Mission of God
Christopher Wright's comprehensive work emerged from his decades of biblical scholarship and cross-cultural ministry experience, addressing a fundamental shift in how Christians understand mission. Rather than viewing mission as something the church does for God, Wright argues that mission belongs to God himself, and the church exists to participate in what God is already doing in the world. This missio Dei perspective had gained traction in missiological circles, but Wright saw the need for a thorough biblical foundation that would demonstrate how God's mission forms the central narrative thread of Scripture.
Wright traces God's missionary heart from creation through the eschaton, showing how every major biblical theme serves God's redemptive purposes for all nations. He demonstrates that the Abrahamic covenant established a missionary framework where blessing comes through God's people to reach all families of the earth. The exodus reveals God's character to the nations through Israel's deliverance, while the law and Israel's national life were designed to be a witness to surrounding peoples. Wright argues that Israel's failure to embrace their missionary calling necessitated the exile, which paradoxically spread knowledge of Yahweh throughout the ancient world. He then shows how Jesus embodies and fulfills Israel's missionary vocation, and how the early church represents the restoration of God's missionary people. Throughout, Wright emphasizes that mission encompasses not just evangelism but God's comprehensive concern for justice, creation care, and human flourishing.
The work has become essential reading in evangelical missiology, reshaping how churches understand their purpose and identity. Wright's biblical theology provides theological grounding for holistic mission that includes social action alongside evangelism, influencing everything from seminary curricula to church planting strategies. His scholarship bridges the gap between academic biblical studies and practical missiology, making complex theological concepts accessible to practitioners. The book has proven particularly valuable for those seeking to move beyond colonial models of mission toward more biblically grounded approaches.
Who should read this: Pastors, missionaries, and theological students wrestling with the relationship between evangelism and social action will find Wright's biblical framework invaluable, though those seeking practical mission strategies rather than theological foundations may find the extensive exegetical work less immediately applicable.