Biblical Theology of Mission

MISSION IN THE BIBLE

• “IN THE BEGINNING WAS JESUS. WITHOUT THE PERSON OF JESUS OF

NAZARETH, THE MESSIANIC SON OF MAN, THERE WOULD BE NO CHRISTIANS.

WITHOUT THE MINISTRY OF JESUS THERE WOULD BE NO CHRISTIAN

MISSIONS. WITHOUT CHRISTIAN MISSIONS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO

CHRISTIAN OCCIDENT.” – ECKHARD SCHNABEL (EARLY CHRISTIAN MISSION)


• WHY ARE WE HERE?

• WHY ARE WE BEING EKBALLOED TO THE HARVEST?

• WHAT GROUNDS OUR MISSION?

• WHAT IS MISSION?

• WHERE DID MISSION COME FROM?


• “THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE GOD’S THOUGHT AND PLAN FOR THE WORLD’S

EVANGELIZATION ARE EVERYWHERE IN EVIDENCE. FROM COVER TO COVER THE

BIBLE IS A MISSIONARY BOOK…SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY FOR WORLD-WIDE

MISSIONS RESTS NOT MERELY UPON A GROUP OF PROOF TEXTS, BUT UPON

THE ENTIRE DESIGN AND SPIRIT OF THE BIBLE AS IT REVEALS GOD IN HIS

RELATION TO MEN AND NATIONS, AND AS IT TRACES THE UNFOLDING OF HIS

PURPOSES DOWN THROUGH THE AGES.” – ROBERT HALL GLOVER (THE BIBLE

BASIS FOR MISSION)


• THE BIBLE DOESN’T JUST “CONTAIN A NUMBER OF TEXTS THAT HAPPEN TO

PROVIDE A RATIONALE FOR MISSIONARY ENDEAVOR, BUT THE WHOLE BIBLE IS

ITSELF A ‘MISSIONAL’ PHENOMENON. THE WRITINGS THAT NOW COMPRISE

OUR BIBLE ARE THEMSELVES THE PRODUCT OF, AND WITNESS TO, THE

ULTIMATE MISSION OF GOD…THE BIBLE IS THE DRAMA OF THIS GOD OF

PURPOSE ENGAGED IN THE MISSION OF ACHIEVING THAT PURPOSE…” –

CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT


• A (HERMENEUTICAL) METHOD WHICH ROBBED ME OF THE MISSIONARY

CHARACTER OF THE BIBLE, WOULD ROB ME OF CHRISTIANITY ITSELF. IF

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT THE RELIGIOUS TRUTH WHICH IS MEANT FOR ALL MEN,

AND WHICH ALL MEN NEED, A TRUTH THEREFORE WHICH CARRIES IN ITSELF

THE DUTY OF PROPAGATING IT, I DO NOT WANT CHRISTIANITY AT ALL. –

ROBERT HORTON (THE BIBLE, A MISSIONARY BOOK)


• IT IS HARD TO CONCEIVE HOW THE BIBLE IS TO ACCOMPLISH ITS

MISSIONARY WORK IN THE WORLD UNTIL THE CHURCH AND THE

MISSIONARY ARE ABLE TO BRING INTO CLEAR RELIEF ITS INTRINSIC

MISSIONARY PURPOSE. – ROBERT HORTON (THE BIBLE, A MISSIONARY BOOK)


• IF (MATTHEW 28:18-20) WERE NOT THERE WE SHOULD STILL KNOW FROM

THE STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT THE GOSPEL WAS BOUND TO BE

CARRIED TO EVERY NATION AND TO EVERY HUMAN SOUL, THAT THE BAPTISM

IN THE NAME OF JESUS WAS TO INVOLVE THE TEACHING OF ALL HIS

COMMANDMENTS, AND THAT HIS INVISIBLE HELP AND IRRESISTIBLE POWER

WERE GUARANTEED TO HIS FOLLOWERS AND TO HIS WITNESSES EVERY DAY

UNTIL THE WORK SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED. – ROBERT HORTON

THE MISSIONAL BASIS OF THE BIBLE

• “THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THE BIBLE IS INCONTROVERTIBLE EVIDENCE OF THE

GOD WHO REFUSED HIS REBELLIOUS CREATION, WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP,

WHO WAS AND IS DETERMINED TO REDEEM AND RESTORE FALLEN CREATION

TO HIS ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR IT…THE VERY EXISTENCE OF SUCH A

COLLECTION OF WRITINGS TESTIFIES TO A GOD WHO BREAKS THROUGH TO

HUMAN BEINGS, WHO DISCLOSED HIMSELF TO THEM, WHO WILL NOT LEAVE

THEM UNILLUMINATED IN THE DARKNESS… WHO TAKES THE INITIATIVE IN RE-

ESTABLISHING BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH US.” – CHARLES TABER


• EXERCISE: HOW WOULD YOU JUSTIFY YOUR MISSIONARY LIFE AND EFFORT

FROM THE BIBLE?

THE MISSIONAL BASIS OF THE BIBLE• READ LUKE 24:44-48

•MAKE 5 OBSERVATIONS

•WHAT DOES CHRIST SAY ABOUT HIMSELF AND THE

SCRIPTURES?

•WHAT DOES CHRIST SAY ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THE

SCRIPTURES?

•WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT THE WAY CHRIST READ

THE SCRIPTURES?

•WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT THE WAY WE SHOULD

READ THE SCRIPTURES?

THE MISSIONAL BASIS OF THE BIBLE• THE WHOLE BIBLE IS A MISSIONAL PHENOMENON

• THE BIBLE IS A PRODUCT OF, AND WITNESS TO, THE ULTIMATE MISSION OF

GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

• THE BIBLE IS THE STORY OF GOD’S MISSION TO REDEEM FOR HIMSELF A

PEOPLE THROUGH THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST

• A MISSIONAL HERMENEUTIC SETS OUT TO TRACE AND EXPLORE THE

CHRISTOCENTRIC MISSION OF GOD IN THE PROGRESSIVE SELF-REVELATION

OF GOD IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY

• ALL OF THE SCRIPTURES, FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION, PROGRESSIVELY

UNFOLD A FOCUS AND FULFILLMENT BOTH IN THE LIFE, DEATH, RESURRECTION,

AND EXALTATION OF JESUS AND IN THE MISSION TO ALL NATIONS, WHICH

FLOWS OUT OF THE CHRIST EVENT.

Christopher Wright – Mission as a Matrix for Hermeneutics and Biblical Theology

THE MISSIONAL BASIS OF THE BIBLE• TO SAY THAT THE BIBLE IS “ALL ABOUT CHRIST” MEANS THAT CHRIST IS THE

CENTRAL HERMENEUTICAL “KEY” BY WHICH WE INTERPRET ALL OF THE TEXT OF

SCRIPTURE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE.

• TO SAY THAT THERE IS A MISSIONAL BASIS TO THE BIBLE IS TO SAY THAT

MISSION IS CLOSELY RELATED TO THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE AS THE UNFOLDING

REVELATION OF THE STORY OF JESUS AND THE REDEMPTION FOR HIMSELF A

PEOPLE.

