend To Missionaries In Africa
    DR. JAMES KENNEDY – A FRIEND TO MISSIONARIES IN AFRICA
    EVANGELISING MUSLIMS IN NIGERIA
    FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE The Lady With The Lamp
    General Charles Gordon
    GLOBALISED WORLD
    Hammond Family News December 2015
    Henry Martyn - Missionary To Persia
    Henry Morton Stanley
    Hijacking Christmas
    HOW CIVILIZATIONS COMMIT SUICIDE
    How FRANCIS GRIM MENTORED Me In MISSIONS
    How To Be Effective In Missions Without Becoming A Victim
    Hudson Taylor - Missionary To China
    John Paton - Missionary To Cannibals - GCM 2016
    John Williams - Missionary Martyr To The New Hebrides
    LET THE EARTH HEAR HIS VOICE
    Living By Faith
    LIVINGSTONE THE LIBERATOR (DAVID LIVINGSTONE)
    Making Disciples Of All Nations
    Mary Slessor - Missionary To Nigeria
    MISSIONARY MADNESS
    MISSIONARY MURDERED IN MALAWI
    MISSIONARY VISION
    MISSIONS CONGRESS CALLED TO WORK FOR A SECOND REFORMATION
    MISSIONS CONGRESS TARGETED BY MASSIVE CYBER ATTACK
    MISSION To AMERICA - 2016
    ON THIS DAY IN MISSIONARY HISTORY
    OPERATION WORLD LAUNCHED AT CAPE TOWN 2010
    Prayer & Praise Update AFRICA FOR CHRIST - BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW SUMMIT
    PUTTING FEET To Our FAITH
    Reclaiming Surrendered Ground - Freedom In Christ
    REFORMATION FOR TRANSFORMATION
    REFORMATION IN ZAMBIA
    Robert Moffat - Pioneer Bible Translator
    Robert Morrison - First Protestant Missionary To China
    Samuel Ajayi Crowther - The First African Bishop Of The Anglican Church - GCM 2016
    Samuel Marsden - Missionary To Australia And New Zealand
    Samuel Zwemer - Missionary To The Muslims
    SUPERNATURAL POWER For WORLD MISSIONS
    TAKING THE WHOLE GOSPEL
    TESTIMONY OF COURAGE AMIDST COMMUNIST PERSECUTION IN NORTH KOREA
    Thanksgiving
    The Amaturisation Of Missions
    THE BOXERS AND COUNTING THE COST - MISSIONARY MARTYRS IN CHINA
    The Challenge Of Livingstone Today
    The Challenge Of Missions
    The Challenge Of Missions - GCM 2016
    The Christmas Truce
    The Forbidden Bible
    THE GREAT COMMISSION COURSE IN CAPE TOWN 2019
    THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL
    THE GREATEST MISSIONARY IS THE BIBLE
    The Greatest Movement In The World
    The Greatness Of The Great Commission - Ascension Day
    The Martyrs Prayer
    The Missionary Roots Of Freedom And Prosperity
    The Most Powerful Witness
    THE TRUTH OF CHRIST IN A PLURALISTIC
    THE WHOLE CHURCH
    Three Visions Of Africa
    TO THE WHOLE WORLD
    What Difference Can One Person Make? (William Carey)
    What Does It Take To Be A Missionary Of Frontline Fellowship?
    WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SERVE GOD?
    What Inspired The Greatest Century Of Missionary Advance?
    What Inspired The Greatest Century Of Missionary Advance? - GCM 2016
    Why Do So Many Fail And Give Up?
    WILLIAM CAREY’S VISION OF A CONGRESS FOR WORLD MISSIONS IN CAPE TOWN FULFILLED
    William Carey - The Father Of Modern Missions - GCM 2016
    William Chalmers Burns - Missionary To Manchuria - GCM 2016
    William Wilberforce - Missionary To Parliament - GCM 2016
    WILLIAM WILBERFORCE - SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE
    WOMEN AT RISK WORLDWIDE
    Working For Reformation In Africa
    You Are What You Read
    Zambia Update November 2002

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    December 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    March 2019
    October 2018
    June 2018
    February 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    August 2015
    December 2014
    August 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    July 2013
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    February 2010
    November 2007

    RSS Feed

"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
.”
 Matthew 28: 18-20
Picture

P.O.Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa

Tel:  +27 (0)21 689 4480 
Email: admin@frontline.org.za
  • Home
  • The Mission
    • About us
    • Prayer & Praise Updates
    • Priority Projects
    • Boxes with Love
    • Prayer Articles
    • Prayer Maps
    • Projects
    • Literature4Africa
    • Missionary Reports
    • Hammond Family News
    • In Memorium
  • Video & Audio Gallery
    • Audio Gallery
    • Video Gallery
  • Newsletters
  • Resources
    • Digital Resources
    • Articles >
      • Articles
      • News
      • Africa
      • Animals
      • Animism
      • Bible Teaching
      • Christmas
      • Family
      • Gun Control & Self Defense
      • History
      • Islam
      • Missions
      • Persecution
      • Political & Social Issues
      • War and Terrorism
    • Film Reviews
    • Bible Studies
    • Answers to Critical Questions
    • Skeptics Questions Answered
    • Articles in other Languages >
      • Afrikaans
      • German
      • French
      • Danish
      • Chinese
      • Russian
      • Chichewa
      • Czech
    • Links
    • Resource Posters
    • Books published by Dr Peter Hammond
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • Donate