Bible Studies
Paul, The Cross-Cultural MissionaryJohn Reid
Paul inherited in his mission theology the priority of the Jew to hear and to respond to the Gospel. His obligation to the Jews never wavered. In Romans
10:1 he wrote 'my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may
be saved'. At his conversion the prism of Jewish superiority was broken. In Acts 9:15
Ananias told him that it was God's will for him to take the Good News to the
Gentiles. In that conversion experience he learnt that faith alone
would be necessary for believing gentiles to receive the blessings of the
covenant. His missionary called coincided with his conversion to Christ (Acts
26:18).
Look it up: Romans 10:1 - Acts 9:15 - Acts 26:18
Paul was a Roman citizen and he saw that the provinces of the Roman Empire were the keys to his missionary endeavours. See the provinces listed in Acts 19.21 and there was the strategy of ministering in Rome and getting to Spain. His Roman background led him to see his missionary as an ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20). He represented another king.
Look it up: Acts 19:21 - 2 Corinthians 5:20
He was remarkably flexible. He preached in synagogues, markets, down by the river and in homes. He saw the significance of the cities within the province. For instance in the province of Macedonia he majored on the cities of Philippi and Thessalonica.
Like Jesus he was a superb team man. Both men and women were in his teams. Very often the homes of his team players were used. In Philippi it was Lydia's house, in Thessalonica it was Jason's house. In Cenchrae it was Phoebe's house and so on.
He saw the planting of a congregation was necessary for a sustained missionary outreach within each province. In church planting he was a skilled master builder: (1 Corinthians 3:10). He laid a foundation of Christ crucified. This was the gospel. Then he presented himself as a model of the Christian life: (1 Corinthians 4:15), and with this example he gave them sustained teaching: (1 Corinthians 4:17). This included the discernment of the gifts of the Spirit if the work of Christ was to flourish. Then he encouraged the members of the congregations to be ceaseless in prayer for the preaching of the Gospel: Ephesians 6:18,19.
Look it up: 1 Corinthians 3:10 - 1 Corinthians 4:15 - 1 Corinthians 4:17 - Ephesians 6:18,19
Paul was a model of thoughtful and sacrificial mission.
See Part 1 of this Series: Mission in the Old Testament; and Part 2: Jesus, The Great Missionary.
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