MT520/620: Biblical Foundations of Mission (4 units)
Robert L. Gallagher, Visiting Associate Professor of Biblical Theology
of Mission
Summer 2006 Pasadena
Description:
A central theme of the Scriptures is the mission of
God as it relates to the present, and coming Kingdom of God. By this is meant
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 climatic 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. There is no separate “theology of mission”
district 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: This course is a one-week intensive that will meet daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Bible reading and summarization, outside reading and reports, coupled with class lectures, and discussion following the sequences of the syllabus.
Required Reading: (total of 1200 pages) If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.
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 F., Charles E. Van Engen, Dean S. Gilliland, and Shawn
Redford. Announcing the Kingdom: The
Story of God’s Mission in the Bible. Grand
Rapids: Baker, 2003.
3. Seven required texts to be read in this order:
Briscoe, Jill. Jonah and the Worm.
New Berlin, WI: Jilcoe/Hemp, 1983.
Gallagher, Robert L. and Paul Hertig, eds. Mission in Acts: Ancient
Narratives in Contemporary Context. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2004.
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.
Newbigin, Lesslie. Open Secret. Grand
Rapids, Eerdmans, 1978.
Nissen, Johannes. New Testament and Mission. New York, Peter Lang, 1999.
Van Engen, Charles, Nancy Thomas, & Robert L. Gallagher. Footprints of God: A Narrative Theology of
Mission. Monrovia, CA: MARC, 1999.
4.
Supplemental Readings in the syllabus are for the students’ own self-study,
enrichment, and resourcing – particularly to help students prepare for writing
the paper, and for greater understanding of the course material.
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.
Van Engen, Gilliland, and Pierson, eds.
The Good News of the Kingdom. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1993.
Assignments:
1. A summary paragraph for each book of
the Bible read, describing the mission of God as depicted in that book.
2. Eight
Book Reviews (MT620 students will do ten book reviews) following the
instructions given in the syllabus and in class: one report for each of the
books read.
3. One 3750-word (minimum) to 5000-word (maximum) typed, double-spaced paper
(MT620 students will do a 5000 to 6250 word 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:
• A reserve shelf of books and
articles will be available as additional resources for paper writing.
• Grades are given only for completed work; due to the nature of the course,
partial work is not accepted.
Prerequisites: No auditors permitted.
Relationship to Curriculum: A required course for all masters programs in SIS. Meets Min 8 requirement in M.Div. Program and GLBL for MAT programs.
Final Exam: None.