Announcing the Kingdom

F. Glasser Arthur, E. Van Engen Charles, S. Gilliland Dean, B. Redford Shawn

Description

Announcing the Kingdom provides a comprehensive survey of the biblical foundation of mission. It investigates the development of the kingdom of God theme in the Old Testament, describing what the concept tells us about God's mission in creation, the flood, and the covenant with Abraham. It then describes God's mission through the nation of Israel during the exodus, at Mt. Sinai, and through the kings of Israel. The book then examines God's mission as Israel is sent into exile and the stage is set for the Messiah's coming. Finally, the book considers the fulfillment of the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ and the church. It examines Jesus' parables and ministry, his proclamation of God's kingdom among the nations, and the work of the Holy Spirit through the church. Announcing the Kingdom is the product of Arthur Glasser's more than thirty years of teaching and has been used by thousands of students at Fuller Theological Seminary. Now revised by Glasser's colleagues, this study provides mission workers and students with a new understanding of their calling and its biblical foundation.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2003
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781585583072
• Langue: English

Extrait

Announcing the Kingdom takes the reader on a panoramic tour of the Kingdom of God from Genesis to Revelation. A theology of mission centered on the Kingdom, it intersects biblical exegesis with missiological reflection to produce a solidly evangelical and relevant understanding of mission for Christians who want to share the good news in today s troubled world.
-Gary B. McGee, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Until now there has been little in-depth analysis of the Bible from a missiological perspective. In this book, a premier mission theologian offers a thought-provoking study of the heart of God for the nations that covers the whole of Scripture.
-Robert L. Gallagher, Wheaton College Graduate School
In an age when theologies of mission can be reductionistic in focus and concern, Glasser expounds the biblical revelation with detail and diligence. Announcing the Kingdom analyzes the Kingdom theme from Genesis to Revelation and along the way engages other issues of importance in contemporary debate, such as the centrality of social justice to holistic mission, the question of Jewish evangelization, and the fate of those who do not believe. This volume is a testament to a significant career and a rich foundation for continuing reflection on Christian mission.
-M. Daniel Carroll R., Denver Seminary
Announcing the Kingdom challenges biblical scholars to look outwardly and to think missionally and challenges missiologists to base theory and experience in exegesis and biblical theology. While one may not agree with every detail of this theological reconstruction, all will profit immensely from the careful attention given to the biblical text in understanding the central place that mission plays in God s historical plan of establishing the Kingdom of God. This work will be used with great profit in biblical theology as well as missiology courses.
-Michael J. Wilkins, dean, Biola University
Written from a lifetime of teaching and practice, Arthur Glasser s Announcing the Kingdom tackles three theological deficiencies in Christendom: the role of the Kingdom of God, the missional nature of Scripture, and the integrative character of the sacred storybook from Genesis to Revelation. Conveyed through humble and honest scholarship, this welcome text tracks the unfolding revelation of the triumphant Kingdom of God that demands a call to conversion of all peoples.
-Tom A. Steffen, Biola University
Art Glasser, an esteemed member of an elite group of modern missionary statesmen/theologians, has drawn on years of biblical scholarship and mission experience to give the church a great gift. Announcing the Kingdom: The Story of God s Mission in the Bible is the essential book for new generations wishing to engage in mission on the sure foundation of biblical truth. Focusing on the scriptural pervasiveness of Jesus favorite subject, Glasser and his talented disciples show plainly that the Kingdom of God is the dominant theme linking the task of mission in both Testaments and make a strong case that it is the one theme upon which it is possible to build a comprehensive biblical theology of mission. Because of their labors, missions in a new millennium has a great new tool for understanding its task, and it will no doubt be and do better because of their efforts.
-Gary Corwin, SIM (Serving in Mission)
A NNOUNCING THE K INGDOM
T HE S TORY OF G OD S M ISSION IN THE B IBLE
A RTHUR F. G LASSER
WITH C HARLES E. V AN E NGEN , D EAN S. G ILLILAND, AND S HAWN B. R EDFORD
F OREWORD BY P AUL G. H IEBERT
2003 by Arthur F. Glasser
Published by Baker Academic a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakeracademic.com
Third printing, July 2006
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-for example, electronic, photocopy, recording- without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Glasser, Arthur F. (Arthur Frederick), 1914-