• A MISSIONAL HERMENEUTIC OF THE BIBLE BEGINS WITH THE BIBLE’S VERY

EXISTENCE.

• A MISSIONAL HERMENEUTIC FLOWS OUT OF THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE ENTIRE

BIBLE PROGRESSIVELY AND ORGANICALLY REVEALS TO US THE STORY OF GOD’S

MISSION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND HIS PEOPLE TO THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH

LOST MANKIND FOR THE SAKE OF THE UNREACHED ELECT.



• THE NEW TESTAMENT IS INHERENTLY MISSIONARY BECAUSE THE EARLY

CHURCH WAS INHERENTLY MISSIONARY.

• MORE THAN HALF THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN BY AUTHORS

ENGAGED IN THE MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE OF THE EARLY CHURCH.

• THERE ARE TWO FACETS TO MISSIONAL READING OF THE UNFOLDING STORY

OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE REDEMPTION OF HIS PEOPLE:

• LEADING UP TO CHRIST (MESSIANIC)

• LEADING ON FROM CHRIST (MISSIONAL)



• THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN DURING THE MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE

WITH MISSION AS THE CONTEXT OF THE WRITING:

• PAUL’S WRITINGS STEMMED FROM HIS MISSIONARY EFFORTS

• ATTACKS ON THE GOSPEL

• INCLUSION OF THE GENTILES

• THE GOSPELS WERE WRITTEN TO EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GOOD

NEWS OF THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST

• MESSAGE CENTERED ON THE LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS

• LUKE’S ENDS HIS GOSPEL AND BEGINS THE BOOK OF ACTS WITH THE MISSIONARY

MANDATE, MAKING MISSION THE CONTEXT FOR HIS STORYLINE


THE MISSIONAL BASIS OF THE BIBLE• THREE REALITIES IN THE TEXT AUTHORIZE OUR ACTION IN

MISSION:

•GOD, IN THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS

• STORY, JESUS IS THE CLIMAX

•WHERE ARE WE?

•WHO ARE WE?

•WHAT’S GONE WRONG?

•WHAT IS THE SALVATION?

•WHO IS HE?

•WHAT DID HE DO?

•WHAT HAS HE DONE FOR US AND TO US?



•PEOPLE, UNITED TO CHRIST

• ISRAEL

•AN ANTICIPATED FUTURE

• EXISTS FOR THE SAKE OF THE NATIONS

•CHURCH

•AN “ALREADY” REALITY

•CITIZENS OF HEAVEN

•MEMBERS OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD

•THE PLACE OF GOD’S DWELLING

•AN ANTICIPATED “NOT YET”



• THE BIBLE RECORDS AT LEAST 239 OCCASIONS WHEN THE PEOPLE OF GOD—

PATRIARCHS, ISRAELITES, NEW TESTAMENT FOLLOWERS OF JESUS—COME IN

CONTACT WITH PEOPLE OF OTHER RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS OR LEADERS GIVE

LESSONS REGARDING SUCH CONTACTS. – TERRY MUCK & FRANCES ADENEY

(CHRISTIANITY ENCOUNTERING WORLD RELIGIONS)

THE REASON FOR MISSION

• MISSION IS LINKED TO THE FALL

• MAN SINNED

• MAN IS IN NEED OF

• REDEMPTION

• JESUS’ INCARNATION

• JESUS’ LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION

• THE GOOD NEWS OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN JESUS MUST BE MADE KNOWN

• THE SAVING MISSION OF JESUS IS THE FOUNDATION FOR CHRISTIAN MISSION

• THE GOSPEL IS THE SAVING MESSAGE OF THE MANDATORY MISSION

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY AND MISSION

• THE STUDY OF MISSION IN THE BIBLE MUST BE BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL

• INDUCTIVE

• ORGANIC PROGRESSION OF UNFOLDING REVELATION

• UNITY OF STORY AND LOGIC IN THE SCRIPTURES

• THE STUDY OF MISSION IN THE BIBLE MUST BE SALVATION-HISTORICAL

• FOLLOWS THE STORYLINE OF THE BIBLE

• FOLLOWS THE PROMISE AND FULFILLMENT RHYTHM OF THE STORYLINE

• CONTINUITY

• DISCONTINUITY

WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY?

• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY IS THAT PART OF EXEGETICAL THEOLOGY WHICH DEALS

WITH THE REVELATION OF GOD IN ITS HISTORIC CONTINUITY, UNDERTAKING

TO SHOW HOW THE TRUTH HAS BEEN GRADUALLY SET FORTH IN GREATER

FULLNESS AND CLEARNESS. BIBLICAL THEOLOGY IS THE EXHIBITION OF THE

ORGANIC PROGRESS OF SUPERNATURAL REVELATION IN ITS HISTORIC

CONTINUITY AND MULTIFORMITY. – GEERHARDUS VOS


• “BIBLICAL THEOLOGY FOCUSES ON THE STORYLINE OF SCRIPTURE—THE UNFOLDING OF GOD’S

PLAN IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY.” – TOM SCHREINER

• “BIBLICAL THEOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF HOW EVERY TEXT IN THE BIBLE RELATES TO EVERY OTHER

TEXT IN THE BIBLE, THE STUDY OF THE MATRIX OF DIVINE REVELATION IN THE BIBLE AS A WHOLE.”

– GRAEME GOLDSWORTHY

• “BECAUSE THE GOSPEL ESTABLISHES JESUS CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF THE BIBLICAL MESSAGE,

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF HOW EVERY TEXT IN THE BIBLE RELATES TO JESUS AND HIS

GOSPEL.” – GRAEME GOLDSWORTHY

• “BIBLICAL THEOLOGY’S APPROACH IS CANONICAL, GENETIC-PROGRESSIVE (OR ORGANICALLY

DEVELOPMENTAL, AS A FLOWER DEVELOPS FROM A SEED AND BUD), EXEGETICAL, AND

INTERTEXTUAL.” – GREG BEALE


• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY IS INTERTEXTUAL, AN INDUCTIVE AND EXEGETICAL

DISCIPLINE WORKING FROM BIBLICAL TEXTS, IN ALL OF THEIR LITERARY

DIVERSITY, TO THE ENTIRE CANON. – WELLUM AND GENTRY

• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY IS INTRATEXTUAL, LETTING THE BIBLICAL TEXT SET ITS OWN

AGENDA, READING SCRIPTURE ON ITS OWN TERMS, INTERPRETING IN LIGHT OF

ITS OWN CATEGORIES AND PRESENTATION. – WELLUM AND GENTRY

• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY IS INTERESTED NOT MERELY IN WORDS AND WORD STUDIES

BUT ALSO IN CONCEPTS AND THEMES AS IT TRACES OUT THE BIBLE’S OWN STORY

LINE, ON THE BIBLE’S OWN TERMS, AS THE PLOT LINE REACHES ITS CULMINATION

IN CHRIST. – WELLUM AND GENTRY

WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY?PRESUPPOSITIONS

• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY DEALS WITH THE DATUM OF REVELATION.

• THE BEGINNING, FIRST, AND PRIMARY DATA POINT FOR REVELATION IS JESUS CHRIST AND JOHN 1:1.

