Gaining New Insights from Hebrews
God’s interactions with Israel were a foreshadowing of the perfect reality in the person of Jesus: absolutely God and absolutely human. Jesus came to earth to establish his kingdom and all that God had initiated in the old covenant. There is a continuity of theological understanding as we move from the Old Testament to the letter sent to the Christians in Rome.
The discussion on the theology of mission in the New Testament usually focuses on Jesus and Paul, with minimal attention given to the General Epistles. However, Reading Hebrews Missiologically tries to fill that gap and focuses on the theology of mission in the book of Hebrews and fleshes out the unique contribution it has to the discussion of a New Testament theology of mission. The twelve contributors—from various theological, geographical, and missiological contexts—explore the missionary motive, the missionary message, and the missionary method of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
All Scripture can be read missiologically, and the letter to the Hebrews, with its emphasis on the supremacy of Christ, is no exception. We pray that this book will inspire fresh approaches to practical mission in the world today.
Tabela de Conteúdo
Preface
Part 1: The Missionary Motive of Hebrews
Chapter 1: Hebrews and Missions: Renarrating the World in Christ By Matthew Aaron Bennett
Story & Worldview: The Purpose and the Problem
Cult & Christ: The Shadow and the Substance
Continuity and Contrast: Islam as a Case Study
Conclusion: A More Compelling Story
Chapter 2: Missio Dei as the Grand Narrative in the Epistle to the Hebrews By Linda P. Saunders
God’s Supreme Sacrifice in the Context of the Missio Dei
Conclusion
Chapter 3: Christ Outside the Gate: How Hebrews 13 and Galilee Locate Mission for Jesus and Relocate Mission for Us By Allen Yeh
A Tripartite Salvation History
The Tension between Jewish and Gentile Missiology
Latin America: Liberation Theology
Conclusion
Chapter 4: The Incarnation and the Mission of God By Michael P. Naylor
Jesus as Davidic Heir
Jesus, Priest according to the Order of Melchizedek
Jesus and the People of God
Conclusion: The Incarnation and the Mission of God
Part 2: The Missionary Message of Hebrews
Chapter 5: Missional Hospitality in Hebrews: Welcoming God and Welcoming
the Stranger By Edward L. Smither
Mission and Hospitality
Abraham, Israel, and Jesus
Imitating Israel in Hospitable Mission
Imitating the Patriarchs in Hospitable Mission
Welcoming Strangers, God, and Christ
Hospitality to Believers and Non-Believers
Conclusion
Chapter 6: Hope as an Anchor: The Missional Message of the Pilgrim People of God By Jessica A. Udall
Pilgrimage Identity in the Bible
Conclusion
Chapter 7: Mission Hope in a Storm-Tossed World By Irwyn Ince
The Storm-Tossed World
The Glorious Prophet
The Glorious Priest
The Glorious King
Chaos
Jesus Is in Control
The Calm
Conclusion
Part 3: The Missionary Methods of Hebrews
Chapter 8: Evangelism in the Epistle to the Hebrews By Abeneazer G. Urga
What Have Others Said about Hebrews and Mission?
Hebrews’ Missionary Theology
Conclusion
Chapter 9: Superior Communication Skills: Modes of Divine Communication in
Hebrews and the Implications for Christian Mission By Sigurd Grindheim
The Superiority of the New Covenant
Mission and Power
Conclusion
Chapter 10: African American Missiological Use of Hebrews: From the Antebellum Period to the Twentieth Century By Jessica N. Janvier
The Epistle, Jewish Christians, and African American Christianity
The African American Matrix of Scripture Interpretation
The Missiological Use of the Epistle in African American Christianity
Outward and Inward
Chapter 11: From Milk to Meat: Implications in Hebrews for Missiological Developments in Discipleship Methods By Sarah Lunsford
Overview of Missiological Developments in Discipleship Methods
Analysis of Discipleship Making
Implications for Missiological Developments in Discipleship Methods
Part 4: Review and Response
Chapter 12: Looking through Three Hermeneutical Lenses: A Review of Reading Hebrews Missiologically By Robert L. Gallagher
Diversity of Authorship
Scholarly Observations
Missionary Tapestries in Three Parts
Looking through the Lens of Interpreting the Metanarrative
Looking through the Lens of Understanding Hebrews
Looking through the Lens of Exploring “Mission”
Summary of Observations
Bosch Shines a Light on “Mission”
Conclusion
About the Contributors
Scripture Index
Sobre o autor
Linda P. Saunders (Ph D, Columbia International University) and her husband served as missionaries in Venezuela for eighteen years. Linda serves on the leadership team for the Evangelical Missiological Society and serves on the advisory council for the National African American Mission Council. She is an adjunct faculty member at Columbia International University and an adjunct professor at Liberty University. Her most recent publication includes a chapter contribution in the 2022 EMS book series. Linda and Mark enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren.