Biblical Theology of Missions: A Course Reader – Part 3

The following articles I had read and written some short thoughts down all came from Perspectives on the World Christian Movement : A Reader by Ralph D. Winter (4th Edition).

Glasser, Arthur F. “The Apostle Paul and the Missionary Task” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 149- 153. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

How was this article helpful? I ever enjoyed the fact that the article was focused solely on one specific area in dealing with the apostles mission.  I like even more how the author relayed their mission coming out of the Jewish faith.

What was confusing or questionable? Did Paul really not know the relationship between his band and his new congregations?… Interesting…

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? Made me think that the apostles, namely Paul all had to suffer in missions for the sake of God’s name.  Also, I found it interesting that he saw an importance in Paul’s teaching before he became a believer in how that got him ready for his missions work.

Ladd, George Eldon. “The Gospel of the Kingdom” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 83-89. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

How was this article helpful? Was helpful to me seeing the importance looking at the meaning of the Kingdom is to the mission of the Old Testament, King, and to what authority it is by.  I also liked his focus on the peoples part and their role in the mission  of the Kingdom.  His Gospel-centered view on the kingdom and bringing both roles together seems to be right were I am in Biblical Theology of Missions.  I also enjoyed his asking of questions, and answering them – makes an easy read.

What was confusing or questionable? I can see how an article like this could be somewhat confusing and not understanding to the typical Amil. Reformed circles.

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? I enjoyed near his ending in how the role of the believer is then realistically played out in their everyday life.

Snyder, Howard A. “The Church in God’s Plan” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 154-158. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

How was this article helpful? His distinction between Kingdom and Church is good in that he spends his time explaining the church’s role in the Kingdom.  Even more in that they are worker’s of the Kingdom both today and that in the future.

What was confusing or questionable? He seems to have only believe that “orthodox christians” will inherit the kingdom of God? Really!?

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? It is ever grateful to dwell upon that the New Testament Church is not plan “B” but yet is part of the wonderful mission that God has done for his people.

Verkuyl, Johannes. “The Biblical Foundation for the Worldwide Missions Mandate” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 42-28. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

How was this article helpful? Verkuyl does a good job in describing God’s motif being universal, giving Scriptural support (Gen. 10) to all the nations for His mission.

What was confusing or questionable? I think his view of the Kingdom in the later of the article is not where I am at. Not so sure that the whole arrival of it is here, sorry. Matter of fact the whole later section I think he may have mixed a little too much biblical theology of Kingdom with the biblical theology of mission. All though there are some overlap, not as much as I see here in his article.

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? He does spend some time in the bringing arguing in how many do not spend enough time in the Old Testament having no missional mandate. While I agree in some aspect I think he should direct this back towards Dispensationalism.

Stott, John R. W. “The Bible in World Evangelization” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 21-26. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

How was this article helpful? Scott’s section on the model in which the believer has in evangelism today was great. Great in that we speak with the same Word in which God and the apostles use in both the Old and New Testaments, God’s inspired Word.

What was confusing or questionable? I know this will start a fight, but does the Bible really give us a Biblical Mandate to all in the church for missions or even for evangelizing?

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? I did like his point in saying that Bible mandate to which one is to look at, practice and get their mission is from Genesis to Revelation, not only the New Testament church, but see both Testaments.

Stott, John R. W. “The Living God is a Missionary God” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 3-9. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

How was this article helpful? Seeing the fulfillment of Abraham’s mission to the nations is extremely important in being apart of one’s theology of mission because with many today only looking at the “mission of the New Testament church, they forget in how the covenant is fulfilled with the gentiles coming to Christ.  Once that context is set, then one can practice biblical missions practically along side the mission of God throughout all of history and not only the New Testament.

What was confusing or questionable? The christian Mission really starts at Abraham? You are telling me that Noah’s, Adam’s and Job’s mission is not the ground to start on?

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? I do see Dr. Scott’s importance in understanding Abraham’s call to the nations.  I most enjoyed that the flow of history has purpose and plan in the mission of God for all his people.

Bosch, David J. “Witness to the World” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 78-82. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

How was this article helpful? Bosch’s article was helpful in how he related the “Great Commission” in Matt 28:18-20 along side of the mission of witness in Acts 1:8.  Near the end I also enjoyed his reasoning behind the silence for the “Great Commission” during the early church. I also liked how he showed that the Old Testament mission was different but yet not contradicting the mission of that in the Old.

