A Biblical Approach to Mission in Context is an erudite collection of twenty essays with forewords and epilogue produced to honor Professor Teresa Okure’s contribution to the study of biblical theology in context. It also stands in its own right as a vade mecum of current trends in biblical scholarship, gender, and contextual hermeneutics. Written by an international array of respected scholars—Okure’s colleagues, former students, siblings, and fellow commentators—this volume includes detailed exegetical studies, discussion on theological methods and contextual approaches from a variety of standpoints, and an effort to relate biblical exegesis, theology, and inculturation—faith—hermeneutics to the current interest in social-contextual interpretation that reflects values beyond the African context. In sum, the breadth of interests and enthusiasm found in this volume is a testimony to the intellectual and pastoral vitalities and passion that Teresa Okure herself brought to the discipline of biblical studies. The brief narrative of personal encounter written by Bernadette Okure, SHCJ, forewords by John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Bishop Camillus Raymond Umoh, as well as an insightful epilogue by Fr. Aniedi Okure, OP, provide additional insight into the historical and socio-cultural contexts within which Okure’s formation and contributions unfolded.

Gaining Fresh Insights for Missions In today’s world, the church on mission faces the immense challenge of engaging an array of cultures and ideologies. To address these issues, theologians and missiologists usually focus on Jesus and Paul. However, the Apostle Peter’s words, steeped in wisdom, are another vital link between foundational Christian truths and the complexities of our global context. For this reason, Reading 1 Peter Missiologically is a significant contribution to both biblical scholarship and mission practice. Examining 1 Peter through a missiological lens unveils the apostle’s strategic approach to cross-cultural evangelism amidst persecution and cultural diversity. It is not just an academic exercise; the authors provide practical insights for missionaries, church leaders, and theologians, helping them to contextualize the gospel in a culturally sensitive manner. This book bridges the gap between theological study and real-world application. Reading 1 Peter Missiologically is an essential resource for anyone seeking to participate in Christian outreach more effectively. It challenges readers to rethink modern missionary strategies. If you want to deepen your understanding of the Bible’s teaching on global mission and apply it across the world, this book is a must-read.

"While the intent of the editors is to honor Steve Bevans, SVD, a towering figure in the field of missiology and a longtime author of Orbis books on missiology, this book will be designed less as a festschrift than as a textbook for classroom use. Designed around the three main foci of Bevans' theology (mission, contextual theologies, and dialogical theory), it will appeal to teachers of courses in Christian mission, theological method, contextual theologies, and contemporary Third World theologies. The contributors are a who's who of contemporary mission studies in a global context, including representatives from various Christian traditions and from throughout the global church"--

In this exegetical study of the Gospel of John, Andreas Kostenberger strives to discover and articulate a throroughtly biblical theology of mission which would have contemporary implications for how the church responds to Christ's mandate.

The Third Force in Missions challenges readers to recognize the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit as power-for-mission. It confronts the Western mentality that ignores the miraculous in its missions strategy and the global Pentecostal movement. Paul Pomerville suggests that such activity—prompted and controlled by the Spirit—is key to fruitful biblical missions. When The Third Force in Missions was first published in 1985, Paul Pomerville sought to draw attention to the Pentecostal contribution to missions. At that time, he argued there was an "information gap" regarding the size of this movement, in spite of "two waves" of worldwide Pentecostal renewal. He argued that this gap existed because of evangelical bias against Pentecostalism, bias against "charismatics" in mainline churches, ethnocentrism toward Pentecostals in the developing world, and faulty reporting. Thirty years later, Pomerville once again argues the importance of the global Pentecostal movement, seeking to correct the ongoing tunnel vision of world missions programs, which since the Protestant Reformation have tended to ignore the Holy Spirit's work in today's missions. In this book, Pomerville exposes the serious methodological and theological flaws of such a one-sided position.

Samuel Cueva has refined his concept of ‘partnership in mission’ by advocating the use of reciprocal contextual collaboration in this important contribution to scholarly reflection on contemporary missiology. Referencing historical, theological and functional aspects of how mission has been carried out, as well as analyzing it’s impact on the evangelical movement, the author identifies that mission always develops with positive and negative tensions. Emphasizing an understanding of current missions which include traditional, networking and emergent models, and how they can be combined, interconnected and interchanged, the author proposes a fresh model that ensures the suitability for every mission context.

The letter to the Ephesians is missional to its core. It effectively exhorts its readers to understand, support, and participate in God's mission to rescue humanity and all creation from the damage and distortion of sin, and so bring about a renewed creation filled with God's glorious fullness. Working at the creative intersection of biblical studies and missiology, this study adopts a missional hermeneutic to overcome the scholarly neglect of mission in Ephesians. The book systematically explores each passage in Ephesians, delving into the characterization of God and his mission; allusions to Old Testament missional texts in Ephesians; and the portrayal of the apostle Paul and believers as participants in God's mission. A multi-faceted vision of mission emerges which encompasses God's actions in salvation history; the church as mediator of God's glory, reconciliation and grace to the nations; prayer; ethical witness; and verbal proclamation of the gospel. Reading Ephesians through this missional lens yields fresh insights into its purpose and context, and the richness of its portrait of mission.

In the globalized twenty-first century, there is greater need than ever for intercultural approaches to advancing the gospel in multicultural urban contexts. In this book, Dr. Johnson Ambrose Afrane-Twum explores the history of African immigrant churches in the UK. Examining the implications of black theology in the context of Britain’s multicultural landscape, he offers suggestions for how black-led churches can partner with white-majority churches for greater impact in urban ministry and evangelism. Such a partnership, he suggests, would enable both communities to challenge aspects of their respective cultures and theological approaches, recentring both on biblical truth. It would also provide a model of Christian mission built on mutual respect and love, transforming urban communities through an accessible and unifying gospel.

What is our preconception about Muslims? Do we continue to practice medical missions in a way that is no longer considered an effective means of presenting the gospel to the unreached? Is our gospel message biblically balanced and firmly contextualized in the context that we try to serve? There are numerous questions that we may ask ourselves when we desire to share God’s love with people who are still alienated from it. Christian cross-cultural missions should reconsider the strategies and attitudes that no longer reflect biblical principles. This book brings a lot of insightful thoughts and suggestions from the author’s medical ministry experience in the Arab world to those who want to reach out to the unreached. The theology of shalom enables us to deeply understand God’s ultimate purpose toward the world that he created and to devote our lives to bring people to his kingdom in the humble way that Jesus has presented throughout his life on earth when he was with us. This book demonstrates how Christian medical missions can be manifested in a more biblical way and can serve people who have been physically injured and emotionally broken more effectively.

This book provides a comprehensive exploration of Asian Christianity and Theology, with emphasis on how it has developed in different parts of the continent and in the different eras, especially since the end of colonialism in Asia. Asian Theology refers to a unique way of theological reflection characterized by specific methodologies that evolved in postcolonial Asia. Premised on the thinking of Asian Church leaders and scholars, its focus is on the dialogue with the many cultures (inculturation), many religions (interreligious dialogue), and many poor (integral liberation) of Asia. The book looks at each of these ministries in detail, foregrounding Asian biblical hermeneutics, Christianity’s engagement with Hinduism, Confucianism, and Islam, Asian Women’s Theology, and the rise of Pentecostalism. The volume is valuable reading for scholars of religious studies, theology, world Christianity, Asian religions, and Asian studies.