• REVELATION IS A GIVEN, INHERENT TO THE CREATOR’S CREATION OF THE CREATURE.

• SPECIAL REVELATION IS A NECESSITY DUE TO THE BREAK IN COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNION OF THE FALL.

• MAN IS PASSIVE BEFORE REVELATION.

• THE BIBLE IS REVELATION GIVEN FROM WITHOUT MAN, FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CREATURE.

• EXEGETICAL THEOLOGY, AND ITS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY, EMPHASIZES TO THE RECIPIENT THAT WE ARE THE

PASSIVE RECEPTORS OF REVELATION: GOD SPEAKS, WE LISTEN.

• GOD IS ACTIVE AND DISTRIBUTIVE; WE ARE PASSIVE AND RECEPTIVE.


• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY CONCENTRATES ON THE DATUM OF REVELATION AS IT OCCURS

HISTORICALLY (IN TIME AND SPACE).

• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY CONCENTRATES ON THE DATUM OF REVELATION AS IT OCCURS

PROGRESSIVELY.

• BECAUSE REVELATION UNFOLDS HISTORICALLY AND PROGRESSIVELY , IT IS INTERRELATED

AND INTERCONNECTED.

• GOD’S SELF-REVELATION HAPPENS IN A HISTORICAL CONTINUUM AND THEREFORE IT HAS A

PROGRESSIVE HISTORIC OR ORGANIC INTERCONNECTEDNESS ABOUT IT.

• THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGIAN EMPHASIZES REVELATION AS PREEMINENTLY SUPERNATURAL.

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY AND MISSION• SCRIPTURE IS UNDERSTOOD IN THE UNITY OF PURPOSE: TRACING THE UNFOLDING STORY OF JESUS AND HIS

PLAN OF REDEMPTION OF A PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF.

• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY ASSUMES GOD ACTS COHERENTLY AND PURPOSEFULLY IN HISTORY.

• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY EMPLOYS TWO MAIN PILLARS WITH THE HELP OF A THIRD:

• LITERATURE

• THE BIBLE IS A COLLECTION OF 66 LITERARY PIECES THAT CONVEY HISTORY, MUCH OF IT IN NARRATIVE FORM

• THE 66 PIECES INTERPRET HISTORY

• THE 66 PIECES ARE A UNIFIED WHOLE

• THEOLOGY

• SCRIPTURE IS A DIVINELY INSPIRED BOOK

• AUTHORITATIVE TEACHING

• FRAMEWORK FOR CHRISTIAN BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

• THE TEACHINGS (THEOLOGICAL DATA POINTS] ARE INTERCONNECTED THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY AND MISSION• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY EMPLOYS TWO MAIN PILLARS WITH THE HELP OF A THIRD (CON’D):

• HISTORY

• CHRISTIANITY IS HISTORICAL, BEGINNING WITH THE RESURRECTION

• HISTORICAL RESEARCH CAN BE HELPFUL TO BIBLICAL THEOLOGY

• GENERAL REVELATION

• BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION DEVELOPS THE THEME OF MISSION BY TRACING THE

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S NAME AND OF HIS SAVING PURPOSES IN CHRIST TO THE ENDS OF

THE WORLD

• THROUGH CONNECTING WORDS

• THROUGH CONNECTING THEMES

• BY GIVING ATTENTION TO OVERARCHING CONCEPTS

WHAT IS MISSION?

• WRITE A ONE OR TWO SENTENCE SUMMARY OF YOUR DEFINITION OF

MISSION.

WHAT IS MISSION?

• CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS OF CHRISTIAN MISSION:

• THE WORD “MISSION” … IS PROPERLY A COMPREHENSIVE WORD, EMBRACING EVERYTHING

WHICH GOD SENDS HIS PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD TO DO. (STOTT 1975, 35)

• MISSION IS THE PEOPLE OF GOD GIVING WITNESS TO THE REALITY OF GOD THROUGH THE

CHURCH AS THE SIGN, FORETASTE, AND PRESENCE OF THE KINGDOM. (ROXBURGH 2000, 179)

• MISSION IS THE SELF-SENDING CREATIVE AND REDEMPTIVE ACTION OF THE TRIUNE GOD FOR THE

[SIC] MANKIND AND THE WORLD. ITS ULTIMATE GOAL IS THE COMPLETION OF THE KINGDOM OF

GOD AND SALVATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. (YOSHIMOTO 2005)

• “MISSION” IS THE DIVINE ACTIVITY OF SENDING INTERMEDIARIES WHETHER SUPERNATURAL OR

HUMAN TO SPEAK OR DO GOD’S WILL SO THAT GOD’S PURPOSES FOR JUDGMENT OR REDEMPTION

ARE FURTHERED. (LARKIN 1996, 534)

WHAT IS MISSION?

• “MISSION ARISES FROM THE HEART OF GOD HIMSELF, AND IS

COMMUNICATED FROM HIS HEART TO OURS. MISSION IS THE GLOBAL

OUTREACH OF THE GLOBAL PEOPLE OF A GLOBAL GOD.” – JOHN STOTT

• “WORLD EVANGELIZATION REQUIRES THE WHOLE CHURCH TO TAKE THE

WHOLE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE WORLD.” – LAUSANNE COVENANT, 1974

• “THE SENDING ACTIVITY OF GOD WITH THE PURPOSE OF RECONCILING TO

HIMSELF AND BRINGING INTO HIS KINGDOM FALLEN MEN AND WOMEN FROM

EVERY PEOPLE, NATION, AND TONGUE. “ – OTT, STRAUSS, TENANT

WHAT IS MISSION?

• MISSION: “THE ACTIVITY OF A COMMUNITY OF FAITH THAT DISTINGUISHES ITSELF FROM ITS

ENVIRONMENT IN TERMS OF BOTH RELIGIOUS BELIEF (THEOLOGY) AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

(ETHICS), THAT IS CONVINCED OF THE TRUTH CLAIMS OF ITS FAITH, AND THAT ACTIVELY WORKS

TO WIN OTHER PEOPLE TO THE CONTENT OF FAITH AND TO THE WAY OF LIFE OF WHOSE TRUTH

AND NECESSITY THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMUNITY ARE CONVINCED.” – ECKHARD SCHNABEL

• THIS DEFINITION OF “MISSION” INVOLVES A THREEFOLD REALITY:

• PEOPLE COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS A NEW INTERPRETATION OF REALITY—A

DIFFERENT, NEW VIEW OF GOD, HUMANKIND AND SALVATION

• PEOPLE COMMUNICATE A NEW WAY OF LIFE THAT REPLACES, AT LEAST PARTIALLY, THE FORMER WAY OF

LIFE

• PEOPLE INTEGRATE THOSE WHOM THEY WIN OVER TO THEIR FAITH AND WAY OF LIFE INTO THEIR

COMMUNITY.

WHAT IS MISSION?

• MISSION REFERS TO THE TOTAL BIBLICAL ASSIGNMENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST.

• MISSION IS THE CHURCH AS “SENT” (A PILGRIM, STRANGER, WITNESS, PROPHET, SERVANT, AS

SALT, AS LIGHT, ETC.) IN THIS WORLD.

