Amazing Bible and Mission job opportunity at Bible Society
Our good friends at Bible Society are advertising for the role of Dean of Studies and Research. It’s a very strategic and exciting role. Here’s some blurb:
The Dean of Studies and Research leads Bible Society’s engagement with the Higher Education sector. This is part of Bible Society’s engagement with culture, increasing the profile and impact of the Scriptures and positioning Bible Society as the knowledge transfer partner of choice
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A very welcome new book has been published recently entitled, Missiological Hermeneutics: Biblical Interpretation for the Global Church. It is written by Shawn Redford and is published by Wipf and Stock as part of the American Society of Missiology Monograph Series.
Here’s some blurb and contents:
How have those engaged in the mission of God been challenged to reinterpret Scripture through their experience? In what ways were the missionaries in the Bible challenged to reevaluate Scripture in their own time? Redford attempts to give shape to the nature of missional hermeneutics by examining Scripture, present-day cultural values, historical struggles, and the experience of those who are engaged in the mission of God. In order for missionaries to overcome the scientific polarization in Western hermeneutics, they must be able to perceive and learn from the overarching missional and spiritual hermeneutics found throughout Scripture so that they can balance missional, spiritual, historical-critical, and even unforeseen hermeneutical paths, providing increased confidence in biblical interpretation.
Contents
one – Introduction · 1
two – Biblically Informed Missional Hermeneutics · 8
three – A Missional Critique of Current Hermeneutical Theory · 85
four – A Missional Critique of the Hermeneutics Used in a Difficult Missional Issue: A Case Study · 133
five – The Role of Mission Praxis upon Missiological Hermeneutics: A Case Study · 232
six – Conclusion · 290
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: missiological hermeneutics, Missional hermeneutics, shawn redford
This morning I showed a couple of clips on the Psalms to the Missional Introduction to the Old Testament class here at Redcliffe. John Piper and Walter Brueggemann would disagree about a lot of things but, each in their own way, they both highlight in these clips the compelling and necessary richness of the Psalter for our own experience of life together with God in a world of pain.
Stuttgart Theological Topics is a dual-language journal (German and English – mainly known as Stuttgarter Theologische Themen) containing ‘lectures of the EUSABIA Professional Conference for Bible, Theology and Missions’.
Issues 2 to 5 (2007-2010) are available online for free as PDFs and you can even hear MP3 recordings of the talk on which the articles are based.
Do view and download PDFs and MP3 go to: Stuttgarter Theologische Themen journal
Here’s a list of the contents for vols 1-5.
Volume 5 (2010) Bible Interpretation in the Horizon of Old Testament Theology and in Interaction with the Islamic View of Scripture
Ida Glaser – Reading Genesis in the Context of Islam: Windows on the Texts
Peter Wassermann – Ishmael or Isaac? The salvation-historical interpretation of the Sons of Abraham
Martin Goldsmith – The Indwelling of God among Mankind: The SHEKHINA
Markus Piennisch – The Biblical-Semitic Aspect of Hermeneutics: An Introduction to the Field of Study
STT Vol. IV (2009) The Interchange of Christianization and Islamic Expansion in Historical and Missionary Perspective
Peter Riddell – The Call to Islam: Diverse Methods and Varied Responses
Ramy Wannous – The Crusades from the View of an Arab Christian belonging to the Orthodox Faith
Peter Wassermann – The Influence of Scholasticism of the Development of Theology in Christianity and Islam
Markus Piennisch – Religions in the Perspective of Christian Missions: Historical and theological Aspects
STT Vol. III (2008) Currents in New Testament Interpretation on their Effects on Theology and Missions
Peter Wassermann – Son of God and Son of Man, Part 1: Testimonies of the Old Testament
Richard Harvey – The Impact of Christianity on the Development of Messianic Jewish Thought
Peter Wassermann – Son of God and Son of Man, Part 2: Testimonies of the New Testament
Markus Piennisch – The “Biblical-Semitic Aspect” in the Basic Structure of the WORD-DEED of God (dabar)
STT Vol. II (2007) The Impact of Christian History and Theology on Judaism and Islam and its Significance for Missions Today
Samuel Shahid – The Impact of Christianity on the Arab Peninsula in Pre-Islamic Times
Abd al-Masih – Which Witnesses and Methods did the Lord Jesus use to call many Muslims to Himself? (upon request)
Richard Harvey – The Impact of Christianity on the development of Messianic Jewish Thought
Markus Piennisch – Christian Theology in the Islamic Context: Missionary and Hermeneutical Perspectives
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In a previous post I mentioned a video that illustrates the Scripture access statistics using chocolate: Bible Translation and Chocolate.
I came across this one today which uses skittles instead. A fun way of presenting a sobering challenge.
