Paul's Missionary Methods: In His Time and Ours

by Robert L. Plummer (Editor), John Mark Terry (Editor)

Overview

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. Contributors include

• Michael F. Bird
• Eckhard J. Schnabel
• Benjamin L. Merkle
• Christoph W. Stenschke
• Don N. Howell Jr.
• Craig Keener
• David J. Hesselgrave
• Michael Pocock
• Ed Stetzer
• M. David Sills
• Chuck Lawless
• J. D. Payne

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830859894
Publisher:	IVP Academic
Publication date:	11/21/2012
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	253
File size:	760 KB

About the Author

Robert L. Plummer, Ph.D., is associate professor of New Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Plummer is the editor of Journeys of Faith (Zondervan, 2012). He has also authored 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible (Kregel, 2010), Paul's Understanding of the Church's Mission (Paternoster, 2006), and many other articles and essays. Plummer has served on mission assignments in China, Malaysia, Ghana, Israel, Turkey, India, and Trinidad. He and his wife Chandi have three daughters.

John Mark Terry (Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of missions at Mid-America Baptist Seminary in Cordova, Tennnessee. He has served as a missionary in the Philippines and Malaysia and as vice president of the Evangelical Missions Society.

Robert L. Plummer (Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of New Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has authored and edited many books, articles and essays, and served on mission assignments in several countries.

John Mark Terry (Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of missions at a seminary in the Pacific Rim and visiting professor of missions at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has served as a missionary in the Philippines and as vice president of the Evangelical Missions Society.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations
Preface
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
List of Contributors
Scripture Index

What People are Saying About This

"This book is a fresh reminder of Paul's theology and practice of church multiplication. Here you will find solid biblical scholarship integrated with grounded reflection on missions."

Tom Elliff

"This book stands tall in the forest of studies on Paul's missionary methods. Utilizing the significant contributions of widely respected missiologists, the editors have managed to focus on timeless issues while providing thought-provoking application for today. This will be a must-read for the thoughtful missionary and serious student alike."

Bob Stevens

"Plummer and Terry clothe the skeleton of the broad subject of missions with deep insights, encouragement and reminders within the framework of a healthy review of contributors from relevant mission experience and history. Any mission student, missionary, pastor, missions committee member or short-termer will gain by reading this biblically centered book with insight from some of the best mission minds of the centuries."

Dr. Keith Eitel

"The editors of this book have combined biblical and missiological scholarship that further enhances the relevance of Roland Allen's piece Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours?, while also moving us beyond it to the challenges of a new century. Perhaps the most salient insight rendered is the reminder that each generation should avoid simple replication of the methods Allen assessed but should resubmit to the call to ascertain whether or how our missionary actions reflect biblical patterns and then take corrective measures where needed. Correction entails constructive self-study, which is always an emotive challenge. Missionaries, globally engaged pastors, students and mission administrators should read this, mark it up, think through its implications, and do the hard work of analysis for our time."

Chris Castaldo

"Paul said, 'Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.' This volume not only examines important issues associated with the apostle's ministry; it offers readers the requisite vision for pursuing Christ's mission in the first place."

Editorial Reviews

"Plummer and Terry clothe the skeleton of the broad subject of missions with deep insights, encouragement and reminders within the framework of a healthy review of contributors from relevant mission experience and history. Any mission student, missionary, pastor, missions committee member or short-termer will gain by reading this biblically centered book with insight from some of the best mission minds of the centuries."

Bob Stevens

"This book makes a significant contribution to the literature both as a marker to Allen's visionary work and as a model to evaluate current strategic concerns."

Jon E. Smith

"It is recommended for scholars, pastors, students, and the untrained who are interested in this area and who desire a current scholarly, yet readable and understandable, approach that emphasizes demonstrating the gospel in every situation."

James M. Howard

"This book is a fresh reminder of Paul's theology and practice of church multiplication. Here you will find solid biblical scholarship integrated with grounded reflection on missions."

"This book stands tall in the forest of studies on Paul's missionary methods. Utilizing the significant contributions of widely respected missiologists, the editors have managed to focus on timeless issues while providing thought-provoking application for today. This will be a must-read for the thoughtful missionary and serious student alike."

Tom Elliff

"Overall, this is a very helpful book. As I have recommended Missionary Methods to hundreds of aspiring missionaries and mission leaders, I will now also recommend Paul's Missionary Methods as a companion volume."

Don Dent

"Paul said, 'Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.' This volume not only examines important issues associated with the apostle's ministry; it offers readers the requisite vision for pursuing Christ's mission in the first place."

Chris Castaldo

"The editors of this book have combined biblical and missiological scholarship that further enhances the relevance of Roland Allen's piece Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours?, while also moving us beyond it to the challenges of a new century. Perhaps the most salient insight rendered is the reminder that each generation should avoid simple replication of the methods Allen assessed but should resubmit to the call to ascertain whether or how our missionary actions reflect biblical patterns and then take corrective measures where needed. Correction entails constructive self-study, which is always an emotive challenge. Missionaries, globally engaged pastors, students and mission administrators should read this, mark it up, think through its implications, and do the hard work of analysis for our time."

Dr. Keith Eitel

"This text . . . is well worth reading from a general interest in mission and in Biblical studies and is likely to be one of the key contemporary books on Paul for the next number of years."

Stephen Skuce

"This book is a fresh reminder of Paul's theology and practice of church multiplication. Here you will find solid biblical scholarship integrated with grounded reflection on missions."

Daniel Montgomery

"The editors of this book have combined biblical and missiological scholarship that further enhances the relevance of Roland Allen's piece Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours?, while also moving us beyond it to the challenges of a new century. Perhaps the most salient insight rendered is the reminder that each generation should avoid simple replication of the methods Allen assessed but should resubmit to the call to ascertain whether or how our missionary actions reflect biblical patterns and then take corrective measures where needed. Correction entails constructive self-study, which is always an emotive challenge. Missionaries, globally engaged pastors, students and mission administrators should read this, mark it up, think through its implications, and do the hard work of analysis for our time."

Doctor - Keith Eitel