Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission

Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission PDF

Author: Michael F. Bird

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2006-01-01

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 0567044734

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Bird argues that Jesus was attempting to achieve and enact the restoration of Israel, and in continuity with other strands of Jewish belief, Jesus conceived of the restoration of Israel as resulting in the salvation of the gentiles. Jesus' mission was Israel-centric, but he espoused a view of restoration that was indebted to certain strands of Israel's sacred traditions where the gentiles are implicit beneficiaries of Israel's salvation. Since this restoration was already being partially realized in Jesus' ministry, it was becoming possible for gentiles to begin sharing in Israel's salvation in the present. Additionally, Jesus understood himself and his followers to be the new temple and the vanguard of the restored Israel who would appropriate for themselves the role of Israel and the temple in being a light to the nations. Thus, a gentile mission has its germinal roots in the aims and intentions of Jesus and was developed in a transformed situation by adherents of the early Christian movement.

The Gentiles and the Gentile Mission in Luke-Acts

The Gentiles and the Gentile Mission in Luke-Acts PDF

Author: Stephen G. Wilson

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2005-08-22

Total Pages: 316

ISBN-13: 9780521018692

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Dr Wilson examines Jesus' attitude to Gentiles and concludes that not only did he fail to anticipate a historical Gentile mission, but that his eschatological expectations logically disallowed it.

The Mission of the Early Church to Jews and Gentiles

The Mission of the Early Church to Jews and Gentiles PDF

Author: Jostein Ådna

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 342

ISBN-13: 9783161472428

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This volume is based on a symposium held at the School of Mission and Theology in Stavanger, Norway, in 1998 on 'The Mission of the Early Church to Jews and Gentiles'. Four authors discuss the question of the mission to the Jewish people with particular regard to the gospel of Matthew and the Great Commission. Further papers address different phases and aspects of early mission. Finally the volume contains four essays relating to the Acts of the Apostles and to the Pauline letters.

The Gentile Mission in Old Testament Citations in Acts

The Gentile Mission in Old Testament Citations in Acts PDF

Author: James A. Meek

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2009-04-23

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 056712438X

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Scholarship on the uses of the Old Testament in Luke-Acts has tended to focus upon the role played by the Old Testament in the development of the author's Christology. James Meek, however, draws out the theme of the Gentile mission in Acts as it relates to the Old Testament, and gives particular attention to four texts:13:47 (Isa 49:6); 15:16-18 (Amos 9:11-12); 2:17-21 (Joel 3:1-5 MT); 3:25 (Gen 22:18). The quotations in Acts 13 and 15 receive greater attention because they explicitly address the issue of the Gentile mission (the two earlier texts anticipate it) and because of particular interpretive questions raised by these texts. Meek argues that while there are similarities in the quotations in Acts with the Old Greek form of the cited texts, the argument never depends on distinctive readings of the Old Greek. He therefore rejects claims that the author's use of Old Testament texts is dependent entirely on the Old Greek. He also maintains that all four quotations are used in a manner consistent with their sense in their original contexts, contrary to the common assertion that the New Testament commonly cites Old Testament texts without regard for original sense or context. His third principal argument is that these Old Testament quotations function as "proof from prophecy," contrary to the argument of some. In particular, they are cited to demonstrate the legitimacy of the Gentile mission as conducted by the early church and of the Gentiles' place among the people of God, showing these ideas to be central to the author's purpose.

Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission

Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission PDF

Author: Michael F. Bird

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2006-11-13

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 0567451585

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Bird argues that Jesus was attempting to achieve and enact the restoration of Israel, and in continuity with other strands of Jewish belief, Jesus conceived of the restoration of Israel as resulting in the salvation of the gentiles. Jesus' mission was Israel-centric, but he espoused a view of restoration that was indebted to certain strands of Israel's sacred traditions where the gentiles are implicit beneficiaries of Israel's salvation. Since this restoration was already being partially realized in Jesus' ministry, it was becoming possible for gentiles to begin sharing in Israel's salvation in the present. Additionally, Jesus understood himself and his followers to be the new temple and the vanguard of the restored Israel who would appropriate for themselves the role of Israel and the temple in being a light to the nations. Thus, a gentile mission has its germinal roots in the aims and intentions of Jesus and was developed in a transformed situation by adherents of the early Christian movement.

