TCM INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE

BS/PT 540 Mission in the New Testament - 2017

Prof. Dr. Roger Kemp

email: roger.kemp@tcmi.edu

TCMI Mission: TCM International Institute develops Christian leaders for

significant service through higher learning.

TCMI Vision: That every nation has effective leaders of disciple making
movements impacting their churches, cultures, and countries for Christ.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
A detailed consideration of the mission of in the New Testament: Jesus and the Twelve and
Paul and associates as portrayed in the Gospels and Acts - all understood within the
geographical, historical, religious, philosophical and political climate of the first century.
This course may be taken as a substitution for the New Testament 1 requirement, and as a
New Testament elective, or as a practical theology elective in Evangelism and Church
Health.

COURSE RATIONALE
There has been little academic study done on the New Testament with a particular focus on
mission. This course does this: the first part dealing with mission as portrayed by Jesus and
His disciples and the second part studying Paul and the Early Church. The subject has been
classified by TCM in both Biblical Studies and Practical Theology because it readily fits
both. This will give students who have already done (or been credited with) NT1 to do
another New Testament subject.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of the subject a student should be able to:

1. Define what the term mission means (M.A. Outcome #3, M.Div Outcome #4).
2. Understand the context and milieu of the early Christian community economically,
geographically, socially and religiously (M.A. Outcome #2)
3. Trace the development of mission of Jesus and his disciples, and Paul and other
missionaries in terms of principles and strategy (M.A. outcome #2)
4. Understand what mission work today can gain from such a study in both principles
and strategy (M.A. outcome #4)
5. Understand the New Testament in a more complete manner by examining it from a
perspective not done previously (M.A. outcome #2)
6. Recognize particular principles of ministry which may be relevant for todays church
(M.A. Outcome #5)

COURSE MATERIALS

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Read 800-1000 pages from the following list

English

Schnable, Eckhard. Early Christian Mission Volume 1: Jesus and the Twelve, Downers
Grove: IVP, 2004
Bosch, David. The Why and How of a True Biblical Foundation for Mission,
Evangelical Review of Theology 17/4 (Oct 1993): 437-451.
Bosch, David. Transforming Mission. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1991: chapter 2:
Matthew: Mission as Disciple-Making (pp. 56-83) and chapter 3: Luke-Acts:
Practicing Forgiveness and Solidarity with the Poor (pp. 84-122).
Van Engen, Charles. The Relation of Bible and Mission, in Mission on the Way
Issues in Mission Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1996: pp. 35-43.
Wright, Christopher J. H. Part 1: The Bible and Mission in The Mission of God
Unlocking the Bibles grand narrative. Nottingham: IVP, 2009: pp. 29-70.
Larkin, William & J. Williams (eds), Mission in the New Testament, chapter 3: Mission in
Jesus Teaching (pp.30-49) and chapter 4: Mission in the Early Church (pp50-62),
Maryknoll: Orbis, 1998
Kstenberger & P. OBrien, Salvation to the Ends of the Earth, chapter 4: Mark (pp73-86)
and chapter 5: Matthew (pp87-110), Downers Grove: IVP, 2001

Polish:
Fensey, David A., New Testament Introduction, pp 155-312 (The Book of Acts and the
Earliest Church, The Greco-Roman World in the NT, Paul of Tarsus, The Pauline Epistles),
College Press 1994 [Available from CBI)
Tenney, Merrill C., New Testament Survey, pp 231-332 (The Records of the Early Church),
Eerdmans/IVP 1985
Jensen, Irving L., Jensens Survey of the New Testament, pp 201-404 (Acts: The Beginning
of the Christian Church, Paul and His Letters), Moody Press 1981 [available fron CBI]
Dbrowski, Eugeniusz, The Story of Paul of Tarsus, Available from PL library]
Langkammer, Hugolion, Apostol Paul. From Conversion to Rome, 2005,[Polish writer.
Available from PL bookstore]
Romaniuk, Kazimierz, Saint Paul. The Life and Work, 2008, [Polish writer. Available from
PL bookstore]

Russian:
Bosch, David. (Transforming Mission).
St. Petersburg, Russia: Bibliya dlya vseh, 1997: chapter 2: Matthew: Mission as
Disciple-Making (pp. 66-94), chapter 3: Luke-Acts: Practicing Forgiveness and
Solidarity with the Poor (pp. 95-133), ch. 4: Paul and his mission.
Edersheim, A. (The Life and Times of Jesus the
Messiah). Moscow, Russia: St. Paul Spiritual Academy, 2004.
Penner, Peter. : (Christian Mission:
History and Presence). Chronograph 1(3) 1998: 19-70.
Moore, Mark E. (The Chronological
Life of Christ). Moscow, Russia: Vest, 2003.
Penner, Peter. (Missional Bible
interpretation). Epilogue in Commentary to the Bible, Acts of the Aposltes, Vol 1, by
Hans-Werner Neudorfer, St. Petersburg: Light in the East Publishing, 2005.

