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
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online July, 1999
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
What is the place of mission in the theology of the New Testament? After clarifying the nature of mission, New Testament theology, and Scripture, the present essay assesses the significance of mission within the scope of the New Testament's message as a whole. The author first surveys the New Testament theologies by Rudolf Bultmann, George Ladd, and N. T. Wright, then the theologies of mission by Donald Senior and Carroll Stuhlmueller, and David Bosch. This is followed by a discussion of the biblical material focusing on John's Gospel. The article concludes with three important principles in determining the place of mission in New Testament theology.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AlexanderPhilip S.1992“ ‘The Parting of the Ways’ from the Perspective of Rabbinic Judaism.” In Jews and Christians: The Parting of the Ways, A.D. 70 to 135. DunnJames D. G., ed. Pp. 1–25. Tübingen, Germany: J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck).
2.
BalfourG. M.1995“Is John's Gospel Anti-Semitic? With Special Reference to Its Use of the Old Testament.” Ph.D. dissertation, University of Nottingham, England.
3.
BauckhamRichard, ed. 1997The Gospels for All Christians: Rethinking the Gospel Audiences. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
4.
BealeGregory1997“Mystery.” Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Francisco, CA, 25 November.
5.
BoschDavid J.1991Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
6.
BultmannRudolf1951, 1955 Theology of the New Testament. 2 vols. GrobelKendrick, trans. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
7.
CarsonD. A.1988“John and the Johannine Epistles.” In It Is Written: Scripture Citing Scripture: Essays in Honour of Barnabas Lindars. CarsonD. A.WilliamsonH. G. M., eds. Pp. 245–264. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
8.
CarsonD. A.1995“Current Issues in Biblical Theology: A New Testament Perspective.”Bulletin of Biblical Research5:17–41.
9.
CarsonD. A.1996The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
10.
GibsonR. J., ed. 1997Interpreting God's Plan: Biblical Theology and the Pastor. Carlisle, UK: Paternoster.
11.
GoodmanMartin1992“Diaspora Reactions to the Destruction of the Temple.” In Jews and Christians: The Parting of the Ways, A.D. 70 to 135. DunnJames D. G., ed. Pp. 27–38. Tübingen, Germany: J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck).
12.
HahnFerdinand1965Mission in the New Testament. Studies in Biblical Theology 47. ClarkeFrank, trans. London, UK: SCM.
13.
HengelMartin1983Between Jesus and Paul: Studies in the Earliest History of Christianity. BowdenJohn, trans. London, UK: SCM.
14.
KählerMartin1971[1908] Schriften zur Christologie und Mission. Munich, Germany: Chr. Kaiser.
15.
KöstenbergerAndreas J.1998The Missions of Jesus and the Disciples according to the Fourth Gospel: With Implications for the Fourth Gospel's Purpose and the Mission of the Contemporary Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
16.
KöstenbergerAndreas J. Forthcoming “Mission.” In New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. AlexanderDesmondRosnerBrian, eds. Leicester, UK: Inter-Varsity Press.
17.
KöstenbergerAndreas J.O'BrienPeter T. Forthcoming Salvation unto the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Leicester, UK: Inter-Varsity Press; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
18.
LaddGeorge Eldon1993A Theology of the New Testament. Rev. ed.Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
19.
LarkinWilliam J.Jr.WilliamsJoel F., eds. 1998Mission in the New Testament: An Evangelical Approach. American Society of Missiology Series No. 27. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
20.
MeyerBen F.1986The Early Christians: Their World Mission and Self-Discovery. Good News Studies 16. Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier.
21.
PryorJohn W.1992John: Evangelist of the Covenant People: The Narrative and Themes of the Fourth Gospel. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
22.
SchlatterAdolf1997The History of the Christ: The Foundation of New Testament Theology. KöstenbergerAndreas J., trans. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.
23.
SeniorDonaldStuhlmuellerCarroll1983The Biblical Foundations for Mission. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
24.
WenhamDavid1993“Unity and Diversity in the New Testament.” In A Theology of the New Testament by LaddGeorge Eldon. Rev. ed. Pp. 684–719. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
25.
WrightG. Ernest1962God Who Acts: Biblical Theology as Recital. London, UK: SCM.
26.
WrightN. T.1992The New Testament and the People of God: Christian Origins and the Question of God: Volume One. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress.
