Driven by his love for the Hindus of South India, Jesuit Roberto de Nobili strove to develop a way of sharing the Gospel that was both culturally relevant and doctrinally sound. This article explores how de Nobili's commitment to contextualization and Christian orthodoxy contributed to the spread of the Gospel among caste Hindus. His was not a complete success, however, as lingering elements of his cultural heritage as a missionary of the Counter Reformation continued to shape the mission in a manner that would contribute to its ultimate decline. Specific problems related to Bible translation and indigenous leadership are cited.
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