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, . .
Lage: Logos, 1993. (Allen, Missionary Methods)

Romanian:
Carson, D. A. Introducere in Noul testament (An Introduction to the New Testament).
Oradea: Faclia, 2007, pp. 380-855.
Dever, Mark. Mesajul Noului Testament: promisiuni mplinite (The message of the New
Testament: prom-ises kept). Oradea: Fclia, 2011, pp. 131-512.
Greenway, Roger S. Mergeti si faceti ucenici: introducere in misiunea crestina [Go and make
disciples!: an introduction to Christian missions]. Oradea: Discipol Edit, 2006.
Lewis, Jonathan. O introducere in misiunea crestina mondiala contemporana (Introduction to
contempo-rary mission). Impact Media, 2001.Misiune contemporana, Cap 2-4-5
Piper, John. Sa se bucure popoarele!: Suprematia lui Dumnezeu in misiune (The supremacy
of God in mission). Cartea Crestina, 1998

Hungarian:
David J. Bosch, Paradigma vltsok a misszi teolgiban [Transforming Mission
Paradigm Shift sin Theology of Mission], Harmat PMTI, Budapest, 2005, ch. 2-4.
D. A. Carson s Douglas J. Moo, Bevezets az jszvetsgbe [Introduction to the NT], KIA
knyvkiad, 2007
Peter Wick, Pl A keresztynsg tantja [Paul, the Teacher of Christianity], Klvin kiad,
Budapest, 2007.
Leonhard Goppelt, Az jszvetsg theolgija, Vol. 2, Az apostoli krisztus-bizonysgttel
sokflesge s egysge [Theology of the New Testament The Diversity and the Unity of the
Apostolic Witness to Christ], Reformtus Zsinati Iroda Tanulmnyi Osztlya, Budapest,
1992.
Theissen, G. Az skeresztynsg lmnyvilga s magatartsformi az skeresztynsg
pszicholgija [The Experience and Behavior Patterns of Early Christianity - The psychology
of the Early Church], Klvin Kiad, Budapest, 2008.

Recommended:
Pl apostol nyomban (In the steps of apostle Paul) / by Morton, Henry Vollam. Budapest:
Reformatus Zsinati Iroda Sajtoosztalya, 1986.
Pl apostol - Saul rabbi / by Santala, Risto. Budapest, Hungary: Bridge Mission Society,
2002
Morris, Leon, New Testament Theology, Az jszvetsg teolgija, Budapest: Keresztyn
Ismeretterjeszt Alaptvny, 2001.
Budai Gergely. Az jszvetsg trtnete: bevezets az jszvetsgbe [New Testament
history]. Budapest: Reformtus Zsinati Iroda Sajtosztlya, 1980.
Theissen, G., Az els keresztynek vallsa [The religion of the first Christians]. Klvin Kiad,
2012.
Everett Ferguson, A keresztynsg blcsje [Backgrounds of Early Christianity], Osiris kiad,
Budapest, 1999.

COURSE TOPICS

BACKGROUND

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a. The history of early Christianity as history of missions
b. Some hermeneutic questions, including a discussion of the term mission
c. Chronology and events- the events of the first century, highlighting the main areas of
significance for the subject

PART 1: CONTEXT OLD TESTAMENT

a. Yahweh the Relationship to Israel

a. Particularism and Internationalism
b. Promise of Genesis 12:3

b. Israels understanding of its relationship to God and other nations.