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Michael Kelly has written a thought-provoking essay entitled, ‘Biblical Theology and Missional Hermeneutics: A Match Made for Heaven… on Earth?’
He first gives a brief survey some themes in biblical theology and missional hermeneutics and then uses speech-act theory to bridge the two disciplines. I’ve not come across much, if anything, that has sought to relate speech-act theory to the Bible and mission conversation so this is a welcome exploration.
In case my description makes it sound like a rather dry prospect, here are a few quotes:
a good biblical-theological… reading of the OT text will be generative of mission in God’s world, sweeping up the readers and their communities in the great story of redemption being “told” by the ongoing application of the gospel of Jesus Christ to every corner of creation. A good reading will shape readers to align themselves with God’s mission. (p.62)
a missional hermeneutic will involve approaching Scripture-the whole story, including God’s intention for creation and humanity-with eyes to see how we might be drawn into this very real and visisble, bodily hope in our world. (p.71)
A missional hermeneutic engages self-consciously in this time of tension, and allows the interpreter full appreciation of the pain so often experienced in this world. A missional hermeneutic is not idealistic or triumphalistic, but brings real healing to places of real pain. (p.71)
Understanding Scripture as a divine speech act embedded in real historical human context, intended to change both the thinking of its readers and the actions of its readers, may indeed provide a helpful way to think about how Scripture functions as generative of mission… the overarching, divinely intended effect of the story to which biblical theology attends is that its readers align themselves with God’s mission in the world (p.73)
Christian missional obedience, then, goes beyond obedience to individual passages here or there (as vital as that obedience is when a passage is properly interpreted). The Bible, while offering real words of hope to a pilgrim community, also sends that pilgrim community into God’s world to be agents of blessing to every corner of the world. Christian missional obedience extends to actively aligning our story with the true story of the world as narrated by God through Scripture, as the Scripture comes to us and encourages, motivates, admonishes, comforts, warns, and promises. In other words, can we say that Scripture functions to shape its obedient readers toward God’s comprehensive mission in the world, to act in accord with this mission, a mission seen climactically embodied in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? (p.74)
To put it simply: the mission of God seen through Jesus Christ was a mission of suffering and grief, in the hope and promise of restoration. Our Christotelic approach guards us from triumphalism, giving both a grief and a confidence to our being swept up into the mission of God. We understand the mission of God not simply in creational (or new creational) categories, but also in the categories of incarnation, humility, and sacrifice. The story of Jesus Christ, in both his death and resurrection, in pain and joy, shapes our living into God’s mission. (p.74)
So, well worth a read! The bibliographic details are: Kelly, M.B. ‘Biblical Theology and Missional Hermeneutics: A Match Made for Heaven… on Earth?‘ in P. Enns, D.J. Green and M.B. Kelly (eds) Eyes to See, Ears to Hear: Essays in Memory of J. Alan Groves (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2010), 61-76. (the link here goes to Amazon, which includes a preview of the book, though not of Kelly’s article).
A new book is due out in early 2013 that marks the centenary of the publication of Roland Allen’s Missionary Methods: Saint Paul’s or Ours? (Allen’s book is available for free at http://www.archive.org here: Missionary Methods: Saint Paul’s or Ours?). Here are the publisher details:
Paul’s Missionary Methods: In His Time and Ours
Edited by Robert L. Plummer and John Mark Terry
What does Paul’s missions strategy mean for today?
A century ago Roland Allen published Missionary Methods: Saint Paul’s or Ours?, a missiological classic which tackled many important issues, including what biblically rooted missions looks like in light of the apostle Paul’s evangelistic efforts. Although Allen’s work is still valuable, new understandings have been gained regarding Paul’s milieu and missionary activity, and how his practices ought to inform missions in our ever-changing world.
Using the centennial anniversary of Allen’s work as a springboard for celebration and reflection, the contributors to Paul’s Missionary Methods have revisited Paul’s first-century missionary methods and their applicability today. This book examines Paul’s missionary efforts in two parts. First Paul is examined in his first-century context: what was his environment, missions strategy and teaching on particular issues? The second part addresses the implications of Paul’s example for missions today: is Paul’s model still relevant, and if so, what would it look like in modern contexts?
Experts in New Testament studies and missiology contribute fresh, key insights from their fields, analyzing Paul’s missionary methods in his time and pointing the way forward in ours.
