A 1989 Simplified Chinese Union Version Bible

When I was very young, my maternal aunt gave my mother a book with a black cover. As a child, I knew nothing about Jehovah, Jesus, Christianity, or the Bible. I only thought this thick, hardbound book looked mysterious.

We moved several times over the years, but I always made sure the book was carefully kept. It became worn and creased, yet thankfully remained in good condition overall and was never lost.

At the age of 35, I suddenly wanted to learn about the history of Israel. I bought a book called Jerusalem: The Biography at a bookstore. Much of its material about the Bible was difficult for me to understand, since I had never encountered the Bible before.

One day, I suddenly remembered the very old copy of The Complete Old and New Testaments at home. Was this the Bible? I opened it and found that it indeed told stories of God and Jesus. After doing some research, I learned that before the title “The Bible” came into use, it was also called “The Complete Old and New Testaments”—a collection of the Old and New Testaments. It dawned on me that God’s word had been beside me for more than thirty years, and I had only realized it in middle age.

This copy was printed and bound in 1989 by the Nanjing Amity Printing Company. It may have been the first Simplified Chinese edition of the Bible. It has a landscape layout and a black hardcover with gold lettering. It is remarkable that it has been so well preserved. Thanks be to God!

Since March 2023, I have been reading a chapter in my spare time each day. As of November 13, 2026, I have reached chapter 7 of Ecclesiastes.

To me, this is more than a book I have treasured for many years; it is also the beginning of a renewed understanding of faith and history. If you know more about this edition or related publications, I would be glad to hear from you.