From Jewish Prophet to Gentile God

From Jewish Prophet to Gentile God PDF

Author: Maurice Casey

Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press

Published: 1991-01-01

Total Pages: 204

ISBN-13: 9780664227654

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In From Jewish Prophet to Gentile God, Maurice Casey suggests a new theory as to why New Testament Christology developed as it did. In making his argument, Casey pays particular attention to the culture of Jesus and the earliest Christians.

Gentiles in the Gospel of Mark

Gentiles in the Gospel of Mark PDF

Author: Kelly Iverson

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2007-01-10

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 0567359727

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This groundbreaking study argues that, in the Gospel of Mark, Gentiles are recipients of Jesus' compassion and are typically depicted as desperate individuals who exhibit faith and understanding. Mark's arrangement of the sequence of Gentile episodes is progressive and envisions a theological reversal in the kingdom of God, a re-prioritization in the proclamation of the gospel message that coincides with the death of Jesus. After receiving Gentiles in the Jewish homeland (3:7-12), the Markan Jesus initiates four excursions into Gentile territory. The first journey (5:1-20) is preparatory and opens the door for future ministry in Gentile regions. Jesus symbolically cleanses the land and the healed demoniac becomes the first missionary to Gentiles. The second journey (6:45-52) ends prematurely when the disciples fail to understand the Gentile mission, leading inexorably to the third journey where the relationship between Jews, Gentiles, and the kingdom of God becomes the focal point of the narrative. Although the Jews are first, the Gentiles are not excluded from the kingdom. On the fourth journey the reader senses a subtle re-prioritization in the kingdom as an event on Gentile soil occurs before its parallel counterpart on Jewish soil, reversing an established narrative pattern in Jesus' ministry. Iverson shows how the theological reversal gains clarity when the narrative shifts to Jerusalem. The tearing of the temple curtain marks the dawn of a new era and links the temple and Gentile themes. Through Jesus' obedient self-gift, he becomes the new temple providing universal access to God for all people's depiction of the centurion is a narrative signal that the kingdom has been passed to Gentiles according to the divine plan. The Jews have not been excluded, any more than the Gentiles were when Israel was first. Mark's theological reversal looks proleptically beyond the story line to the completion of the Gentile mission by the followers of Jesus.

Acts and the History of Earliest Christianity

Acts and the History of Earliest Christianity PDF

Author: Martin Hengel

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2003-03-14

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 1725200767

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Hengel...here marshals a vast body of learning to illuminate brilliantly a few specific questions about the New Testament.... For anyone who has read much in contemporary European New Testament scholarship, this wise little book will come as a tonic. And for the beginning adult student of the New Testament, the book will serve as an excellent introduction to the question of historicity in early Christian writings. 'Review for Religious' The book is extremely well written and gives evidence of an astonishing command of ancient literature. 'Journal of the American Academy of Religion'

Luke's gentile motif. The defense of Paul's mission to the gentiles

Luke's gentile motif. The defense of Paul's mission to the gentiles PDF

Author: Simba Musvamhiri

Publisher: GRIN Verlag

Published: 2014-08-22

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13: 365672587X

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Essay from the year 2014 in the subject Theology - Biblical Theology, Trinity Theological College Perth, course: Theological Themes in Luke-Acts, language: English, abstract: This essay addresses the question: “How does Luke develop his defence of Paul’s mission to the Gentiles? Can this teach us anything today for our understanding of our practice of cross-cultural mission?” In addressing the aforementioned question, this essay follows various stories and assertions in Luke-Acts that show his (Luke) development of the defence of Paul’s Gentile mission. The literary and narrative study of the accounts on Peter, the Jerusalem Council and Cornelius, significantly help resolve the imminent and crucial theological and missiological approach to the Gentile mission. Luke develops the Gentile motif, which begins earlier on in the Gospel of Luke through Acts. He is without question setting up a platform for a Gentile mission agenda, even before Paul appears on the scene. Luke systematically addresses the vivid and crucial cosmographic and trans-historical movement of the missio-dei. This paper follows these arguments to see how Luke validates and defends Paul’s mission to the Gentiles. Lessons learnt from Luke’s validation of the Gentile mission will be applied for present day hermeneutical and cross-cultural missional approach. A conclusion will then be drawn.