MT520: Biblical Foundations of Mission (4 units)

Charles Van Engen, Arthur F. Glasser Professor of Biblical Theology of Mission
Shawn B. Redford, Adjunct Instructor in Theology of Mission
Fall 2003 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

A central theme of the Scriptures is the mission of God as it relates to the present and coming Kingdom of God. This means, the sovereign, living God exercising absolute reign in and through history, and establishing a covenant relationship with the People of God redeemed and called to be God's instruments among and for the nations. This means continuity with the Old Testament expectation and New Testament fulfillment. This also means Jesus Christ is the "hinge of history," the Great Commission is the culmination of Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom of God and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is the climactic event which creates the Church and completes the Christ event. From Pentecost onward the mission of the Church has to be viewed eschatologically because the glorious appearing of the Kingdom at our Lord's coming marks the end of the Church's mission. There is no separate "theology of mission" distinct from a theology of the Spirit and the Church, as developed in Pauline theology of mission.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Develop a missiological hermeneutic which will be applied to Scripture
• Re-read the Bible in order to understand the nature of God's mission in scripture
• Allow biblical understanding and mission practice to influence one another
• Develop practical mission applications based on biblical theology of mission

COURSE FORMAT:

Bible reading and summarization, outside reading and reports, coupled with class lectures and discussion following the sequence of the syllabus.

REQUIRED READING: (Total of 1200 pages)

1. The Bible (See assignments, below.) (Several books and portions of books, of the Bible may be read--minimum: 50 chapters). For example, students may choose to read from a selected number of chapters in: Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, I, II Samuel, Ruth, 20 Psalms dealing with "the nations," Isaiah 40-66, Amos, Jonah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel 1-6, one of the Gospels, Acts, Romans, one of (Galatians, or Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians), one of (I,II Peter or I,II,III John, James, Hebrews), Revelation 1-4, 21; or any other book or group of chapters in the Bible.
2. Glasser, Arthur. Kingdom and Mission. (unpublished ) Pasadena, CA: FTS, 1992.)
3. REQUIRED TEXTS (to be read in this order):
Kaiser, Walter. Mission in the Old Testament. G.R.: Baker, 2000.
Briscoe, Jill. Jonah and the Worm. New Berlin, WI: Jilcoe/Hemp, 1983. (This wonderful little book is must reading for everyone.)
Newbigin, Lesslie. Open Secret. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1978.
Nissen, Johannes. New Testament & Mission: Historical & Hermeneutical Perspectives. NY: Peter Lang, 1999.
Van Engen, Gilliland & Pierson. The Good News of the Kingdom. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1993.
The SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS included in the syllabus are offered for the student’s own self-study, enrichment, and resourcing--particularly to help the student in preparation for writing the paper and for greater understanding of the material of the course. A check-off list of required supplemental readings is included in the syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. A SUMMARY PARAGRAPH describing the mission of God as depicted in each book of the Bible, drawn from chapters selected in various books of the Bible.
2. SIX BOOK REVIEWS (MT620 students will do EIGHT book reviews.), following the instructions given in the syllabus and in class: one report for each of the books read.
3. One 3750 (minimum) to 5000 (maximum) word paper (MT620 students will do a 5000 6250 word) typed, double-spaced paper tracing a Biblical theme of missiological significance through the Old and New Testaments. The theme will be selected by the student and related to the student's pilgrimage in ministry and to the mission of the People of God touching the nations. The paper must show extensive interaction with the books read, should develop the missiological meaning of the theme chosen, and demonstrate the missiological implications for ministry in the student's particular context.
Special instructions: A reserve shelf of books, articles, and sample papers will be available as additional resources for paper writing. Assignments are to be handed in AS PER CLASS SCHEDULE. Grades are given only for completed work--due to the nature of the course, partial work is not accepted.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Core competency for M.A. Programs. Min 8 requirement for M.Div.

FINAL EXAM: None.

Last Date Edited: May 7, 2003