Contents
Part One: Paul in the New Testament
1. Paul’s Religious and Historical Milieu - Michael F. Bird
2. Paul the Missionary - Eckhard J. Schnabel
3. Paul’s Gospel - Robert L. Plummer
4. Paul’s Ecclesiology - Benjamin L. Merkle
5. Paul’s Mission as the Mission of the Church - Christoph W. Stenschke
6. Paul’s Theology of Suffering - Don N. Howell, Jr.
7. Paul and Spiritual Warfare - Craig Keener
Part Two: Paul’s Influence on Missions
8. Paul’s Missions Strategy - David J. Hesselgrave
9. Paul’s Strategy: Determinative for Today? - Michael Pocock
10. Paul and Indigenous Missions - John Mark Terry
11. Paul and Church Planting - Ed Stetzer with Lizette Beard
12. Paul and Contextualization - M. David Sills
13. Paul and Leadership Development - Chuck Lawless
Postscript
14. Roland Allen’s Missionary Methods at One Hundred - J. D. Payne
Here’s a link to a sample: Paul’s Missionary Methods: In His Time and Ours
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Orality is one of the biggest and most exciting issues in Bible and mission today. I have blogged about it many times (see here for posts mentioning orality) and we have even developed a section for resources on the Bible and orality. Orality is also addressed in our teaching here at Redcliffe both at undergrad and postgrad levels (especially through the BA degree’s module, ‘Story, Song and Social Networks: Bible Engagement and Oral Culture’ and the MA module, ‘Bible Engagement in Intercultural Contexts’).
One of the key networks for Bible and orality is the International Orality Network. ION have recently announced the publication of the first issue of a new journal focusing on the theme of orality. You can find a link to the full issue pdf here: Orality Journal – volume 1 number 1.
No doubt this will be an indispensable journal. Here is the description of the journal and list of articles to the current issue:
Orality Journal is the journal of the International Orality Network. It is published online semi-annually and aims to provide a platform for scholarly discourse on the issues of orality, discoveries of innovations in orality, and praxis of e!ectiveness across multiple domains in society. This online journal is international and interdisciplinary, serving the interests of the orality movement through research articles, documentation, book reviews, and academic news. Occasionally, print editions will be created. Submission of items that could contribute to the furtherance of the orality movement are welcomed.
Contents
Editor’s Notes – Samuel Chiang.
The Extent of Orality: 2012 Update – Grant Lovejoy. Using UN and OCED stats, the author shares how a credible analysis emerges concerning the size of oral preference learners in the world today.
The Worldwide Spread of Bible Storying: A Look at Where We’ve Been – J.O. Terry. An overview of the recent history and expansion of the Bible Storytelling movement.
The Two Journeys of Shanti and Jasmine – Tricia Stringer. This article covers insights and elucidation of the rippling effects when orality is practiced in hi-tech communities.
One Thousand Orphans Tell God’s Story – Marlene LeFever. The author shares what could happen when a ministry retools in realtime and includes orality principles and practices.
Mind the Gap: Bhutan as a Case Study – A. Steve Evans. A fresh look at using orality in Bhutan.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: International Orality Network, orality, orality journal
Last week Redcliffe College and Wycliffe Bible Translators announced that Wycliffe will be moving their training to Redcliffe. You can see the full press release on the websites of both organisations: Wycliffe / Redcliffe. Here is a snippet:
Eddie Arthur, the Executive Director of Wycliffe Bible Translators in the UK, says, ‘This is a wonderful opportunity for us and for people interested in worldwide mission. Redcliffe College already provides a fantastic portfolio of courses equipping people for mission and leadership roles. Drawing Wycliffe’s courses and experienced teaching staff into the mix can only serve to strengthen the quality of education and training offered at Redcliffe.’
Rob Hay, Principal of Redcliffe College, says, ‘This move will create fantastic opportunities for future students who are training to serve God around the world. There will be the chance to study cross-cultural mission, Biblical studies and linguistics all under one roof. There’s also potential for new courses in the future that formally combine the skills and expertise of the two organisations.’
Along with Bible Society, Wycliffe have been instrumental partners in the development and delivery of the MA in Bible and Mission here at Redcliffe and the wider initiative that is the Centre for the Study of Bible and Mission. For this and many other reasons the joining together of Redcliffe and Wycliffe’s training makes such a lot of joyful sense. Partnership works when it is driven by a shared commitment to the Kingdom; mutual trust and humility; an imagination for what could be; and a sense of what needs to happen to get there. The more I have worked with friends at Wycliffe the more humbled and inspired I am by the ministry and the people engaged in it. As I have learnt more about Bible Translation, Scripture Engagement, Orality, and the many other aspects of Wycliffe’s work I have found myself deeply challenged in my own engagement with the Bible and the complexities and joys of sharing it with others. I believe the experience has enriched my view of God, of his Word, of his Church and of his mission, and I hope this comes across in my teaching as well.
So it is with gratitude and excitement that I reflect on the past and consider the future. May God bless this strategic partnership for the service of his Kingdom. May we all learn from one another and may we be more equipped for our participation in God’s mission as a result.
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As a Redcliffe College initiative, the Centre for the Study of Bible and Mission aims to serve the Church by engaging in research, teaching, writing and speaking on mission in the Bible, and the Bible in mission thinking, practice and training.
For more details visit About.