What was confusing or questionable? The most confusing part in Bosch’s article was that how explained that the Old and New were the same but yet in how they were different… Did not fully understand how or what he was getting at in his de-fence of that the Old Testament was not only fully God’s hand.

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? I did enjoy the christological approach at the end in how Christ began God’s same mission in the New Testament.

Goerner, H. Cornell. “Jesus and the Gentiles” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 112-117. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

How was this article helpful? This article was helpful in that it links together the prophets (Malachi) in bringing forth Christ the one who brought the mission of God to the gentiles, namely in Matthew.  I enjoyed his Biblical Theology of tracing the term back throughout God’s mission in the Old Testament “Son of Man” and bringing it through the New Testament in showing it’s importance in the over arching mission of God that was always planned.

What was confusing or questionable? Not much at all…

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? The most thought provoking idea in Goerner’s article is in how one may think Christ mission was like that of the Old then he was only directing the Kingdom to his psychical nation, but yet it was still part of the overall mission of God that it would be sent to the gentiles (p. 98-99.)

Piper, John. “Let the Nations Be Glad!” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 64-69. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

How was this article helpful? Classic Piper before he was known, Piper is helpful in seeing the extreme importance of how important missions really is today.  Also Piper deals with how God is in the center of missions and how the church deals with that. The whole missions is not first but God is first, so therefore missions flow out of the God.

What was confusing or questionable? Pretty simple article.

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? Piper like usual brings home the passion that God has for his mission of his Word being given to all the nations.  Another way of seeing missions, Piper shows the importance of suffering for God’s work and the power that his work has in the lives of those who have not heard.

Piper, John. “Discipling All the Peoples” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 132-136. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

How was this article helpful? Piper places the Word’s of Christ first in missions and that is helpful in knowing exactly what the mission of God and the church is. Also helpful was that Piper’s article in how the Word’s of Christ related to the different people groups in the New Testament. He did so by drawing the connection between Genesis 12:3 and the words for people groups and the difference that brings in dealing with missions. Even more helpful is how Piper summarizes his article in giving the application of today’s church in dealing with missions in the church.

What was confusing or questionable? Confusing at times is how Piper jumps from on subject to the next, then coming back to something 3 pages later. You have to read carful being that he writes much like he speaks.

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? Piper was more practical dealing with how missions works and what it looks like then a number of the theological articles I read on missions in dealing with the Kingdom.

DeRidder, Richard R. “The Old Testament Roots of Mission” in Exploring Church Growth, ed. Wilbert R. Shenk, 171-180. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.

How was this article helpful? I found DeRidder helpful in that he brings forth the importance of the Old Testament and in what it deals with the theology of mission. Also was helpful in explaining that Israel purpose in doing God’s mission was for all the nations and not that of only Israel.

What was confusing or questionable?

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? How often we tend to separate the Bible into two books really hurts the over aching principle and the theology of mission. De Ridder’s section on Gen. 3 and he section on dealing with the three over aching premisses through the whole of the Bible (creation, Revelation, and Redemption) helps the reader and myself see the flow of God’s mission, who God used throughout His mission, and how that influences today’s mission in the New Testament church.

Theology for a Missional Ministry

The books of Romans is a systematic theology that Paul’s writes with missional intent. The bookends of this letter form a missional inclusio that reveals this intent:

Romans 1:5 – “through (Jesus Christ) whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.”

Romans 15:18 – “For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience…”

Romans 16:25-27 – “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

Biblical Theology of Missions: A Course Reader – Part 2

Bosch, David J. “Mission in Biblical Perspective” International Review of Mission, 74 (1985), 531-38.

How was this article helpful? The article showed me just how important Dr. Blauw’s work truly was in the biblical theology of missions during the mid-1900’s. The books reviewed give a better understanding to both the positive and negatives to the church’s mission during their time.

What was confusing or questionable? In the article there were some mentions that a missiologist and a bible scholar were not in the same occupation. I’m having a hard time wondering why those that become a missiologist do not become bible scholars first. Now I know why so many mission programs end in failure.

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? Never thought once that catholic missions even still existed?

DeRidder, Richard R. “God and the gods: Reviewing the Biblical Roots.” Missiology 6:1 (Jan 1978), 11-28.

