The Estate of The Clergy Pleasing to God

Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg, along with his colleague Heinrich Plütschau, was the first missionary of the first Protestant mission in Church history. In July 1706 the two theologians reached the small Danish trading colony Tranquebar on the south-east coast of India, their destination, and immediately began their work. After working for two years in Tranquebar, Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg was imprisoned in Fort Dansborg because of incompatibility between commercial interests and mission, but was released four months later without any charges being brought against him. During his prison time Ziegenbalg wrote 70 chapters of meditations on »The Estate of The Clergy Pleasing to God«, dedicated to teachers, preachers and students of theology in Germany and Denmark. Although a strongly abridged selection, this book is the moving testament of a deeply pious man who was stirred by the spirit of Halle-Pietism and who strove to carry his Christian beliefs out into the world.
We decided to publish Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg’s text »Der gottgefällige Lehrstand« in English to commemorate his 300th death anniversary, but also to break the language barrier and give equal access to the common heritage for all those who are interested.