일반서신들 속에 나타난 선교학적 주제들의 고찰

A Study of the Missiological Themes Revealed in the General Epistles

This study discussed some missiological themes revealed in the general epistles(Hebrews, James, Ⅰ and Ⅱ Peter, Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ John, and Jude).It explored some main issues concerning cross-cultural missions as well as missional ecclesiology in light of God’s mission. General epistles did not reflect the “sending” dimension of missions such the Great Commission shown in the Gospels and Acts. In other words, they did not largely indicate centrifugal characteristics of cross-cultural missions. However, they addressed some significant missiological issues when they were viewed from the perspective of holistic mission overcoming the barriers between evangelical approach and ecumenical one. First, the ingredient of the gospel message was included in the general epistles. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and his resurrection according to prophecies was strongly implied and shown in the general epistles. In particular, Hebrews presupposed the resurrection of Jesus Christ while reinterpreting the meaning of the blood of the Lamb in view of the Old Testament background(Lev. 16:8). The general epistles made it clear that the gospel is superior to angels, Abraham, Moses, and Aaron by maintaining that the essence of the gospel is Jesus Christ. Second, the early church had to endure persecutions and trials to keep its faith pure in critical times while it was involved in mission work for the world like Jesus Christ has experienced pain in redeeming the world(Mt. 10:22, 34-39; Mk. 8:34-35). Heb. 11:35ff especially showed how the early church went through severe persecutions and trials like flogging, imprisonment, and death by the sword. However, the early church experienced healthy growth in the hope and power of the resurrection. God’s kingdom was expanded through the church’s witness as well as its sweat, blood, and tears. Third, faith and action must go together because they are like the two wings of a bird. As James emphasized, faith without action is dead. The early church was built up especially through Christian love in the lives of the believers. What was needed to strengthen the body of Christ was not lip service but real service. The early church ministered to the felt needs of the poor, the sick, and the isolated. Christian missions need to reach secular people with Christ’s love as well as God’s word and lead them to the kingdom of God. Fourth, the early church survived in the midst of oppression and hardship during the era of Roman empire while it followed the way of Jesus Christ as pilgrims. The early church’s believers overcame every crisis with an eschatological hope based on their solid faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who was the source of eternal life. They expected the final triumph when the resurrected Lord will come again. They looked to the Lord’s day when they would win the crown of righteousness.Christian missions are carried out between “already” and “not yet.” Fifth, the early church stressed that the believers’ holy lives were sanctified through the blood of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. They needed to go beyond their personal holiness to their total commitment to the Lord in terms of world evangelization.The early church’s missions were effectively carried out in the form of holistic mission which applied social holiness to their actual lives. The constant gospel message needed to be incarnated among the people’s Sitz im Leben. Christian missions need to reform the evil social structure so that the people can experience God’s kingdom. Sixth, the early church was warned against various heresies including Gnosticism and false teaching. In particular, Ⅱ Peter, Ⅰ John, and Jude tried to defend the Christian church’s orthodoxy from theological confusion and religious syncretism. The early church needed to stick to the apostles’ teaching which was also given from the Lord Jesus Christ.