A Biblical Theology of Mission: From Election to the Great Commission

Summary of the Argument

Overview of Key Arguments and Scholarly Positions

Christopher Wright's The Mission of God (2006) argues that mission is not merely one theme among many in the Bible but the hermeneutical key to the entire biblical narrative. The Bible is not a book that contains a few texts about mission; it is itself a "missional" document—the product of and witness to God's mission (missio Dei) to redeem and restore his creation. This paradigm shift—from "the Bible's basis for mission" to "mission as the basis for the Bible"—has transformed how scholars and practitioners understand the relationship between Scripture and the church's missionary vocation.

Wright traces the missional thread from creation (God's purpose to fill the earth with his glory) through election (God's choice of Abraham to be a blessing to the nations) through the exodus (God's liberation of the oppressed) through the prophets (God's vision of universal justice and worship) to the New Testament (God's sending of the Son and the Spirit to accomplish salvation and commission the church). At every stage, God's particular acts of salvation serve his universal purpose: "that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14).

This review evaluates Wright's thesis alongside other major contributions to the biblical theology of mission, including David Bosch's Transforming Mission (1991), Eckhard Schnabel's Early Christian Mission (2004), and Andreas Köstenberger and Peter O'Brien's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth (2001).

The scholarly literature on Biblical Theology Mission From presents a range of perspectives that reflect both methodological diversity and substantive disagreement. This review examines the most significant contributions to the field, identifying areas of consensus and ongoing debate that shape current understanding of the subject.

The biblical text invites careful exegetical attention to the historical and literary context in which these theological themes emerge. Scholars have long recognized that the canonical shape of Scripture provides an interpretive framework that illuminates the relationship between individual passages and the broader redemptive narrative.

The central argument advanced in this literature is that Biblical Theology Mission From represents a significant development in Christian thought and practice that deserves sustained scholarly attention. The evidence marshaled in support of this claim draws upon historical, theological, and empirical sources.

The hermeneutical challenges posed by these texts require interpreters to attend carefully to genre, rhetorical strategy, and theological purpose. A responsible reading must hold together the historical particularity of the text with its enduring theological significance for the community of faith.

A comprehensive assessment of the literature reveals both the strengths and limitations of current scholarship on this topic. While significant progress has been made in understanding the historical and theological dimensions of the subject, important questions remain that warrant further investigation.

Form-critical analysis reveals the liturgical and catechetical functions of these texts within the worshipping community of ancient Israel. The preservation and transmission of these traditions reflects their ongoing significance for the formation of communal identity and theological understanding.

The methodological approaches employed in the literature range from historical-critical analysis to systematic theological reflection to empirical social science research. This methodological diversity reflects the multifaceted nature of the subject and the need for interdisciplinary engagement.

The narrative theology embedded in these texts presents divine action not as abstract proposition but as concrete engagement with human history. This narrative quality invites readers to locate themselves within the ongoing story of Gods redemptive purposes for creation.

A comprehensive assessment of the literature reveals that scholars have made significant progress in understanding the historical, literary, and theological dimensions of this subject, while important questions remain that warrant further investigation. The methodological diversity of the existing scholarship, which ranges from historical-critical analysis to narrative theology to social-scientific approaches, reflects the multifaceted nature of the subject and the need for continued interdisciplinary engagement.

The scholarly literature on Biblical Theology Mission presents a rich and varied landscape of interpretation that reflects both the complexity of the subject matter and the diversity of methodological approaches employed by researchers. This review examines the most significant contributions to the field, identifying areas of emerging consensus, persistent disagreement, and promising avenues for future investigation. The breadth and depth of the existing scholarship testifies to the enduring importance of this subject for biblical studies and Christian theology.

A comprehensive assessment of the literature reveals that scholars have made significant progress in understanding the historical, literary, and theological dimensions of this subject, while important questions remain that warrant further investigation. The methodological diversity of the existing scholarship, which ranges from historical-critical analysis to narrative theology to social-scientific approaches, reflects the multifaceted nature of the subject and the need for continued interdisciplinary engagement.

Critical Evaluation

Assessment of Strengths and Limitations

Wright's contribution is significant for its comprehensive scope and its insistence that mission is rooted in God's character and purposes rather than in human initiative. The missio Dei framework corrects the tendency to treat mission as a human activity that God blesses, reframing it as God's activity in which the church participates. This theological reorientation has profound implications for how churches plan, fund, and evaluate their missionary efforts.

Critics raise several concerns. First, the breadth of Wright's definition of mission—encompassing creation care, social justice, and cultural engagement alongside evangelism and church planting—risks diluting the concept to the point where everything is mission and therefore nothing is distinctively mission. Second, the missio Dei framework can be used to justify any activity as "God's mission," potentially undermining the priority of gospel proclamation. Third, Wright's Old Testament emphasis, while valuable, can underplay the distinctive newness of the New Testament's missionary mandate.

