MT520: Biblical
Foundations of Mission (4 units)
Charles Van Engen, Arthur F. Glasser Professor of
Biblical Theology of Mission
Fall 2005 Pasadena
Description:
A central
theme of the Scriptures is the mission of God (missio Dei) as it relates to the present and coming Kingdom of God.
In this course students will study the Bible from the perspective of God’s
mission, from the beginning of time to its consummation. The course is designed
to give the students a biblical, theological, missiological and praxeological
foundation for reflection and action in the church and in society. The course
examines the story of God actions in and through history, establishing a
covenant relationship with the People of God redeemed and called to be God’s
instruments among and for the nations. This involves continuity with the Old
Testament expectation and New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus
Christ is viewed as the “hinge of history,” the Great Commission as the
culmination of Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God, and the descent of the
Holy Spirit at Pentecost as the climactic event that creates the Church. From
Pentecost onward the mission of the Church can be viewed eschatologically
because the glorious appearing of the Kingdom at our Lord’s coming marks the end
of the Church’s mission.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the
end of this course, the students will be able to:
· Be
familiar with the various perspectives on the mission of God as these are
portrayed in the Bible;
· Understand the various biblical perspectives and insights
concerning God’s mission as these relate to the multiple issues, questions, and
problems that the church faces in missional contextualization of the Gospel in
the 21st Century;
· Be aware of selected missional issues and methods
surrounding contextualization of the Gospel;
· Utilize fundamental biblical, theological, and
missiological insights in constructing personal, missional, and pastoral
foundations for ministry;
· Integrate basic biblical, theological, and missiological
insights with the student’s participation in the mission of the church locally
and globally.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
The focus of the course is the application of biblical, theological, and
missiological perspectives of God’s mission as portrayed in the Bible to the
ministry and mission praxis of the students personally, in and through the
church, to the world, locally and globally.
Course Format: Bible reading and summarization, outside reading
and reports, coupled with class lectures and discussion following an extensive
syllabus.
Required Reading: (Total of 1200 Pages)
1.
The Bible (Several books of the Bible may be read. Minimum: 50 chapters,
equivalent to 50 pages.)
Students will read 5 chapters each from the Pentateuch, Historical Writings,
Poetic Literature, Major Prophets, Minor Prophets, Gospels, Acts, Pauline
Literature, General Epistles and Revelation for a total of 50 chapters.
2. Glasser, Arthur, Charles Van Engen, Dean Gilliland and Shawn Redford, Announcing the Kingdom: The Story of God’s
Mission in the Bible. G.R.:Baker, 2003.
3. Six Required Texts to be read in this order:
Briscoe, Jill. Jonah and the Worm.
New Berlin, WI: Jilcoe/Hemp, 1983.
Kaiser, Walter C. Mission in the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Baker
Books, 2000.
Montgomery, Helen. The Bible and Mission (Chapters 1&2). (Available
in class.)
Nissen, Johannes. New Testament and Mission. New York, Peter Lang, 1999.
Newbigin, Lesslie. Open Secret. Grand
Rapids, Eerdmans, 1978.
Van Engen, Gilliland, and Pierson,
eds. The Good News of the Kingdom.
Maryknoll: Orbis, 1993; Wipf & Stock, 2001.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Bright,
John. The Kingdom of God. Nashville:
Abingdon, 1953
De Ridder, Richard. Discipling the
Nations. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1971.
Kraybill, Donald B. The Upside Down
Kingdom. Scottdale: Herald, 1990.
Ladd, George, E. The Gospel of the
Kingdom. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1959.
Padilla, René. Mission Between the
Times. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985.
Scherer, James. Gospel, Church and
Kingdom. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1987.
Shenk, Wilbert, ed. The Transfiguration
of Mission. Scottdale: Herald, 1993.
Gallagher, Robert L. and Paul Hertig, eds. Mission in Acts: Ancient
Narratives in Contemporar Context. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2004.
Assignments:
1.
A summary paragraph for each book of the Bible read, describing the
mission of God as depicted in that book.
2.
Seven Book Reviews (MT620 students will do nine book reviews) following the
instructions given in the syllabus and in class: one report for each of the
books read.
3. One 15-page (minimum) to 20-page (maximum) typed, double-spaced paper (MT620
students will do a 20 to 25 page paper) tracing a biblical theme of
missiological significance through the Old and New Testaments, examining at
least 2 and at most 3 passages selected from each Testament. 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: Grades are given only for completed work; due to
the nature of the course, partial work is not accepted.
Prerequisites:
None.
Relationship to Curriculum: A foundational, core course for all missiology
programs in SIS/FTS. Meet Min 8 in the M.Div. program.
Final Exam:
None.