In the 1800s, no foreigner was allowed to enter Korea (both North and South Korea were one Kingdom) for fear of external influence. The government took advanced steps to discourage the citizens from having any form of external contact or trade. Consequently, about 8000 Korean Christians and a substantial number of foreign missionaries were killed in 1866. All persons found with the Bible were either killed, imprisoned, banished, etc…
During this time, a young Welsh missionary called Robert Jermain Thomas, who had just finished New College in London, in 1863, ventured into Korea. Robert married Carolyn Godfrey in the same year and the two ventured into Shanghai, China🇨🇳, to serve as missionaries. While there, His wife of less than 2 years died from miscarriage (after 4 months). Sadly, their family and friends had discouraged the couple from going to China.
This devastating event shattered his life so much that he stopped missionary work and worked as a translator at a customs post in China. He had quickly learned the Chinese language so well that he could speak freely. While at this work, he met some Koreans who had come from Korea to trade in China🇨🇳. He learned that they were Christians and spoke to them about the situation in Korea. He was touched by the hunger of the people for God’s Word, and he forgot about his plight.
Taking with him hundreds of Chinese Bibles, he disguised himself and entered Korea, where he shared hundreds of the precious books undercover. So satisfied was he with the adventure that he decided to go again. However, his Korean friends strictly protested against it for fear that they’ll be caught and killed.
In his efforts to establish a Christian presence, Thomas distributed Korean translations of the Gospel of John and other Christian literature. He also worked on translating the Bible into Korean. These activities did not go unnoticed by the Korean authorities, who considered Christianity a foreign threat and a challenge to their rule.
At the same time, an American businessman came to China, seeking an opportunity to enter and trade with the Koreans. He saw Robert Thomas and was intrigued by his translation abilities. He immediately made Jermain an offer to hire him as a translator. Robert will serve as a translator between the merchant and the Koreans while Robert will be free to share his Bibles. Robert eagerly accepted the offer, forgetting the strong pleas and remonstrance of his Korean friends. He went with the American trader to Korea. It was a disaster…
The Koreans refused to trade with the merchant and he angrily attacked the Korean ambassadors and killed them. This infuriated the Koreans and war broke out. The merchant buried the coastal town with fire while the Koreans retaliated with flaming arrows. The ship got stuck at the shallow beach and the Koreans got the opportunity to burn down the ship. Many of the sailors jumped into the sea, only to be killed at the beach.
Robert Jermain Thomas took his chest of Bibles and threw them into the water for the Korean soldiers. Telling them to take the Word of Life. He finally also jumped into the sea with the last Bible. Sadly, he was also killed at the shore. Today, many Koreans remember Robert Jermain Thomas as the man who risked his life to bring God’s Word to Korea. Hundreds troop to his home yearly to see the hometown of the man who gave all to give them God’s light.
The sacrifice and daring courage of Robert Jermain Thomas stand tall among many Christian martyrs. His wife died in the course of duty, just as he. He lost all he had, just to give the Bible to a people who sat in darkness. Such selfless Christian spirit is missing in our day, where many become Christians to gain instead of to sacrifice for God’s Word. On this Holy Sabbath🕊️, may God revive our hearts with His love and selfless sacrifice for us.
