“One Gospel For All Nations” Is Here!!

MY NEWEST BOOK IS NOW READY!!

It is titled One Gospel for All Nations: A Practical Approach to Biblical Contextualization. [TWEET THIS]

I’m thankful to William Carey Library for their vision and support in publishing this book. If you prefer paperback, they are offering a discount right now at their site.

Also, the Kindle version is ready, so just click here for the e-version.

In the coming weeks, I’ll introduce some of the questions and issues raised in the book. For now, I will give you a brief look at what endorsers have said as well as the table of contents.

Endorsements for the book

I am quite grateful for a wonderful group of people who were gracious enough to write endorsements. They come from a range of disciplines. This is especially encouraging because my desire has always been that this book would truly bring together theology and mission studies.

Michael Goheen

Michael Goheen wrote the Foreword for the book. As many of you know, Goheen has contributed significantly when it comes to the intersection of theology, missions, and worldview. His book The Drama of Scripture is among my favorites.

In the Foreword, he writes,

“ . . . what one sees in the book is precisely what should happen: sound biblical and theological reflection in the context of practice. As he seeks to answer the concrete question ‘how do we contextualize the gospel?’ he thinks more deeply and not less….Wu’s commitment to the Bible comes from within the evangelical tradition where scriptural authority is held in high regard. But this does not lead him simply to uncritically adopt Western evangelicalism. It is precisely his commitment to Scripture that leads him to criticize his own tradition at a number of points.”

“Jackson Wu has given us a sound book that will help us struggle with these questions in a way that is faithful to the Bible. His simple and clear writing style . . . will also help in this important quest.”

Goheen is Director of Theological Education and Scholar-in-residence at Missional Training Center—Phoenix

Scot McKnight

“It is easy to announce that “all theology is contextualization” or that “contextualization is complicated,” but it is another to do the actual work of contextualizing. In Wu’s book, we get not only theory about contextualization but a practical model for working out the most significant theme in the Bible: gospel. Entering into this book is to enter into recent biblical discussions about the gospel and missiology’s theories about contextualization. Wu even takes us to the heart of the matter when he shows what gospel looks like in the Chinese culture.”

McKnight has written The King Jesus Gospel and is professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary

Dean Flemming

“Many studies talk about contextualization in theory, but Jackson Wu wants to help equip missionaries and Christian workers to do it well. Wu gives his readers a model for contextualization that seeks to let the whole biblical narrative speak with a specific cultural accent, while at the same time interpreting and critiquing contemporary contexts through the lens of Scripture. But the real strength of this book comes when Wu shows us how his model works out in practice, as he beautifully retells the biblical story for Chinese people. Jackson Wu deserves thanks for a balanced and engaging contribution to our understanding and practice of contextualization.”

Flemming is the author of Contextualization in the New Testament and professor of New Testament and Missions, MidAmerica Nazarene University

Samuel Chiang

“The context of missions has changed. The pivot from the Gutenberg galaxy into the digital galaxy has taken place. How do people from different cultural worldviews make sense of the one true Gospel? A deep examination of the Scripture is required. Wu’s book calls us into a serious reflection in the work of contextualization and meaningful presentation of the Gospel. Wu offers a timeless perspective that is both theological and practical. I highly recommend your attention to One Gospel for All Nations.”

Chiang is the President and CEO of the Seed Company

Tom Steffen

“A practical book by a practical theologian who takes seriously the integration of biblical theology and missiology in relation to the gospel so that proclamation remains biblically based yet culturally calling.”

Steffen is emeritus professor of intercultural studies COOK School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University

David Bennett

“One sign of an excellent book is the number and variety of people with whom one is eager to share it. Again and again as I read One Gospel for All Nations, names of colleagues came to mind—pastors, Bible teachers, evangelists, seminary faculty, missionaries, heads of agencies, missions mobilizers, and cross-cultural workers in many different fields. In short, I would commend this book to anyone who wants to understand the Bible more fully or to communicate its message more clearly to others, locally or internationally. For those working in honor/shame cultures in particular, Wu’s work is essential reading.”

Bennett is the chief collaboration officer and teaching pastor for The Lausanne Movement

Mark M. Overstreet

“With honor and grace, Wu tackles the tough question of how the gospel may be understood and communicated to every culture. In this spirited and creative work, Wu begins with a biblical foundation, using the framework from the Scriptures to develop a clear and practical method for understanding the gospel and understanding cultures. He challenges narrow and short-sighted models, encouraging theologians, missionaries, and all Christians to get practical. In One Gospel for All Nations, he forms a clear, relevant, and timely challenge to communicate truth to every people. Throughout, he proposes a model that remains biblical faithful and culturally meaningful, so every nation can hear and understand the Gospel.”

Overstreet is vice president of T4 Global

What’s Inside?

Introduction: Biblically Faithful and Culturally Meaningful?

Section I: Contextualize or Compromise

Context Is King: A New Perspective on Contextualization
A Common Problem: Compromising the Gospel by Settling for Truth

Section II: A Firm and Flexible Model for Fluctuating Cultures

Pattern: How Does the Bible Frame the Gospel?
Priority: What Questions Does the Gospel Answer?
Perspective: What Is an “Implicit Gospel”?
Process: How Do We Move from Biblical Text to Cultural Context?

Section III: The One Gospel in Many Cultures

A Jewish Gospel among Gentiles: Using Acts 17 as a Test Case
A Chinese Biblical Theology: An Example of Exegetical Contextualization
The Gospel with Chinese Characteristics: An Example of Cultural Contextualization

Section IV: A Practical Perspective on Contextualization