Lisu North Thailand Christian Mission (LISTCM)
Overview
This is a New Testament in the Lisu language using the Fraser script. The earliest Lisu scripture — the Gospel of Matthew — was published in 1912 by George E. Metcalf and Arthur G. Nicholls through the British and Foreign Bible Society. [1] The Fraser script was developed around 1915 by Sara Ba Thaw, a Karen preacher, and refined by James O. Fraser (1886-1938) of the China Inland Mission. [1][2] The complete Lisu New Testament was finished by Allyn B. and Leila Cooke, working with Fraser, who died of cerebral malaria in 1938. [1] The complete Lisu Bible (OT+NT) was published in 1968. [1]
Translators and Contributors
- James O. Fraser (1886-1938) — China Inland Mission missionary; developed the Fraser script with Ba Thaw and led early translation work. [1][2]
- Sara Ba Thaw — Karen preacher who created the phonetic framework for the Fraser script. [2]
- Allyn B. and Leila Cooke — Completed the NT translation. [1]
- George E. Metcalf and Arthur G. Nicholls — Translated the first Lisu scripture (Gospel of Matthew, 1912). [1]
Language and People
Lisu (ISO 639-3: lis) is spoken by approximately 942,700 people in Central Myanmar. [Glottolog: lisu1250]
Publishing and Organizations
Published by North Thailand Christian Mission.
References
- [1] J.O. Fraser and the Making of the Lisu Bible (archived) - ChinaSource. Translation history and timeline.
- [2] James O. Fraser - Wikipedia. Biography and Fraser script development.
- Audio Bible - Audio Bible, Faith Comes By Hearing
- NT - Online text, Faith Comes By Hearing
- Lisu (1912) Matthew - Historical archive
- GBC: Bible (1968) - Global Bible Catalogue. Lisu Bible, repr. 1992-1993.
- GBC: Selections (1915) - Global Bible Catalogue. Earliest Lisu Scripture selections.
- bible.com - YouVersion.
- ebible.org entry - ebible.org.