• MISSIONS IS A SPECIALIZED TERM MEANING THE SENDING FORTH OF AUTHORIZED PERSONS

BEYOND THE BORDERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AND HER IMMEDIATE GOSPEL

INFLUENCE TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN GOSPEL-DESTITUTE AREAS, TO WIN

CONVERTS FROM OTHER FAITHS OR NON-FAITHS TO JESUS CHRIST, AND TO ESTABLISH

FUNCTIONING, MULTIPLYING LOCAL CONGREGATIONS WHO WILL BEAR THE FRUIT OF

CHRISTIANITY IN THAT COMMUNITY AND TO THAT COUNTRY. – GEORGE PETERS, (A BIBLICAL

THEOLOGY OF MISSIONS)

WHAT IS MISSION?

• THE WORD MISSION DERIVES FROM THE LATIN WORD MITTO, “TO SEND,” AND MISSIO,

“SENDING.”

• THE WORD MISSION WAS FIRST USED IN 1544 BY THE JESUITS IGNATIUS LOYOLA AND

JACOB LOYNER TO DESCRIBE THE SPREAD OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.

• IN 1588 LOYOLA WROTE, “BY MISSION I MEAN JOURNEYS AND UNDERTAKINGS CARRIED ON

FROM TOWN TO TOWN FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORD OF GOD.”

• THE TERM MISSION ENTERED COMMON USAGE IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. PREVIOUSLY

ONE SPOKE MORE OF THE APOSTOLATE, OR APOSTOLIC OFFICE. (OTT, STRAUSS, AND

TENANT)

WHAT IS MISSION?

• “MISSION” MEANS “SENDING,” THE IDEA EXPRESSED BY THE VERBS PEMPEIN AND

APOSTELLEIN, WHICH TOGETHER OCCUR 206 TIMESIN THE NEW TESTAMENT. THE

“MISSIONARY,” THAT IS, THE ONE SENT, IS AN APOSTOLOS (79 TIMES), AND THE APOSTLE’S

TASK OR “MISSION” IS APOSTOLĒ (FOUR TIMES) (CF. LEGRAND 1990:XIV).

• “THE VALIDITY OF MISSION SHOULD NOT BE DEDUCED FROM ISOLATED SAYINGS BUT FROM

THE THRUST OF THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF SCRIPTURE. IN OTHER WORDS, EITHER

MISSION—PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD—LIES AT THE HEART OF THE BIBLICAL MESSAGE OR IT

IS SO PERIPHERAL TO THAT MESSAGE THAT WE NEED NOT BE OVERLY CONCERNED WITH IT.”

– DAVID BOSCH, REFLECTIONS ON BIBLICAL MODELS OF MISSION

WHAT IS MISSION?

• SINCE THE 1960S THE TERM MISSION (SINGULAR) HAS COME TO BE USED MORE

BROADLY TO DESCRIBE ALL OF GOD’S SENDING ACTIVITY: GOD’S MISSION IN THE

WORLD.

• MISSION HAS COME TO DESCRIBE NOT MERELY THE TASKS OF MISSIONARIES,

BUT THE VERY SENDING MANDATE OF THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE.

• THE TERM MISSIONS (PLURAL) HAS COME TO BE MORE NARROWLY USED TO

DESCRIBE THE VARIOUS SPECIFIC EFFORTS OF THE CHURCH TO CARRY OUT THE

TASK OF MISSION IN THE WORLD, USUALLY RELATED TO THE SPREAD OF THE

GOSPEL AND THE EXPANSION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

WHAT IS MISSION?

• “ALL THAT GOD IS DOING IN HIS GREAT PURPOSE FOR THE WHOLE OF CREATION AND ALL THAT HE CALLS US TO

DO IN COOPERATION WITH THAT PURPOSE.” – CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT

• “OUR MISSION MEANS OUR COMMITTED PARTICIPATION AS GOD’S PEOPLE, AT GOD’S INVITATION AND

COMMAND, IN GOD’S OWN MISSION WITHIN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD FOR THE REDEMPTION OF GOD’S

CREATION.” – CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT

• “MISSION IS WHAT GOD IS DOING FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD: IT IS GOD’S LONG TERM PURPOSE TO RENEW

THE CREATION.” – MICHAEL GOHEEN

• “MISSION IS NOT PRIMARILY ABOUT GOING. NOR IS MISSION PRIMARILY ABOUT DOING ANYTHING. MISSION IS

ABOUT BEING. IT IS ABOUT BEING A DISTINCTIVE KIND OF PEOPLE, A COUNTERCULTURAL…COMMUNITY AMONG

THE NATIONS.” – PESKETT AND RAMACHANDRA

• MISSIONS: “THE MULTITUDE OF ACTIVITIES THAT GOD’S PEOPLE CAN ENGAGE IN, BY MEANS OF WHICH THEY

PARTICIPATE IN GOD’S MISSION.” – CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT

WHAT IS MISSION?

• SUMMARY:

• MISSION – GOD’S ACTIVITY IN CHRIST

• MISSION – THE CHURCH’S ASSIGNMENT

• MISSIONS – THE CHURCH’S ACTIVITY

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY AND MISSION

• MISSION IS THE ACTIVITY OF GOD TOWARD MAN IN CHRIST 1) AS IT UNFOLDS

IN THE REVELATION OF REDEMPTION, AND 2) AS REDEMPTION UNFOLDING IN

REVELATION.

• THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION IS THE ORGANIC UNFOLDING IN

PROGRESSIVE DIVINE REVELATION OF THE STORY OF JESUS AND HIS

MISSIONAL REDEMPTION FOR HIMSELF A PEOPLE.

MISSION IN GENESIS• READ GENESIS 1:1-2:3

• WRITE DOWN 10 OBSERVATIONS

• WHAT ARE THE PARALLELS OR REPETITIONS?

• WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE EMPHASIS?

• WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE PURPOSE OF THE PASSAGE?

• WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF VS. 26-28 TO THE REST OF THE PASSAGE?

• WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF 2:3 TO THE REST OF THE PASSAGE (NO PUN INTENDED) :-)

• READ GENESIS 2:8 AND 2:15. HOW DOES THIS DEVELOP THE THEME OR EMPHASIS?

• READ GENESIS 3:6-7 AND 3:15. HOW DOES THIS DEVELOP THE STORYLINE?

• READ GENESIS 3:9. HOW WOULD MOSES’ ORIGINAL AUDIENCE HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION? WHAT DOES THE

QUESTION REPRESENT?

• WHAT ARE THE HINTS OF MISSION IN GENESIS 1-3?

MISSION IN GENESIS

• READ MATTHEW 28:18-20, ACTS 3:25-26,4:4, AND COLOSSIANS 1:6,10,15 IN

LIGHT OF GENESIS 1:26-28.

• WHAT THEME(S) FROM GENESIS ARE PRESENT IN MATTHEW, ACTS, AND

COLOSSIANS?

• HOW ARE THE THEMES DIFFERENT IN THE NT DIFFERENT FROM GENESIS?

• HOW DOES THIS REPRESENT THE PROGRESS OF MISSION IN THE BIBLE?

MISSION IN GENESIS

• READ PSALM 132:7-8,13-14 AND REVELATION 21:22 IN LIGHT OF GENESIS 2:1-

3.