PART 2: THE MISSION OF JESUS

a. The situation in Palestine at the time of Jesus

a. Geography and population
b. Economic and social situation
c. Religious and political developments
d. Communication

b. Jesus mission to Israel

a. The message of the arrival of the Kingdom of God
b. Ministry in Galilee and other geographical location

c. The Twelve and their role as missionaries

a. The call to be fishers of people
b. The commission to preach and heal in Galilean towns and villages

d. Other disciples
a. The strategy
b. The instructions
c. The return of the messengers

e. Jesus and the Gentiles

a. The summaries
b. The evidence in the gospels
c. The missionary commission after Easter

PART 3: THE MISSION OF THE APOSTLES IN JERUSALEM

a. The apostles as envoys of Jesus the Messiah

b. Jerusalem and its role in mission

a. Life of the Jerusalem church
b. Active outreach in Jerusalem
c. Forms of organization

c. Vision, Strategy and Methods

a. The missionary vision of the disciples

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b. Geographical considerations
c. Strategy and tactics
d. Motivation and reality
e. Difficulties and challenges

PART 4: THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE FROM JERUSALEM TO THE ENDS OF

THE EARTH

1. Historical, social and religious background

1. Society, economy and culture
2. Cities and rural areas
3. Religious pluralism
4. Communication
5. Stephen and his friends
6. Implications for missionary work

1. The Mission of Jewish Christians away from Jerusalem

1. Death of Stephen and its consequences
2. Missionary work in Samaria by Philip
3. Conversion of the royal official from Ethiopia
4. Missionary work in the cities of the coastal plain
5. Christians in Damascus

1. The missionary work of Peter

1. Work in Judea, Galilee and the cities of the coastal plain
2. Vision of Peter in Joppa
3. Missionary work in Caesarea
4. Missionary work after 41AD

PART 5: THE MISSION OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

a Conversion and early mission

b Realities of the early Christian mission
c Mission and Persecution

PART 6: EARLY CHIRSTIAN MISSION

a The self-understanding of the early Christian missionaries
b The praxis of the early Christian missionaries
c The message of the early Christian missionaries

Theme for all parts: How does all this help in missionary work today?

METHODOLOGY

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The subject will consist of lectures and small group discussion. Where appropriate, questions
from students will be discussed, and various themes from the material will be examined in the
light of Christian ministry today in Central and Eastern Europe.

ASSIGNMENTS

a. Read the 800-1000 pages from the readings in the syllabus or on Moodle
b. Read the four Gospels and the book of Acts

A signed statement on the amount of reading done will be submitted on the first day of face-
to-face classes

c. Spiritual Preparation:
i. Pray for understanding while reading
ii. Pray for the other students in the class
iii. Pray for the professor
See the sheet attached to this syllabus which must be completed and submitted on the first
day of face-to-face class

d. Write a paper of about 2500 words on ONE of the following topics:

EITHER:

(a) If Jesus primary activity was preaching, the primary message he proclaimed while on
mission was the kingdom of God. (Wm. Larking & J.Williams (eds), Mission in the New
Testament, p39. Discuss the importance of the kingdom of God in our understanding of
mission today.

OR

(b) In order to understand Pauls missionary work it is important to work out what
motivated him throughout his ministry. In other words it is important for us to find out
Pauls missiology. This paper will find out what theological principles made the foundation
for Pauls ministry. It will also investigate the principles that guided Paul in his work: why
he went in the first place, why he went to particular places and why he said what he did in
those places.

NOTE: This paper is due on the first day of face-to-face class

e. Participation in the THREE on-line Forum topics (see below) that will be posted on
Moodle during the three-months before face-to-face class.

Face-to-face time:
a. Attend all the classes and participate where possible in the discussion

b. During the face-to-face time, FOUR topics will be given (see the list below) for research
and discussion in small groups. The results of the research and discussion will be written
down and submitted for grading by the end of the course.

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 ASSESSMENT

The grade for this subject will be determined as follows:

Attendance and participation during class 5% Objectives #1-5

Participation in the forums using Moodle 25% Objectives #1-5
Prayer 5% Objective # 5,7
Reading 15% Objectives #3,4,6
Written paper 15% Objectives #3,4,5
Notes from discussion groups 35% Objectives #2-5

PLAGIARISM POLICY
Plagiarism, defined as stealing and/or passing the ideas or words of another as ones own
without crediting the sources, whether for profit or credit (grades), has no place in a Christian
institution of higher learning. Acts of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean for further
action.

