Why Mission?

What is God's mission for communities of faith?

Recent years have seen heightened interest in how to read scripture
from a missional perspective. This book addresses that question by
exploring both how the New Testament bears witness to the mission of God
and how it energizes the church to participate in that mission. It also
makes a distinctive contribution by applying a missional reading to a
variety of New Testament books, offering insights into New Testament
theology and serving today’s discussions about mission and the church.

“Dean Flemming has written a game-changing book on the interpretation
of scripture for the mission of the church. This relatively slim but
rich volume is absolutely mandatory reading for all serious students of
the New Testament and for all who wish to understand the church's
participation in the mission of God. It should be on the syllabus of
every ecclesially focused course on the New Testament and every
biblically attuned course in ecclesiology and in missiology.” —Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD

“I am always grateful when another book by Dean Flemming appears. His
writing arises out of his significant cross-cultural experience, his
outstanding scholarship, and his careful listening to the Spirit in the
text. This book is written clearly and is full of nourishing insight.” —Michael W. Goheen, Professor of Missiology, Calvin
Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI; former Geneva Chair of Worldview
Studies, Trinity Western University, Langley, BC; and Teaching Fellow
in Mission Studies, Regent College, Vancouver, BC

“‘Why mission?’ is a critical question, one not asked or understood
often enough. Here is a stirring reading of the New Testament that
demonstrates a living triune God on mission, bringing redemption to the
world through a living apostolic church. So much rich theological
interpretation packed into a small book!” —Nijay K. Gupta, assistant professor of New Testament, George Fox Evangelical Seminary, Portland, OR

“Since writing The Mission of God, I have felt guilty that
it paid so much more attention to a missional reading of the Old than of
the New Testament. This fine book relieves me of that guilt. This is an
outstandingly clear and faithful exposition of what it means to read
the New Testament from the perspective of, and with the intention of
participating in, the mission of God as revealed in the whole Bible.” —Christopher J. H. Wright, International Ministries Director, Langham Partnership