IntroductionThe final section of our course focused on the missionary theologies of Paul, the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew and Mark), Luke-Acts, and John. The following paragraphs reflect points of interest discussed in class and gleaned from the weekly readings. Paul's Mission Theology The event of Spirit baptism recorded in Acts chapter 2 is one of the New Testament signs of God's universal reach after the Great Commission. However, Paul's life, testimony, and writings provide a striking example of the soterilogical expansion of the gospel, not only to Jews, but also to Gentiles. Paul recognizes this as “the mystery that has been hidden” (Col. 1:26). It is through the ministry of Paul, recorded in Acts and in the epistles, that the mission to the Gentiles occupies a central place. According to Wright, there is no greater passage that testifies to this than Ephesians 2:11-12. He states: “The passage goes on to show how the Gentiles became citizens of God’s country… members of God’s family… and God’s dwelling place. » (Wright, 523). Therefore, the centrality of Paul's writing, apart from emphasizing themes such as the Christ event, salvation, apostleship, ecclesiology, eschatology and the importance of one God , (Pachuau), is how God's saving work was manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Christ reaffirmed the universal call to other nations, the Gentiles, to enter into a covenant with Him. Synoptic – Matthew and Mark Theology of Mission There has been tension among scholars regarding Mark's missiological contribution. According to Köstenberger and O'Brien, the "importance of discipleship failure" and "lack of final commissioning" questions whether Mark is interested in...... middle of paper ... ...only Christ is creator, but he is lovingly sent as the Savior of the world. Third, John emphasizes the immediate connection between Jesus, the revealer of God's mission, and the sending/breathing upon the disciples (John 20:21-22). Even though there is no connection between Luke and John (in terms of time and space), it appears that John's gospel prepares the reader for the events of the coming of the Spirit and the missionary task of the Church. Conclusion Throughout the course, we have been reminded of the centrifugal and centripetal tension that exists when we read the Bible through a missiological lens. This tension is felt again as we read each of the preceding books of the New Testament. Yet when we view Scripture as a metanarrative (Wright), it becomes clear that God neither draws people nor scatters them, but both. Missions are from everywhere to everywhere.