Useful websites:
http://www.missionfrontiers.org
http://www.lausanne.org
http://www.wheaton.edu/bcg/emis
http://www.brigada.org
http://www.asr
http://www.blackboard.com
http://www.geocities.com
http://www.gmi.org

FORUM TOPICS
These topics will be the basis for discussion on Moodle in the weeks before our face to
face meeting.
Check Moodle for the dates when the forum discussions will take place. Dates are listed
below

FORUM TOPIC #1: to be discussed during week #2

The mission strategy known as presence. What is involved in this strategy? Is it enough for
a missionary just to behave properly or should the missionary do more than that? Is it
important that a vocal (spoken) witness be made as well? Is this strategy valid for todays
missionary work? Give some examples where this strategy is either necessary or is practiced.
FORUM TOPIC #2: to be discussed during week #5
Did Jesus have in mind a mission to the Gentiles?
Some authors say yes what is the evidence that Jesus did have such a strategy?

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 Other authors say no what are the reasons given why Jesus didnt have such a strategy?
Does it really matter? What difference does it make to mission work today?
FORUM TOPIC #3: to be discussed during week #8
Signs and wonders
Many people are coming to Christ today as the result of miracles (signs and wonders). This
happened in the New Testament as well. How much should we practice this phenomenon
today? Who should practice it? Is it essential to missionary work?
Do you have any examples of how this has operated in mission work?

DATES FOR FORUM DISCUSSION:

TOPIC #1
Budapest: February 20th-27th
Khabarovsk: March 6th-13th
Haus Edelweiss session #3: March 27th-April 2nd
Omsk: April 10th-17th
Haus Edelweiss session #7: July 3rd-10th

TOPIC #2
Budapest: March 20th-27th
Khabarovsk: April 3rd-10th
Haus Edelweiss session #3: April 24th-May 1st
Omsk: May 8th-15th
Haus Edelweiss session #7: July 24th-31st

TOPIC #3
Budapest: April 17th-24th
Khabarovsk: May 2nd-9th
Haus Edelweiss session #3: May 22nd-29th
Omsk: June 5th-12th
Haus Edelweiss session #7: August 21st-28th

DISCUSSION TOPICS

During the course there will be four occasions (one class period each) which will be
dedicated to class discussion. The four topics are listed below along with specific questions
that will be the center of discussion. Students will be expected to research the library and
internet for material on the topics so that they can participate in the discussion. Each student
will research each of the topics and write down three (3) main points related to the matter
with explanation. These points will be used in discussion during class-time. Each topic ought
to have about one page of notes and explanations. That means a total of approximately 4
pages of notes. At the end of each discussion session, the student will submit his/her set of
notes for the topics just discussed. They will be graded and added with the others. The total
of all these will count for 35% of the final grade for the course.

DISCUSSION TOPIC #1: The Plan of God

a Knowing the will of God and finding His plan for your life

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In this topic I am interested in your answer to questions such as how do I know what Gods
plan is for me in fulfilling His will?, should I plan ahead or just wait for God to show me?,
what is MY role and what is GODS role in finding out whether I should be involved in
mission or not?

DISCUSSION TOPIC #2: Ekklesia the Church. Discuss how the church is seen today
by non-Christians in your country. What are the characteristics of the church that you attend?
How is the local church expressed in your community? What is the essential nature of the
church?

DISCUSSION TOPIC #3: The role of women in ministry. What are the main issues that
women face in ministry in your area? Do we take Jesus attitude to women seriously enough?
Look at the role that women played in the ministry with Jesus and with Paul in your research.

DISCUSSION TOPIC #4: Converts and culture This topic explores the relationship
between culture and the gospel. Questions to answer: how much of culture should a new
believer be expected to give up? What principles are there that decide what parts of culture
are bad and need to be discarded and what parts of culture can be kept? Who decides for the
new believer? Should it be the believer him/herself, the believers pastor or someone else?

TCMI Institute Catalog - Outcomes

Certificate:
1. Engage cultures appropriately from a Christian worldview.
2. Use scriptures appropriately.
3. Grow in their personal and public lives of devotion to Christ.
4. Communicate the Christian message effectively.

MA:
1. Engage Scripture in context of key theological traditions.
2. Engage cultures appropriately from a Christian worldview.
3. Serve effectively in chosen area of ministry.
4. Grow in their private and public lives of devotion to Christ.
5. Think critically, analytically, and independently at the graduate level.
6. Communicate effectively the message of Christ.

M.Div.:

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1. Engage Scripture skillfully including the use of the original languages in the context
of key theological traditions.
2. Engage cultures appropriately from a Christian worldview.
3. Serve effectively in chosen area of ministry.
4. Grow in their private and public lives of devotion to Christ.
5. Think critically, analytically, and independently at the graduate level.
6. Communicate effectively the message of Christ.
7. Engage theological literature in English at a graduate level.

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