How was this article helpful? Mostly in that idolatry is one if not the largest issue in OT, NT and today’s mission in relaying the Gospel to others. Also, that brought about a reality of seeing the importance of studying the other gods in order to know exactly what one may deal with in missions themselves.

What was confusing or questionable? A little confusing in the reasoning behind why some many “brief comments” that the writer feels he has to constantly make before getting into the just of his article (p.13-14).

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? I found it thought provoking and quite convicting in that the writer mad some mention in that God’s mission is that the same of His peoples mission in to declare his deeds, as he has called us out of the darkness 1 Peter 2:9 (p. 15-17).

Biblical Theology of Missions: A Course Reader – Part 1

The past few days I have posted several small book reviews of a few titles I have been reading for a class that I am taking next week September 21-25 with Dr. Brain DeVries. For the next few days I will post my VERY short thoughts on a number of different articles, selected chapters of books, theological journal articles, etc. Maybe if you are interested in the a Biblical Theology of Missions being that it seems to be a “hot” topic today, the articles and titles I list over the next two to three weeks will help you.

Bavinck, Johan H. “The Foundation of Missions” in An Introduction to the Science of Missions, J. H. Bavinck, trans. David H. Freeman, 11-76. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960.

How was this article helpful? The article was helpful in that it first deals with the Biblical Theology in missions from genesis and in subject detail when in the New Testament. I like most from after explaining its’ Biblical Theology it explains in small depth in how Missions is the work of God today.

What was confusing or questionable? Questionable in some since that are we to bring the Gospel to the Jews today in the same way that we do elsewhere? (p.69-76)

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? This article made me see in how Missions and Eschatology can go hand in hand in that all missions work are brought under Christ at the end (p.48-50).

Gilliland, Dean. “Introduction,” Approaching Paul’s Theology,” and “Paul’s Theological Assumptions for Mission” in Pauline Theology and Mission Practice, 9-67. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983.

How was this article helpful? So far has been maybe the best book I have read in shaping the way I look at the theology of missions and even more the Pauline Theology of it (p.30-34).

What was confusing or questionable? It maybe  hard for the layman that does not understand proper logical reasoning being that the author spends some time on building arguments in making theological assumptions from Paul’s Theology on Missions (p. 47-67).

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? I found it quite interesting that the disciples during their time with Christ had not much of a theology at all, but yet only faith that would later have to become their theology for their mission.

Köstenberger, A. J. “Mission” in New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, eds. T. D. Alexander, B. S. Rosner, D. A. Carson, and G. Goldsworthy, 663-668. Downers Grove: IVP, 1993.

How was this article helpful? This article was helpful in that it brought much thought to the fact that there is a theology of Mission, but only from Genesis 3:15 to Rev.20… Nothing of it in the Garden nor will there be any in the New Jerusalem.

What was confusing or questionable? Was Judaism a missional religion in intertestamental period?  And if not, then was the Mission of God through His chosen nation put on hold?

Does this article change the way you think about this subject? This short section really made me think in how often neglected the Theology of Mission is forgotten in Systematic Theology.

A Biblical Theology of Missions – The Missionary Nature of the Church: A Survey of the Biblical Theology of Mission

Book Review: The Missionary Nature of the Church: A Survey of the Biblical Theology of Mission

How was this helpful?

I found The Missionary Nature of the Church helpful in that Blauw gives both a Biblical and Theological importance behind the goal in the Old Testament (p.15-54) and New Testament (p.65-103). It was most helpful as the last chapter – “Towards a Theology of Mission” – laid out the idea that how one does missions can only come from a proper understanding of the Biblical Theology of missions that is taught in the Scriptures. In the later part of Blauw’s book, he shows that the theology of missions is no different than the theology of the church (p.126), which was insightful to think about – particularly to think of Christ as the cornerstone of both the church in the local setting and in the missional setting, of one who plants churches. In all, the greatest point is that the church’s mission throughout all of history – in the Old Testament and in the New Testament – is to proclaim to not just one selected group or race, but to bring all to the understanding of the Gospel. In other words, a proper theology of missions is not a side theology of the church, but is the theology of the church.

What was confusing or questionable?

I found it confusing in some ways when looking at the topic of the mission of the Old Testament being only centered upon universalism (p.29-54).

Would you recommend this book to others, if so, to whom?

