Correlating Images of Church and Images of Mission in the New Testament

Abstract

Images of church and images of mission are closely linked and have profound mutual influence. The foundations of this correlation can be found in the Scriptures. Three dominant images of church in the New Testament are correlated with images of mission in a variety of biblical traditions: the church as a community of disciples sent into the world; as a community of visible witness; and as a community of healing and reconciliation. Exploration of these correlations documents the pluralism of New Testament theologies and mission. It suggests that constructing appropriate and diverse theologies of mission today demands thoughtful dialogue both with the biblical text and the theological tradition, on the one hand, and a particular culture and a historical context on the other.