The Whole Earth is Mine: A Missional Hermeneutic of Scripture

May 29, 2024

The Whole Earth is Mine: A Missional Hermeneutic of Scripture

Lecture Overview

  • Speaker: Unknown
  • Occasion: Lecture series in honor of Dr. Robert Saucy
  • Main Focus: Global and missional vision of the Old Testament

Lecture Introduction

  • Tribute to Dr. Robert Saucy's commitment to the scriptures and their relevance to the church.
  • Mention of Langham partnership: Strengthening ministry in the majority world through theological education, training preachers, and providing resources.
  • Title inspired by Psalms, indicating the global and missional vision of the Old Testament.

Missional Hermeneutic of Scripture

General Understanding

  • The Bible as a whole in relation to mission: Missional hermeneutic of scripture.
  • Definition: Reading the Bible missionally, understanding it as a story of God's mission.
  • Bible is not just doctrines, rules, or promises, but a great narrative (drama).
  • Influence of N.T. Wright and works like "The Drama of Scripture" by Bartholomew and Goheen.

The Six-Act Drama of Scripture

  1. Creation: God creates heavens and earth, humans' kingly and priestly roles.
  2. Fall: Rebellion and the distortion of relationships (God, earth, humans).
  3. Promise: God’s promise to Abraham to bring blessing to all nations.
  4. Gospel: Life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus fulfilling God's promise.
  5. Mission: Outpouring of the Spirit and the mission of the church to all nations.
  6. New Creation: Christ's return, new heaven and earth, redeemed humanity.

Mission Origin of the Bible

  • Engagement in the world led to the creation of biblical texts.
  • Biblical texts arise from the people of God living out God's revelation and redemption in a cultural and international context.
  • Examples: Paul’s letters and Gospels arising from missionary activities.
  • Old Testament texts reflecting Israel's existence and interaction with surrounding cultures.
  • Mission of God: God’s purpose for the world through God’s people.

Old Testament Vision for Mission

Key Points to Explore

  1. Vision of God: Identity and nature of God (monotheism).
  2. Vision of God’s People: Purpose and mission (doctrine of election).
  3. How God’s People Should Live: Practical and ethical implications.
  4. The Future for All Nations: God's plans for the nations.

Vision of God

Biblical Monotheism and Mission

  • Affirmation of Yahweh: Yahweh alone is God, and there is no other.

    • Deuteronomy 4:35, 4:39
    • Theological stance against polytheism (full monotheism).

  • Ownership and Rule: Yahweh owns and rules the world.

    • Deuteronomy 10:14-17
    • Psalms 24:1
    • Jeremiah 27
    • Psalms 96

  • Witness and Mission: Israel’s testimony to Yahweh as the only God.

    • Isaiah 43:10-12
    • Romans 3:29 (Paul’s New Testament reflection)

  • Function of Yahweh: Unique characteristics and actions.

    • Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1, Psalms, Isaiah).
    • Governor of human history and nations.
    • Judge of all the earth (Amos 1, Assyria and Babylon in Isaiah).
    • Savior of those who turn to Him (Isaiah 45).

Missional Implications of Yahweh’s Identity

  • Transcendence and Universality: Not just philosophical; it's missional.
  • Steward of the Revelation: Israel entrusted with the knowledge of Yahweh.
  • Mission to Nations: Ultimate claim over the nations for their good.
  • Same Claim in New Testament: Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the same roles of Yahweh (John 1, Colossians 1, Revelation 1, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10, Romans 10).

Missional Christology in the New Testament

  • Philippians 2:9-11: Jesus given the name above all names, fulfilling Isaiah 45:23.
  • 1 Corinthians 8: Integrating Jesus into the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), making a monotheistic statement inclusive of Christ.
  • Christ-centric Monotheism: Jesus as creator, ruler, judge, and savior, paralleling Yahweh's attributes.

Conclusion

  • Christological Affirmations: Early Christians' bold monotheistic claims about Jesus were missionally charge and culturally confrontational.
  • Rooted in Old Testament Monotheism: New Testament affirmations of Jesus derive from Old Testament assertions about Yahweh.

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