Announcing the kingdom : the story of God s mission in the Bible / Arthur F. Glasser with Charles E. Van Engen, Dean S. Gilliland, and Shawn B. Redford ; foreword by Paul G. Hiebert. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ). ISBN 0-8010-2626-1 (pbk.) 1. Missions-Biblical teaching. I. Title. BV2073.G54 2003 266-dc21 2003040099
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House and Hodder Stoughton. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark office by International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.
Contents
Foreword by Paul G. Hiebert
Preface
Part 1 God s Mission in the Beginning
1 The Whole Bible Is a Missionary Book
2 God Creates the World, and Humanity Rebels
3 God Judges Humanity: The Flood and Babel
4 God Calls the Patriarchs to Be a Blessing for the Nations
Part 2 God s Mission through Israel
5 God Rules over Egypt and Covenants with God s People
6 God Forms a Nation of People Belonging to God
7 God s Rule Is Challenged by the Kings of Israel
Part 3 God s Mission among the Nations
8 God Sends Israel into Exile among the Nations
9 God Sets the Stage for the Messiah s Coming
10 God Works through the Jewish Diaspora
Part 4 God s Mission through Jesus the Christ
11 Jesus Inaugurates the Kingdom
12 Jesus Ministry Demonstrates the Kingdom
13 Jesus Announces the Kingdom among the Nations
14 Jesus Proclaims God s Kingdom Mission
15 Jesus Anticipates the Coming of God s Kingdom
Part 5 God s Mission through the Holy Spirit by the Church
16 The Holy Spirit Inaugurates the Missionary Church
17 The Jerusalem Church Proclaims the Kingdom of God
18 Paul Preaches the Gospel of the Kingdom in Jesus Christ
19 The Apostolic Church Embodies Christ s Mission
20 God Rules Now: Already and Not Yet
Part 6 God s Mission Extends to the End of Time
21 God s Kingdom Extends over the Powers
22 There Is Salvation in Only One Name: Jesus Christ the Lord
23 The Whole Bible Announces God s Rule
Works Cited
Foreword
One of the hallmarks of modernity is the fragmentation of life into different spheres: public and private; economic, social, political, and religious; rich and poor. This fragmentation is reflected in the university, with its many disciplines and narrow specializations. With this fragmentation has come the loss of any sense of the dramatic story underlying all history.
There are attempts to recapture this story. If we ask Marxists what is going on, most lay out a story of oppression by the bourgeoisie and a revolution that will restore righteousness on earth for all. Many scientists outline a story of evolution and the triumph of reason. But these attempts are rapidly losing their credibility, and most of us are left to live in a world of highly specialized knowledge and no integrating cosmic story.
The same is true for many Christians. Reginald Bibby documents what many of us know from experience. Most Christians have a smorgasbord theology-based on the study of specific biblical passages in sermons, Sunday School classes, and Bible studies-which answers certain questions and focuses on individuals and their needs. Most Christians talk about personal salvation and what God has done for them in their lives. They have a theology of worship and fellowship, of health and prosperity, and of care for the needy. But they have little in their thinking for a world full of diverse peoples, of an earth caught up in the evils of sin, of a history from before Creation to eternity, or of the reason for their existence in such a world.
In seminaries, too, this fragmentation and specialization has taken its toll. Great care is given to the detailed study of one biblical passage or another, of one biblical hero or another, and of what the Gospel means to us in our lives today. We have a doctrine of God, of sin and personal salvation, and of divine healing and provision. We have a fragmented story-of Jesus, Ruth, David, Mary, and Peter. No longer do we see ourselves as part of a movement far greater than ourselves and a universal history that gives meaning to our lives because it shows us our place in a cosmic story.
In this masterpiece of reflection based on many years of global ministry, teaching, and reflection, Arthur Glasser draws together the many strands of Scripture and gives us again a great vision of the unity of all history. He examines the themes of King and Kingdom as these run through Scripture. He shows that all of Scripture points to the fact that God is a missionary God, that the church is to be a missionary community, and that God s people are to be missionary people. He shows us that mission is at the center of God s great plan, not only of redemption, but also of Creation. He reminds us that this mission is God s mission, that it is much bigger than the little worlds in which we minister, and that it includes not only the salvation of individuals and the redemption of the church but also the reestablishment of God s Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and justice in a new heaven and a new earth. If we as God s people truly meet God, we cannot not be