Schnabel's more focused study of early Christian mission provides a valuable complement to Wright's broader theological framework. Schnabel demonstrates that the early church's missionary activity was intentional, strategic, and centered on the proclamation of Jesus as Messiah and Lord. This historical evidence challenges both the reduction of mission to social action and the assumption that mission happens automatically without intentional effort.

A critical assessment of the scholarly literature on Biblical Theology Mission From reveals both significant achievements and notable gaps. The strengths of the existing scholarship include rigorous historical analysis, careful theological reasoning, and attention to primary sources. However, several areas warrant further investigation and more nuanced treatment.

The biblical text invites careful exegetical attention to the historical and literary context in which these theological themes emerge. Scholars have long recognized that the canonical shape of Scripture provides an interpretive framework that illuminates the relationship between individual passages and the broader redemptive narrative.

The methodological assumptions underlying much of the scholarship on this topic deserve careful scrutiny. Different methodological commitments lead to different conclusions, and a responsible evaluation must attend to the ways in which presuppositions shape the interpretation of evidence.

The hermeneutical challenges posed by these texts require interpreters to attend carefully to genre, rhetorical strategy, and theological purpose. A responsible reading must hold together the historical particularity of the text with its enduring theological significance for the community of faith.

One of the most significant contributions of recent scholarship has been the recovery of perspectives that were marginalized in earlier treatments of this subject. These recovered voices enrich the conversation and challenge established interpretive frameworks in productive ways.

Form-critical analysis reveals the liturgical and catechetical functions of these texts within the worshipping community of ancient Israel. The preservation and transmission of these traditions reflects their ongoing significance for the formation of communal identity and theological understanding.

The methodological assumptions underlying much of the scholarship on this topic deserve careful scrutiny, as different presuppositions about the nature of the biblical text, the relationship between history and theology, and the role of the interpreter inevitably shape the conclusions that are drawn. A responsible critical evaluation must attend to these methodological commitments and assess their adequacy for the interpretive tasks at hand. Scholars who make their presuppositions explicit contribute to a more transparent and productive scholarly conversation.

Relevance to Modern Church

Contemporary Applications and Ministry Implications

The biblical theology of mission has direct implications for how churches understand their identity and purpose. If mission is not an optional activity for enthusiastic volunteers but the fundamental vocation of the entire church, then every aspect of church life—worship, discipleship, community, service—should be oriented toward God's mission in the world.

The missio Dei framework also challenges the Western church's tendency to equate mission with cross-cultural evangelism in distant lands. While cross-cultural mission remains essential, the biblical theology of mission recognizes that God's mission encompasses every context—urban and rural, domestic and international, personal and structural. The church is called to be a missional community wherever it is planted.

For theological education, the biblical theology of mission provides a framework for integrating biblical studies, systematic theology, and practical ministry. When mission is understood as the hermeneutical key to Scripture, every theological discipline becomes a resource for the church's missionary vocation, and theological education becomes formation for mission rather than mere academic preparation.

The contemporary relevance of Biblical Theology Mission From extends far beyond academic interest to address pressing concerns in the life of the church today. Congregations that engage seriously with these themes are better equipped to navigate the challenges of ministry in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

The biblical text invites careful exegetical attention to the historical and literary context in which these theological themes emerge. Scholars have long recognized that the canonical shape of Scripture provides an interpretive framework that illuminates the relationship between individual passages and the broader redemptive narrative.

The practical applications of this research for pastoral ministry are substantial. Pastors who understand the historical and theological dimensions of this subject can draw upon a rich tradition of Christian reflection to inform their preaching, teaching, counseling, and leadership.

The hermeneutical challenges posed by these texts require interpreters to attend carefully to genre, rhetorical strategy, and theological purpose. A responsible reading must hold together the historical particularity of the text with its enduring theological significance for the community of faith.

The ecumenical significance of Biblical Theology Mission From deserves particular attention. This subject has been a point of both convergence and divergence among Christian traditions, and a deeper understanding of its historical development can contribute to more productive ecumenical dialogue.

Form-critical analysis reveals the liturgical and catechetical functions of these texts within the worshipping community of ancient Israel. The preservation and transmission of these traditions reflects their ongoing significance for the formation of communal identity and theological understanding.

The practical applications of this research for pastoral ministry are substantial and wide-ranging. Pastors who understand the historical and theological dimensions of this subject can draw upon a rich tradition of Christian reflection to inform their preaching, teaching, counseling, and leadership in ways that are both intellectually honest and spiritually nourishing. The integration of scholarly insight and pastoral wisdom produces ministry that is characterized by both depth and accessibility.

Implications for Ministry and Credentialing

A robust biblical theology of mission transforms how pastors understand their calling and how they lead their congregations. When mission is recognized as the fundamental purpose of the church—not an optional program but the church's reason for existence—it reorients every aspect of congregational life toward God's redemptive purposes in the world.

The Abide University credentialing program validates expertise in missiology and biblical theology for ministry professionals.

For ministry professionals seeking to formalize their expertise, the Abide University Retroactive Assessment Program offers a pathway to academic credentialing that recognizes prior learning and pastoral experience.