Why New Testament Mission?
It can be difficult to know where to begin in finding a program in New Testament studies, and whether a given program suits your purposes. The Graduate Certificate in New Testament Mission bridges the gap between the first century and what God is calling you to do today in the 21st century. By completing this graduate certificate, you will gain the following abilities:
- Ability to interpret the New Testament from a missional perspective while grounding your understanding in first-century cultures, its complex story-like unity with the Old Testament, and its multifaceted witness to the climactic nature of Jesus and his work.
- Ability to evaluate the message of Jesus, the training methods he used, how he collaborated with others, how he demonstrated his compassion for individuals and groups, and how he discipled his followers to take the good news to others.
- Ability to evaluate the message and methods of the disciples as they carried out Christian mission in the first century and how they contextualized their approach in light of the unique first-century cultures they faced.
- Ability to analyze the theology of the Apostle Paul through consideration of his role as a missionary and his message, task, methods, tactics and missional goals as he followed the Holy Spirit's direction, financed his missional enterprise, and responded to suffering and urbanized societies.
- Ability to analyze key themes in the outworking of the mission of God in areas such as the people of God, suffering, and persecution, the shame/dishonour of ancient society and how that influences understanding the biblical text, the believer as a pilgrim and resident aliens and the challenges of submission to authorities and maintaining a courageous witness to the Lord.
- Ability to evaluate overarching themes of redemption, reconciliation, restoration, renewal, and resurrection in light of the theological, economic, social, and ethical implications in the Old and New Testaments and their bearing on ethics and eschatology (theological considerations of death, judgment, and final destiny of the soul and humankind).
The Graduate Certificate in New Testament Mission guarantees three things: an adherence to the principles and practice of the critical study of the New Testament as an academic discipline, a precise focus on mission theory and practice as witnessed in the New Testament, and practical advice on applying and translating the wisdom of the first apostles and evangelists to your own missional context. Taught by faculty with an international background in teaching the New Testament at all levels in a number of different cultural contexts, and with both a passion and experience in preparing students for ministry and mission, the certificate program offers a quick and effective way to grow your academic, missional, and practical knowledge and skills.