• WHAT THEME(S) FROM GENESIS IS PRESENT IN THE PSALM AND REVELATION 21?

• HOW IS IT DIFFERENT IN THE NT THAN IN THE OT?

• HOW DOES THIS REPRESENT THE PROGRESS AND TRAJECTORY OF MISSION IN

THE BIBLE?

MISSION IN GENESIS

• READ GENESIS 9:4, 11:1-8.

• WRITE DOWN 10 OBSERVATIONS

• WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE THEME IN CHAP. 11?

• WHAT THEMES ARE COMMON TO GENESIS 1-2? WHAT IS DIFFERENT?

• HOW IS THE EARTH FILLED? HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE CREATION MANDATE

IN GENESIS 1:26-28?

• WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR MISSION?

MISSION IN GENESIS

• READ GENESIS 12:1-3

• MAKE 10 OBSERVATIONS

• WHAT ARE REPETITIONS AND PARALLELS?

• WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE EMPHASIS OR THEME?









MISSION IN GENESIS

• WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENESIS 12:1-3, 15:1-6, 17:1-8 AND

GENESIS 1:26-28?

• WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE PASSAGES AND GENESIS 3:15?

• WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR MISSION AT THIS STAGE OF REDEMPTIVE-

HISTORY?

MISSION IN GENESIS

• READ GENESIS 49:10, PSALM 22:27, MATTHEW 28:18-20, AND REVELATION

21:24 IN LIGHT OF GENESIS 12:1-3.

• MAKE 10 OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF GENESIS 12:1-3 THROUGH

THESE OTHER TEXTS

• HOW IS THE PROGRESS OF MISSION IN THE BIBLE REPRESENTED IN THE LATER

PASSAGES?

MISSION IN GENESIS

• READ ACTS (1:6-8 AND 28:30-31) (2:47, 6:7, 9:31, 12:24, 16:5, 19:20) IN LIGHT

OF GENESIS 12:1-3.

• MAKE 10 OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF MISSION FROM GENESIS

12:1-3 TO THE MISSION/SUMMARY STATEMENT TEXTS IN ACTS.

• HOW DOES GENESIS 1:26-28 AND GENESIS 12:1-3 INFORM THE STORYLINE OF

ACTS?

PRINCIPLES OF NT USE OF THE OT

• PROGRESSIVE REVELATION

• NT INTERPRETS THE OT...AND SO CAN WE

• PROMISE/FULFILLMENT

• ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD FIND THEIR "YES" IN JESUS

• NO MISTAKES/ACCIDENTS IN SCRIPTURE


• THE OLD TESTAMENT, INCLUDING ITS TYPES, ISRAEL’S HISTORY, AND REVELATION,

BETRAYS AN ORGANIC PROGRESS OF HISTORY MOVING TOWARD ITS END IN

CHRIST.

• OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY IS GOD’S REVELATION OF THE HISTORY OF SALVATION

PROCEEDING TOWARD ITS FULL REALIZATION IN JESUS CHRIST. EACH ERA OF THE

OLD TESTAMENT IS BOTH INTERCONNECTED WITH AND BUILDS ON THE ERA

PRECEDING IT, WITH ALL OF THE ERAS AND THEIR METANARRATIVE FINDING THEIR

CULMINATION IN THE CHRIST ERA, THE END OF DAYS, THE AGE TO COME.

• THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES, ITS WORDS, AND ITS DEEDS ARE THOROUGHLY

AND INTENTIONALLY ESCHATOLOGICAL.

PRINCIPLES OF NT USE OF THE OT• NEW COVENANT THEOLOGY INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE AFTER THE MANNER OF CHRIST'S

AND THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS' USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. JESUS AND THE

INSPIRED NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS, BY THEIR USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

SCRIPTURES, HAVE LEFT US A PATTERN BY WHICH TO INTERPRET NOT ONLY THE OLD

TESTAMENT PROPHECIES, BUT ITS HISTORY AND POETRY.

• THE WAY THAT JESUS, THE APOSTLES, AND THE PROPHETS USED THE OLD TESTAMENT

IS NORMATIVE FOR THIS AGE.

• ALL OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ARE INHERENTLY PROPHETIC IN THAT THE

ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT, THE LAW, THE PSALMS, AND THE PROPHETS, POINT FORWARD

TO AND ANTICIPATE THE WORD INCARNATE, JESUS CHRIST (HEBREWS 1:1-2).

• BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURES ARE PROPHETIC IN ANTICIPATING JESUS, ALL OF THE

SCRIPTURES, REGARDLESS OF GENRE, ARE INHERENTLY THEOLOGICAL AND DIDACTIC.


• THE RHYTHM OF THE REDEMPTIVE HISTORY AND REVELATION OF THE OLD

TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES OCCURS IN THE FORM OF PROMISE AND FULFILLMENT.

• JUST AS THE WORD ACCOMPANIES AND INTERPRETS GOD’S SALVIFIC EVENTS IN

THE OLD TESTAMENT, SO TOO PROMISE IS CONSISTENTLY AND FAITHFULLY

FOLLOWED BY FULFILLMENT.

• THIS DIVINELY ORCHESTRATED PATTERN THAT THREADS TOGETHER THE EVENTS

AND REVELATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT BECOMES, FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT

AUTHORS, THE PATTERN BY WHICH HE HAS INTERPRETED THE PERSON AND WORK

AND WORD OF JESUS CHRIST, THE PROMISED MESSIAH – THE YES AND AMEN --

WHO FULFILLS, OR FILLS UP, THE MEANING OF ALL OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

PROMISES.


• THE NEW TESTAMENT USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SHOWS AND/OR EXPLAINS

FULFILLMENT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT TYPES, SHADOWS, AND PROMISES IN

CHRIST. TYPOLOGY IS INHERENT TO UNDERSTANDING NT USE OF THE OT.

• OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES ARE INTERPRETED BY THE NT AUTHORS (AND JESUS)

IN LIGHT OF JESUS, HIS LIFE, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND EXALTATION.

• THE NEW TESTAMENT USES THE OLD TESTAMENT AS INTERPRETIVE SUPPORT FOR

ITS VARIOUS CONCLUSIONS.


• NEW TESTAMENT USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IS CONTEXTUAL, MAKING IT

IMPORTANT TO READ AND EVEN UNDERSTAND THE ENTIRE CONTEXT OF THE OLD

TESTAMENT PASSAGE TO GET THE FULL IMPACT OF ITS USE.

• THE OLD TESTAMENT QUOTE PROVIDES BACKDROP FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT

PASSAGE AND MOVES ALONG THE THESIS/THEME OF THE NT AUTHOR’S BOOK,

EVEN AS THE NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGE INTERPRETS THE OLD TESTAMENT

PASSAGE FROM WHICH THE QUOTE IS TAKEN.

• WHILE THE WHOLE CANON IS THE SCRIPTURES FOR THE NEW COVENANT

COMMUNITY, THE NEW TESTAMENT PROVIDES DEFINITIVE INTERPRETATION OF

THE OLD TESTAMENT QUOTATIONS AND THE QUOTATIONS’ CONTEXT.


