[연구논문] 선교의 종말론적 특성에 관한 이해

This article is to trace the eschatological characteristics of mission. The New Testament witnesses that the early Christian communities understood the Great Commission(Matt. 28:19-20) as Jesus' eschatological commandment. Their mission was to witness Jesus as the crucified and resurrected Christ and the Coming Savior. As they expected an imminent eschaton and the Kingdom of God, like Jesus did, the early Christians were able to share all of their possession and to give up even their lives for the last day, ultimately for the proclamation of salvation. However, such characters have been weakened according to the delayed second coming of Jesus. Even some congregations have misinterpreted such eschatological natures of mission. For the healthy growth as well as the effective mission of the church, it is necessary to emphasize these characteristics. The Kingdom of God, namely the last day, is present 'already' but at the same time 'yet' to come. The Church is only an instrument of proclaiming the eschaton, because the mission of God is the reason for the existence of the church. In this sense, the emphasis on the 'creative' eschaton, which is the Kingdom of God in the creative tension between 'already' and 'not yet' , will be a powerful motive of mission.