KOINŌNIA FOR THE NATIONS: A BIBILICAL MODEL OF CHURCH-MISSIONARY PARTNERSHIP

Abstract

The Kingdom of God, inaugurated by Jesus Christ, is a global reign that will eventually extend the authority of God over people from all nations and languages. Such a future reality is not simply hoped for, but is the promised τέλος: “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end [τέλος] will come” (Matt 24:14 ESV; cf. Isa 66:18–20; Hab 2:14; Rev 7:9–10). In order to achieve the kingdom’s globularity God is sending his missionary heralds to the nations. Since Pentecost it is no longer acceptable for God’s people simply to invite the world to observe their covenantal relationship with God. Such a passive witness, largely used under the first covenant, has been replaced with the centrifugal impulse to take to gospel to the frontiers.  As the resurrected Christ explained “repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed . . . to all nations” (Luke 24:47). Apparently the church tentatively embraced this innovative approach to kingdom expansion since it was persecution, not missionary zeal, which moved them out from Jerusalem (Acts 8:1).  Eventually they caught on as the Antiochian Christian, under less forceful divine leadership, sent out Paul and Barnabas to take the gospel to the nations (Acts 13:1–3).