• THE NEW TESTAMENT’S USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PROVIDES AN INTERPRETIVE

PATTERN TO FOLLOW IN UNDERSTANDING THE OLD TESTAMENT IN LIGHT OF

CHRIST’S LIFE, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND EXALTATION (THE CHRIST EVENT).

• USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT GROUNDS JESUS’ STORY IN

THE STORY OF OLD TESTAMENT ISRAEL.

• USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT PROVIDES CONTINUITY

BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS IN TELLING THE ONE GRAND STORY OF JESUS IN THE

PROGRESS OF REDEMPTIVE HISTORY.


• USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NT DRAWS SIMILARITIES BETWEEN JESUS

AND THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND HIGHLIGHTS DISSIMILARITIES BETWEEN JESUS

AND THE OT.

• OFTEN THE OT QUOTATION IS A MEMORY-MARKER FOR THE LARGER OLD

TESTAMENT UNIT.

• THE NT AUTHORS PORTRAY CHRIST AS BOTH THE GRAND INTERPRETER AND

GRAND INTERPRETATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

THE PRIORITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

• THERE IS A BIBLE PUBLISHED IN RECENT YEARS WHICH PRINTS THE NEW

TESTAMENT FIRST, AND ADDS THE OLD AS A LONG APPENDIX WHICH IS

VALUABLE FOR CASTING LIGHT UPON HE MAIN THEME OF THE BOOK. AND THIS

IS THE ORDER WHICH MUST BE ADOPTED, NOT ONLY IN EVERY ATTEMPT TO

APPRECIATE THE MISSIONARY CHARACTER OF THE BIBLE, BUT ALSO IN

PRESENTING THE BIBLE TO THE WORLD AS A MISSIONARY BOOK. – ROBERT

HORTON

THE PRIORITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

• THE OLD COVENANT SCRIPTURES, WHAT WE CALL THE OLD TESTAMENT, ARE TO BE

INTERPRETED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR NEW COVENANT FULFILLMENT IN JESUS

CHRIST.

• JESUS IS NOT ONLY THE INTERPRETIVE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE OLD

TESTAMENT, THE TERMINOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD

THROUGH AND DEFINED IN LIGHT OF CHRIST'S FULFILLMENT.

• THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES BEAR WITNESS TO THE CHRIST EVENT

(CHRIST’S LIFE, DEATH, RESURRECTION, EXALTATION) AND INTERPRET THE OLD

TESTAMENT THROUGH THE LENS OF THAT CHRIST EVENT.

THE PRIORITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT• THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES PROVIDE A DEFINITIVE INTERPRETATION

OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

• THE END AND GOAL OF ALL THINGS IN CHRIST GIVES MEANING TO AND

PROVIDES INTERPRETATION FOR ALL THAT PRECEDES IT.

• THE NEW TESTAMENT USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PRESUMES THE

HERMENEUTICAL AND ESCHATOLOGICAL PRIORITY OF THE CHRIST EVENT IN

INTERPRETING THE OLD TESTAMENT.

• THE NEW TESTAMENT USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SHOWS THAT THE NEW

TESTAMENT AUTHORS ARE INTERPRETING THE OLD TESTAMENT IN A WAY

THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT EVENTS, PERSONS, INSTITUTIONS, AND

SCRIPTURES HAVE FOUND THEIR FULFILLMENT AND FINAL GOAL IN THE

PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST.

ISRAEL AND MISSION

• READ EXODUS 19:1-25


• WHAT ARE THE REPETITIONS? WHAT ARE THE PARALLELS?

• WHAT IS ISRAEL’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE NATIONS, VIA THIS PASSAGE? HOW DOES ISRAEL SERVE THE

NATIONS, ACCORDING TO THESE VERSES?

• WHAT DOES MOSES WANT THE ORIGINAL AUDIENCE TO UNDERSTAND AS THE MAIN POINT?

• READ DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14


• WHAT ARE THE REPETITIONS? WHAT ARE THE PARALLELS?

• WHAT IS THE MAIN POINT?

• WHAT DO THESE PASSAGES HAVE TO DO WITH THE PROGRESS OF MISSION IN THE BIBLE?

ISRAEL AND MISSION

• READ 1 PETER 2:1-10, REVELATION 1:5,5:8-10, 20:4-6; COMPARE WITH EXODUS

19:1-25 AND DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14.

• WHAT ARE THE COMMON THEMES BETWEEN THESE PASSAGES?

• WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PASSAGES?

• WHAT DO THESE PASSAGES HAVE TO DO WITH THE PROGRESS OF MISSION IN

THE BIBLE?

ISRAEL AND MISSION

• READ 2 SAMUEL 7:8-16,22-24


• WHAT ARE THE PARALLELS AND REPETITIONS

• WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS PASSAGE AND GENESIS 12:1-3?

• WHAT DO THESE PASSAGES HAVE TO DO WITH THE PROGRESS OF MISSION IN

THE BIBLE?

ISRAEL AND MISSION

• READ 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-7:1 AND HEBREWS 1:1-2:10 IN LIGHT OF 2 SAMUEL

7:8-16,22-24

• HOW HAS 2 SAMUEL 7:8-16,22-24 BEEN FULFILLED?

• HOW DOES THE NT PORTRAY THE PROGRESSION OF MISSION FROM THE OT

PASSAGE?

ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS

• PROCLAMATION (LIGHT TO THE NATIONS, SALVATION IN ISRAEL) AND

ESCHATOLOGICAL INGATHERING

• INCORPORATION (FOREIGNER)


• INCORPORATION (FOREIGNER)

• EXODUS 12:38,48, 22:21

• JOSHUA 6:25

• RUTH 4:13-22

• 2 SAMUEL 11:3, 15:19-23

• PSALM 47

• WRITE DOWN 3 OBSERVATIONS FROM EACH TEXT, NOTING WHAT THE TEXT IS SAYING

ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS

• HOW DO THESE TEXTS INFORM THE STORYLINE OF MISSION? HOW DO THESE FURTHER THE

DEVELOPMENT OF MISSION IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY?


• PROCLAMATION (LIGHT TO THE NATIONS, SALVATION IN ISRAEL) AND ESCHATOLOGICAL

INGATHERING

• 1 KINGS 8:41-43

• PSALM 48

• PSALM 50:1-6

• PSALM 110

• WRITE DOWN 3 OBSERVATIONS FROM EACH TEXT, NOTING WHAT THE TEXT IS SAYING

ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS

• HOW DO THESE TEXTS INFORM THE STORYLINE OF MISSION? HOW DO THESE FURTHER THE

DEVELOPMENT OF MISSION IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY?


• PROCLAMATION (LIGHT TO THE NATIONS, SALVATION IN ISRAEL) AND ESCHATOLOGICAL INGATHERING

• ISAIAH 2:2

• ISAIAH 9:1-7

• ISAIAH 11:1-16

• ISAIAH 42:1-9

• ISAIAH 49:1-13

• ISAIAH 60:2-5

• WRITE DOWN 3 OBSERVATIONS FROM EACH TEXT, NOTING WHAT THE TEXT IS SAYING ABOUT THE

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS

• HOW DO THESE TEXTS INFORM THE STORYLINE OF MISSION? HOW DO THESE FURTHER THE DEVELOPMENT OF

MISSION IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY?


