This paper seeks to present and to summarize the importance of four areas of current New Testament studies for the work of missiologists: the beliefs and practices of first-century Judaism, the life of Jesus, Pauline studies (life, work, and theology), and the character of the early church. Contemporary New Testament studies have dramatic implications for interfaith dialogue and for the self-understanding of Christianity. Moreover, the article suggests that mission studies also remind biblical scholars that the documents they study originated in and addressed the work of early Christian missions.
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