Yes and no. I would recommend it to one who is seriously studying the Biblical Theology of Missiology, and also to one who is serious about church planting as a pastor. It would also be helpful for those who are studying the theology of missions for either overseas or in their own homeland. But I would by no means recommend the book to the layman, nor to a typical theologian. Although it is only 150 pages, it is not an easy read, as the wording is not for the typical 20-year-old Bible student.

A Bibliography for the Biblical Theology of Missions

Bavinck, Johan H. “The Foundation of Missions” in An Introduction to the Science of Missions, J. H. Bavinck, trans. David H. Freeman, 11-76. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960.

Bosch, David J. “Mission in Biblical Perspective” International Review of Mission, 74 (1985), 531-38.

Bosch, David J. “Witness to the World” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 78-82. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

DeRidder, Richard R. “God and the gods: Reviewing the Biblical Roots.” Missiology 6:1 (Jan 1978), 11-28.

DeRidder, Richard R. “The Old Testament Roots of Mission” in Exploring Church Growth, ed. Wilbert R. Shenk, 171-180. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.

Gilliland, Dean. “Introduction,” Approaching Paul’s Theology,” and “Paul’s Theological Assumptions for Mission” in Pauline Theology and Mission Practice, 9-67. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983.

Glasser, Arthur F. “The Apostle Paul and the Missionary Task” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 149- 153. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

Goerner, H. Cornell. “Jesus and the Gentiles” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 112-117. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

Köstenberger, A. J. “Mission” in New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, eds. T. D. Alexander, B. S. Rosner, D. A. Carson, and G. Goldsworthy, 663-668. Downers Grove: IVP, 1993.

Köstenberger, Andreas J. “The Place of Mission in New Testament Theology: An Attempt to Determine the Significance of Mission within the Scope of the New Testament’s Message as a Whole.” Missiology 27:3 (July 1999), 347-362.

Ladd, George Eldon. “The Gospel of the Kingdom” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 83-89. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

Newbigin, Lesslie. “The Kingdom of God in the Life of the World” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 98-99. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

Piper, John. “Discipling All the Peoples” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 132-136. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

Piper, John. “Let the Nations Be Glad!” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 64-69. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

Snyder, Howard A. “The Church in God’s Plan” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 154-158. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

Spindler, M. R. “The Biblical Grounding and Orientation of Mission” in Missiology: An Ecumenical Introduction, eds. F. J. Verstraelen, et al, 123-143. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.

Stott, John R. W. “The Bible in World Evangelization” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 21-26. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

Stott, John R. W. “The Living God is a Missionary God” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 3-9. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

Verkuyl, Johannes. “The Biblical Foundation for the Worldwide Missions Mandate” in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Fourth Edition, ed. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, 42-28. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

***A special thanks to Dr. Brian DeVries for putting this great list of materials together.

Biblical Theology for Missions: A Selected Bibliography for Additional Research

Allen, Roland. Missionary Methods: St. Paul’ s or Ours? Grand Rapids, MI.: Eerdmans, 1962. Barrett, C. K. “The Gentile Mission as an Eschatological Phenomenon” in Eschatology and the

New Testament, 65-75. Hendrickson, 1988. Bauckham, Richard. Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World. Grand

Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003. Bevans, Stephen B. and Roger P. Schroeder. Constants in Context: A Theology of Mission for Today. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2004.

Boer, Harry R. Pentecost and Missions. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962.

Bosch, David J. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1991.

Bosch, David J. Witnesses to the World: The Christian Message in Theological Perspective. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1980.

Bowers, W. P. “Mission” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, eds. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid, 608-619. Downers Grove: IVP, 1993.

Burnett, David. The Healing of the Nations: The Biblical Basis of the Mission of God. Carlisle: Paternoster, 1996.

Carver, William. Missions in the Plan of the Ages: Bible Studies in Missions. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1951.

Culver, Robert. A Greater Commission: A Theology for World Missions. Chicago: Moody Press, 1984.

DeRidder, Richard R. Discipling the Nations. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1975.

Gilliland, Dean. Pauline Theology and Mission Practice. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1983.

Glasser, Arthur F. Announcing the Kingdom: The Story of God’s Mission in the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003.

Glover, Robert Hall. The Bible Basis of Missions. Los Angeles: Bible House of LA, 1946. Gnanakan, Ken. Kingdom Concerns: A Biblical Theology of Mission Today. Leicester: Inter-Varsity, 1993.