• READ MATTHEW 4:12-17, LUKE 2:29-32, LUKE 24:44-47, ACTS 1:8, ROMANS

15:7-13 IN LIGHT OF THE ISAIAH PASSAGES

• MAKE 3 OBSERVATIONS FOR EACH PASSAGE

• WHAT IS BEING SAID IN THE NT ABOUT MISSION?

• HOW HAS THE STORYLINE OF MISSION PROGRESSED FROM THE OT TO THE NT?


• READ EXODUS 12:38, RUTH 1:16-17, JOSHUA 2:8-13, 2 SAMUEL 11:3, 2 KINGS

5:11-19, JONAH 2:3-10, DANIEL 4:34-37

• WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF EACH PASSAGE FOR THE ORIGINAL AUDIENCE?

• HOW DO THESE PASSAGES FIT INTO THE PROGRESS OF MISSION IN THE BIBLE’S

STORYLINE?

ISRAEL AND MISSION

FROM MICHAEL GOHEEN, A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS

THE CHURCHADAM

THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF MISSIONS

• ONE VIEW OF REDEMPTIVE HISTORY AND HERMENEUTICS:

• CREATION

• FALL

• REDEMPTION

• RESTORATION

• ANOTHER VIEW OF REDEMPTIVE HISTORY AND HERMENEUTICS:

• CREATION

• FALL

• REDEMPTION

• CONSUMMATION


• GEERHARDUS VOS: “THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE END POSITED FOR THE UNIVERSE BEFORE AND

APART FROM SIN. THE UNIVERSE, AS CREATED, WAS ONLY A BEGINNING, THE MEANING OF

WHICH WAS NOT PERPETUATION BUT ATTAINMENT... ESCHATOLOGY AIMS AT

CONSUMMATION RATHER THAN RESTORATION. THEREFORE, REDEMPTIVE ESCHATOLOGY

MUST BE RESTORATIVE AND CONSUMMATIVE. IT DOES NOT AIM AT THE ORIGINAL STATE,

BUT AT A TRANSCENDENTAL STATE OF MAN. IT MUST BE CURATIVE AND TONIC. EVERY ACT

OF SALVATION MUST BE MEDICAL AND SUPERNATURALIZING WHEREBY MAN IS NOT MADE

MERELY NORMAL, BUT IS PREPARED FOR THE SUPERNORMAL…THE SUPERNATURALIZING

ASPECT SUGGESTS THIS THOUGHT, FOR THE GOAL DEMANDS RADICAL CHANGE IN THE

PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL.” – THE ESCHATOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT


• PRESUPPOSITIONS OR ASSERTIONS

• CREATION WILL BE “REDEEMED” AND “RESTORED”

• CREATION IS AS IMPORTANT AS MAN IN THE STORY OF REDEMPTION, THUS MISSION AND

MISSIONS

• MAN IS SIMPLY ONE “COMPONENT” OF CREATION; THEREFORE TO FOCUS ON CROSS-CULTURAL

MISSIONS EXCLUSIVELY IS CONSIDERED SIMPLISTIC

• RESTORATION, RATHER THAN CONSUMMATION, IS THE PARADIGM

• THE ATONEMENT COVERS SQUIRRELS AND TREES

• “THE WORLD” (EXHAUSTIVELY AND COMPREHENSIVELY) MEANS ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE AT ALL

TIMES IN ALL PLACES

• “ALL THINGS” (EXHAUSTIVELY AND COMPREHENSIVELY) MEANS “ALL THINGS” IN ALL TIMES AND

ALL PLACES


• READ ROMANS 8:18-29


• WHAT ARE THE PARALLELS AND REPETITIONS?

• WHAT IS THE CONTEXT PRECEDING THE PASSAGE? SUCCEEDING THE PASSAGE?

• WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE GIST?

• HOW SHOULD 8:20-23 BE INTERPRETED IN LIGHT OF THE REST OF THE PASSAGE?



• WHAT IS THE CONTEXT? WHAT IS THE GIST OF THIS PIECE OF TEXT?

• HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE INFORM ROMANS 8:18-29?

• WHAT IS THE ROMANS 8 PASSAGE *REALLY* SAYING ABOUT REDEMPTION? HOW DOES THIS INFORM OUR

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION?


• READ REVELATION 21:1-8

• WRITE 10 OBSERVATIONS

• WHAT ARE THE REPETITIONS, PARALLELS, AND CONTRASTS?

• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL POINT OF THE TEXT? WHAT IS THE EMPHASIS?

• WHAT ARE THE REPETITIONS AND PARALLELS TELLING US ABOUT THE MAIN THEME OF THIS TEXT?

• HOW DOES REVELATION 21:9-27 INFORM THE FIRST 8 VERSES? WHAT ARE THE PARALLELS?

• HOW ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND THE “ALL THINGS” OF REVELATION 21:5 IN LIGHT OF THE REST OF

THE PASSAGE?

• HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE FIT INTO THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION?


• READ COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

• WRITE 10 OBSERVATIONS

• WHAT ARE THE REPETITIONS, PARALLELS, AND CONTRASTS?

• WHAT TWO MAIN “THINGS” ARE BEING COMPARED/CONTRASTED?

• WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE MAIN POINT OF THIS TEXT? HOW DOES IT MOVE ALONG

PAUL’S ARGUMENT (SEE IMMEDIATE PRECEDING AND SUCCEEDING CONTEXTS)

• HOW ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND THE “EVERYTHING” OF VS. 20 IN LIGHT OF THE

REST OF THE PASSAGE?

• HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE FIT INTO THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION?

THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF MISSIONS• READ ACTS 1:6, 3:21 AND HEBREWS 9:10

• HOW IS “RESTORE” BEING USED IN THESE PASSAGES?

• WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF ACTS 2 AND PENTECOST TO THESE PASSAGES?

• READ JOEL 3:1, NAHUM 2:2, AMOS 9:14, ZEPHANIAH 3:20

• WHAT IS THE CONTEXT FOR USE OF THE WORD RESTORE IN THESE PASSAGES?

• HOW IS THIS FULFILLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?

• WHAT OBSERVATIONS ARE TO BE MADE FROM ALL OF THESE PASSAGES REGARDING USE OF

THE WORD “RESTORE” IN:

• SALVATION?

• MISSION AND MISSIONS?

• WHAT IS MISSING FROM ALL OF THESE PASSAGES REGARDING USE OF THE WORD

“RESTORE”?

• TIDBIT: IN THE NT, “RESTORE” IS ONLY USED ONCE IN THE MANNER IT IS BEING USED TO

DESCRIBE THE END OF ALL THINGS.


• READ MATTHEW 1:21, 4:12-17, 20:28, 26:28, MARK 1:38-39, LUKE 2:8-14,30-

32, JOHN 1:1-14, 3:16, 6:38-39, 10:10,11,14, 12:44-46, 18:36-37, GALATIANS

4:4, 1 TIMOTHY 1:15, REVELATION 5:9-10.

• WHAT DO THESE PASSAGES TELL US ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE INCARNATION?

• WHAT ARE THESE PASSAGES NOT TELLING US ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE

INCARNATION?

