Michael Goheen and Reading the Bible Missionally (Gupta)

I have long admired Michael Goheen’s work and my students have raved about his book A Light to the Nations (which I used as a textbook a handful of years ago). Recently I spent part of my spring break teaching at Goheen’s institute called The Missional Training Center. It is an impressive educational context that focuses on forming pastors and Christian leaders in a mentorship setting. I shared with his students some of my reflections on bringing the theology of the Gospel of John to life in the church.

Speaking of Goheen’s work, I recently read the excellent work he edited called Reading the Bible Missionally (Eerdmans). It boasts a remarkable list of contributors including Bauckham on mission as hermeneutic, Chris Wright on reading the OT missionally, NT Wright on reading the NT missionally, Joel Green on James, and Dean Flemming on Colossians. I recall a few years ago a respected NT scholar saying that he has stopped talking about “missional” because it is too faddish. I think that is a mistake – I think we can fight for retaining and clarifying the best of how this helps us read Scripture and think and act Christianly. This book is a great opportunity to reflect on where the discussion has come in the last few decades, and it is also not a bad starting place for those students who are just entering the discussion. I admire Goheen’s passion and single-mindedness. In the book, Goheen has a nice chapter on preaching, and another one on theological education. Check it out.