Fans of the futuristic Avatar movie series await Avatar 3, scheduled for theatre release late in 2025. Far from futuristic, the term Avatar is most ancient. Derived from the Sanskrit, Avatar referred to the descent of a Hindu deity to the earth (1). While its sources predate the birth of Jesus, an 1809 sermon by Claudius Buchanan nevertheless point directly to Christ’s incarnation. 

We must believe that all the fabulous incarnations of the Eastern Mythology are derived from the real incarnation of the Son of God, or from the prophesies which went before it. Jesus the Messiah is the true Avatar. (2)

What Buchanan had hit upon is called dynamic equivalence, an unpacking of ideas conveyed by the original text; it would become a mainstay of 20th century Bible translation (3). Yet Buchanan’s descent into ancient texts was no mere serendipity. When the Anglican chaplain arrived in the sub-continent, he found that British soldiers cared nothing for religion. Thus, for some good purpose, Buchanan applied himself to learn Persian and Hindustani languages. At Fort William College in Calcutta, he took charge of a new department of Bible translation by assigning Indian nationals to efforts in many tongues. Significantly, he hired William Carey, later to be known as the Father of Modern Missions, to teach Bengali and Sanskrit (4).

Despite frail health, Buchanan visited much of India and Sri Lanka compiling ethnological data that he published as Christian Researches in India (5). His report encouraged Anglican outreach to ancient eastern churches. Yet, more importantly, ‘twas Buchannan’s aforementioned sermon, “The Star in the East,” that stirred the heart of Adoniram Judson to become America’s first foreign missionary (6).  The tract’s compelling narratives convinced Judson that Burma, despite the dangers, was fertile soil for the Gospel. Why so? First, Gentile Kings of the East had been present to welcome the Jewish Messiah, who calls all men to repent and worship Him rather than idols “graven by art and man’s device.” (7) Buchanan unpacks the particulars:

Hindoo history illustrates the history of the Gospels. There have lately been discussed in India certain Shanscrit writings, containing testimonies of Christ. They relate to a Prince who reigned about the period of the Christian era; and whose history, though mixed with fable, contains particulars which correspond, in a surprising manner, with advent, birth, miracles, death and resurrection of our Savior. Even supposing them to have been derived from the evangelical history, or spurious Gospels, it is remarkable, that they should have been recorded in the sacred language of the Brahmins, and incorporated into their mythology. The event mentioned in the Text is exactly recorded, namely, That certain holy men, directed by a Star, journeyed towards the West, where they beheld the incarnation of the Deity (8).

Second, Buchanan deduces that there can be no doubt whence originated the idea that God should become a man and take human nature upon Himself.

The Hindoos believe that one of the persons of their Trinity (and that, too, the second person) was “manifested in the flesh.” Hence their fables of the Avatars, or incarnations of Vishnoo. And this doctrine of the incarnation of the Deity is found all over Asia.

And finally, he concludes from the ancient texts of the Hindoos:

It is asserted that the “Divine Spirit, or light of Holy Knowledge” influences the minds of men. And the man who is the subject of such influence is called “the man twice-born.” Many chapters are devoted to the duties, character, and virtue of the “the man twice-born.” If, then, in the very systems of the heathen world, this exalted idea [being born again] should have a place, how much more might we expect to find it in the revelation of the true God; to which it must be traced? (9)

Likewise, the “text” in today’s Avatar sci-fi film sensations invites one to ponder similarities. For example, of the Na’vi, a fictional race of sapient humanoids who inhabit the lush moon of Pandora, it is said that every person is born twice (10). A segue to the words of Jesus is clear, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.” (11)  Interestedly, the term for the cinematic Na’vi people stems from the Hebrew word for prophet (Nabi in Arabic). (12)

To quote Claudius Buchanan: "Every branch of knowledge which a good man possesses, he may apply to some good purpose." (13) Let us emulate the fortitude of Buchanan, Carey, Judson, and those whom Global Frontier Missions directs to South and Southeast Asia. Further dynamic equivalents from Eastern cultures await discovery so that these societies, who constitute the majority of unreached people groups, may treasure Jesus Christ, of whom the prophets foretold, as the true Avatar of God.