• HOW DO THESE PASSAGES FIT INTO THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION,

ESPECIALLY THE PROGRESS OF MISSION FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION?

MISSION IN THE GOSPELS: LUKE

• READ LUKE 1:30-35,46-55, 2:8-14,25-35, 4:16-30,42-44, 10:1-16

• MAKE 2 OBSERVATIONS FROM EACH OF THESE SEVEN PASSAGES

• DRAW 7 CONCLUSIONS ABOUT HOW LUKE IS PORTRAYING CHRIST AND HIS

MINISTRY FROM THESE PASSAGES

• SUMMARIZE THE CONTENT OF THE MESSAGE AND MISSION ACCORDING TO LUKE

• WHAT DOES LUKE WANT THEOPHILUS TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE MISSION OF

CHRIST FROM THESE PASSAGES? THE MISSION OF THE LOCAL CHURCH?

MISSION IN THE GOSPELS: LUKE

• READ LUKE 24:44-47


• NOTE REPETITIONS AND PARALLELS

• WHAT SEEM TO BE THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE LUKAN COMMISSION?

• SUMMARIZE THE CONTENT OF THE MESSAGE AND MISSION ACCORDING TO LUKE

• WHAT DOES LUKE WANT THEOPHILUS TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE MISSION OF

CHRIST FROM THESE PASSAGES? THE MISSION OF THE LOCAL CHURCH?

MISSION IN THE GOSPELS: LUKE• LIKE ACTS 1:8, THE FORM OF THIS COMMISSION IN 24:44-48 IS “FACT” AND “PROMISE” (RATHER THAN MATTHEW’S

IMPERATIVE)

• AT THE CENTER OF SALVATION HISTORY AND DIVINE REVELATION IS THE PERSON OF JESUS THE MESSIAH, AND IN HIM

THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES HAVE BEEN FULFILLED.

• CHRIST’S MISSION WILL BE EFFECTED BY HIS DISCIPLES AS WITNESSES AFTER HE RETURNS TO THE FATHER.

• THE DISCIPLES ACTIVITY OF MISSION IS PROCLAMATION (KERYSSO), THE CONTENT OF WHICH IS:

• THE MESSIAH WOULD SUFFER

• THE MESSIAH WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD THE THIRD DAY

• REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS

• THE EXPANSE OF THE PROCLAMATION WILL BE THE NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM

• THE PREACHING OF REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS, THE SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL, IS GROUNDED IN THE

RESURRECTION EVENT

• THE MISSION WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

• THE COMMISSION CONTEXT AND TRAJECTORY IS

• THE WORSHIP OF JESUS

• THE ASCENSION

• THE TEMPLE

MISSION IN JOHN

• CHRIST COMES INTO THE WORLD

• CHRIST, THE LAMB, COMES TO TAKE AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD

• CHRIST ACCOMPLISHES HIS WORK AND RETURNS TO HIS FATHER

• CHRIST IS “THE SENT ONE”, PERFECTLY OBEYING THE SENDER

• CHRIST FULFILLS THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE FATHER SENT HIM

• CHRIST IS THE SHEPHERD-TEACHER WHO CALLS HIS FOLLOWERS TO HELP

GATHER HIS ESCHATOLOGICAL HARVEST

MISSION IN JOHN

• READ JOHN 1:18

• READ JOHN 1:29,36 AND 6:51, 10:11,15,17,18, 15:13, 3:16

• READ JOHN 3:16-17, 6:57-58, 10:7-10, 17:2-3

• READ JOHN 1:14, 2:11, 11:4, 12:28, 13:31-32, 14:13, 17:1,4-5

• READ JOHN 11:15, 20:30-31

• EACH OF THESE SETS OF PASSAGES CONTAIN PART OF CHRIST’S MISSION AS

JOHN WRITES IT. IDENTIFY THE THEME AND PLACE IN THE PROGRESS OF MISSION

IN THE BIBLE.

MISSION IN JOHN

• READ JOHN 20:21-23

• READ JOHN 4:38

• READ JOHN 15:27


• READ JOHN 17:10,18,20


• HOW DO THESE PASSAGES FIT INTO JOHN’S UNDERSTANDING OF MISSION?

• WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR MISSION? WHAT IS THE CONTENT OF THE MESSAGE OF MISSION?

• WHAT IS JOHN’S ORIGINAL AUDIENCE SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT “MISSION” FROM HIS

GOSPEL?

MISSION IN JOHN


• WHAT WERE THE DISCIPLES TO EXPECT AS A RESULT OF THEIR “APPOINTMENT”?

• HOW DOES THIS FIT INTO JOHN’S UNDERSTANDING OF “MISSION”?

• HOW DOES THIS INFORM THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION?

MISSION IN PAUL

• PAUL’S ROLE AS MISSIONARY IN THE NEW COVENANT:

• READ GALATIANS 1:6-2:10


• WHAT WAS PUAL’S ROLE? HOW DID PAUL UNDERSTAND HIMSELF IN LIGHT OF THE

CHRIST EVENT AND REDEMPTIVE HISTORY?

• WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE PROGRESS OF MISSION?

• THE EFFECTS OF THE GOSPEL IN THE NEW COVENANT

• READ GALATIANS 3:6-9 (GENESIS 12:1-3),13-14, 4:21-27 (ISAIAH 54:1-3)


• HOW HAS THE OLD TESTAMENT BEEN FULFILLED? HOW DOES THIS MOTIVATE PAUL?

• WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE PROGRESS OF MISSION IN REDEMPTIVE

HISTORY?

MISSION IN PAUL

• PAUL’S MINISTRY:

• READ ROMANS 15:14-21 (ISAIAH 52:13-15)

• READ 1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-17

• 1 CORINTHIANS 9:12-27 (EXODUS 32:12,25, NUMBERS 14:13-19, DEUTERONOMY

9:25-26, EZEKIEL 20:9-22)

• ROMANS 9:22-29 (HOSEA 2:14-23)

• MAKE 3 OBSERVATIONS FOR EACH PASSAGE.

• BUILD A PROFILE OF PAUL’S MINISTRY

• WHAT ARE THE ORIGINAL AUDIENCES SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND IN LIGHT OF

PAUL’S MISSION?

• WHAT DO THESE PASSAGES HAVE TO DO WITH THE PROGRESS OF MISSION?

MISSION IN PAUL

• PAUL’S MISSIONARY EXPECTATION FOR THE CHURCH

• READ PHILIPPIANS 1:12-18 W/ ROMANS 10:8-15

• READ PHILIPPIANS 1:27-30

• READ PHILIPPIANS 2:14-16

• EPHESIANS 6:10-20 (ISAIAH 52:3-10, NAHUM 1:15-2:3)

• MAKE 3 OBSERVATIONS IN EACH PASSAGE

• WHAT ARE PAUL’S EXPECTATIONS FOR THE ORIGINAL AUDIENCES?

• WHAT IS THE CONTENT OF THE MESSAGE OF THE MISSION?

• WHAT DO THESE PASSAGES HAVE TO DO WITH THE PROGRESS OF REDEMPTIVE HISTORY?

Documents

Biblical Theology of Mission