Greenway, Roger S. GO and Make Disciples: An Introduction to Christian Missions. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1999.

Hedlund, Roger E. The Mission of the Church in the World: A Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1991.

Hiebert, Paul G., and Tite Tiénou. “Missions and the Doing of Theology” in The Urban Face of Missions: Ministering the Gospel in a Diverse and Changing World, ed. Manuel Ortiz and Susan S. Baker, 85-96. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2002.

Kane, J. Herbert. Christian Missions in Biblical Perspective. Grand Rapids, Baker, 1976. Köstenberger, Andreas J., and Peter Thomas O’Brien. Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Labuschagne, C J. Incomparability of Yahweh in the Old Testament. Leiden: E J Brill, 1966.

Larkin, William J.; and Joel F. Williams, eds. Mission in the New Testament: An Evangelical Approach. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1998.

Newbigin, Lesslie. The Open Secret: Sketches for a Missionary Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979.

Peters, George W. A Biblical Theology of Missions. Chicago: Moody Press, 1972. Piper, John. Let the Nations Be Glad!: The Supremacy of God in Missions. Grand Rapids, MI.:Baker Books, 1993.

Rowley, Harold H. The Missionary Message of the Old Testament. London: Carey Press, 1944.

Senior, Donald, and Carroll Stuhlmueller. The Biblical Foundations for Mission. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1983.

Stott, John R. W. Christian Mission in the Modern World. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1975.

Van Engen, Charles E. God’s Missionary People. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1991.

Van Engen, Charles E. Mission on the Way: Issues in Mission Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996.

Vicedom, Georg. The Mission of God: An Introduction to a Theology of Mission. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1965.

***A special thanks to Dr. Brian DeVries for putting this great list of materials together.

Biblical Theology of Missions – Mission in the Old Testament

Book Review: Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations

How was this helpful?

The most insightful thought in this book was that God, from day one, has planned for not only the Jews to come to the knowing and understanding of Him, but that since creation God has missioned that all of creation come to know Him (p. 15-38). I also appreciated how Dr. Kaiser went through select key-passages of redemptive history, showing how God used His chosen nation Israel as a light to the surrounding nations (p.39-64) and into reaching the Gentiles (Melchizedek, Jethro, Rahab, and Naaman). Dr. Kaiser’s book was also helpful in understanding that theology missions must have a solid understanding of Old Testament theology in order to properly read missions in the New Testament – which is something that is not seen much of today (nor in main stream evangelicalism). Lastly, I enjoyed reading how Paul’s mission in the Book of Acts was anchored in the Old Testament theology of Missions, something yet again I had never thought of (p. 77-78).

What was confusing or questionable?

Questionable?… I cannot think of one.

Would you recommend this book to others, if so, to whom?

Yes – the book is well laid out, easily readable, and short, yet exactly gets the point across that missions is not only a New Testament Church Theology, but has an extreme importance from Genesis to Revelation in the way that God uses the theology of mission throughout all of history.

Biblical Theology of Missions – The Mission of God

Book Review: The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative

How was this helpful?

Christopher Wright’s book on The Mission of God is helpful in that he gives the purpose in what God is doing today; but even more so, in what God has been doing throughout all of Redemptive History – revealing Himself and His Glory throughout all the ends of the earth through the work of Christ Jesus, by today’s work of the Holy Spirit. I enjoyed Wright’s small, yet insightful, explanation of Paul’s framework of his sermons given in Antioch and Athens. This brought to light the mission and understanding of the Old Testament Israel. Reading the whole section on “The Arena of Mission” (p.393-535) helped in showing how God’s people care for God’s land, God’s people, and then applying God’s mission to the heart of the one who is sent to carrying that out – “His people.”

What was confusing or questionable?

This book can be a little bit confusing at times, particularly when Wright deals with God and confronting idolatry if one does not have a proper Old Testament understanding. I found myself getting lost in his train of thought at times, relaying what he was speaking about and how it dealt with today.

Would you recommend this book to others, if so, to whom?

Yes – this book is easy to read and insightful in terms of bringing major themes in the theology of mission to the reader. I am concerned that individuals who only like to read smaller and shorter books will really miss out on a great Old Testament scholar and writer if they pass over this book. It is extremely important for the people of the church today to understand God’s plan for redemption through both the Old and New Testaments, and not only one.