The Missions and Missional Purpose of Ephesians: Participation in the Mission of God

by Timothy A. van Aarde, John D. Woods (Foreword by)

Overview

The purpose of the letter to the Ephesians is unknown. The book suggests that the purpose of Ephesians is about missions and being missional. The author of Ephesians committed the task of missions to the church. The author located the mission of the church in the redemptive plan of God. The redemptive "plan" (oikonomia) of God consists of historical epochs of missions: the mission of Israel, the mission of Christ, the mission of the disciples, the mission of the apostles, and the mission of the church. The term "missional" has been used ambiguously. The existence of a distinction between the mission of the church and missional church is demonstrated, and both expressions of mission are grounded in the biblical text of Ephesians. The mission of the church is grounded in an exposition of Eph 1-3, and the missional church is grounded in an exposition of Eph 4-6. The author of the letter intended for the mission to the nations to be continued by the church (this is the mission of the church). He intended for the members of the church to continue to reach out to their local community (this is expressed by the missional church). The mission of the church has been grounded in the Great Commission. The missional church is grounded in the values, morals, and lifestyle principles set out in Eph 4-6.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666714470
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	01/12/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	410
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Timothy A. Van Aarde served as a missionary with Burundi Mission, a nonprofit organization, formed to address the need for theological training in the church in Burundi after the civil war ended (2005) from 2008 until 2014. Van Aarde served as researcher for North West University, South Africa (2014–2017), is currently a research associate of the Department of New Testament and Related Literature, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, and part of the MA development team for Veritas College International, Australia (2018). Van Aarde has served as a voluntary hospital chaplain (2018–2021) and church planter (2020–2021). He is an ordained and accredited pastor with the BCWA (Baptist Church of Western Australia).

Timothy A. Van Aarde served as a missionary with Burundi Mission, a nonprofit organization, formed to address the need for theological training in the church in Burundi after the civil war ended (2005) from 2008 until 2014. Van Aarde served as researcher for North West University, South Africa (2014–2017), is currently a research associate of the Department of New Testament and Related Literature, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, and part of the MA development team for Veritas College International, Australia (2018). Van Aarde has served as a voluntary hospital chaplain (2018–2021) and church planter (2020–2021). He is an ordained and accredited pastor with the BCWA (Baptist Church of Western Australia).

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“I am delighted to recommend this new and important work on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The commentary is characterized by thoughtful and careful exegesis as well as pastoral reflection. Readers will be blessed by the valuable insights that Timothy van Aarde has provided by approaching this much-loved Pauline letter from an understanding that its overall purpose is shaped and informed by missions and a missional framework.”

—David S. Dockery, president, International Alliance for Christian Education



“In Ephesians, Paul expounds and rejoices in God’s fulfillment of his plans for his people and his world throughout the ages in Christ. The dynamics of this fulfillment, and the church’s ongoing involvement in them, are not always appreciated in New Testament scholarship. In this detailed reading of Ephesians, Timothy van Aarde applies a range of missiological insights, highlighting the value of Ephesians for missions and missional thinking and action today.”

—Lionel J. Windsor, author of Reading Ephesians and Colossians after Supersessionism: Christ’s Mission through Israel to the Nations



“Timothy van Aarde brings together careful biblical interpretation and informed missiological discussion to provide an invaluable perspective on the letter to the Ephesians. He brings clarity to the missiological discussion while highlighting the missional purposes of God revealed in this letter. Whether you are seeking a deeper understanding of the biblical text or insight into the missional conversation, this book will serve you well.”

—Tim Silberman, lecturer in missions, Sydney Missionary and Bible College



“Using an interdisciplinary lens by combining missiology and New Testament studies, Timothy van Aarde opens a fresh perspective on reading Ephesians, forcefully arguing that the letter provides a solid biblical basis for missions and the missional church. For those interested in what it really means for the church to be missional, this book is a must-read.”

—Ernest van Eck, professor of New Testament, Knox College



“Timothy van Aarde’s interpretive approach to the Epistle to the Ephesians brings out Paul as a missionary, pastor, and theologian. Van Aarde gives a reasonable argument for the missional purpose of Ephesians. The contemporary church has been slowly losing the missional focus of engaging with its local community. This book demonstrates why and how the church can regain its missional nature and is essential for the church leader who wants their church to regain its missional calling.”

—Victor Owuor, director of ministries, Baptist Churches Western Australia



“In a time when the ideas and language of the corporate world has overwhelmed the church, The Missions and Missional Purpose of Ephesians is an invaluable reminder of what Jesus meant by ‘mission.’ This is a solid, well-researched explanation of what Timothy van Aarde explains is the dominant theme of the Letter to the Ephesians. As a resource for pastors and teachers and those concerned with advancing the kingdom of God, it is a valuable addition to their library which I heartily recommend and endorse.”

—Richard W. Foster, senior pastor, Australind Baptist Church



“In this book, Timothy van Aarde shows how Paul carefully interweaves ecclesiology and

Christology in a missions and missional dynamic which results from God’s loving, salvific character and ongoing missional engagement with the world in and through the church. The Letter to Ephesians participates in the unfolding of God’s plan to lead the church to maturity and equip it to transform the world through the good news of salvation in Christ. This book deserves thoughtful and prayerful reading. I highly recommend this book to academics and pastors alike.”

—Andre van Oudtshoorn, principal, Perth Bible College



“The readers of Timothy van Aarde’s book will discover that the author of Ephesians had in mind to commit to the church the task of proclaiming to the nations the gospel and that this gospel had to be practically lived out in the local community, in word and deed (Eph 1–3). Consequently, the early church practiced a form of mission to the local community that has been rediscovered in the modern context as the missional church (Eph 4–6). Such a missional reading of the Scriptures is needed today.”

—Fohle Lygunda li-M, author of Transforming Missiology: An Alternative Approach to Missiological Education



“I rejoice that Timothy van Aarde’s work on Ephesians is ready for publication. It is remarkable that he has continued his work as a pastor and assisted other churches, worked in hospital chaplaincy, continued to raise a family, and still managed to finish a work such as this. Van Aarde’s work embodies reflections from many sources and will provide many points of insight and reflection for scholars, missionaries, pastors, and devout readers of Scripture.”

—Mike Bullard, ministry support pastor, Baptist Churches Western Australia

Editorial Reviews

I am delighted to recommend this new and important work on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The commentary is characterized by thoughtful and careful exegesis as well as pastoral reflection. Readers will be blessed by the valuable insights that Timothy van Aarde has provided by approaching this much-loved Pauline letter from an understanding that its overall purpose is shaped and informed by missions and a missional framework.”

—David S. Dockery, president, International Alliance for Christian Education



“In Ephesians, Paul expounds and rejoices in God’s fulfillment of his plans for his people and his world throughout the ages in Christ. The dynamics of this fulfillment, and the church’s ongoing involvement in them, are not always appreciated in New Testament scholarship. In this detailed reading of Ephesians, Timothy van Aarde applies a range of missiological insights, highlighting the value of Ephesians for missions and missional thinking and action today.”

—Lionel J. Windsor, author of Reading Ephesians and Colossians after Supersessionism: Christ’s Mission through Israel to the Nations



“Timothy van Aarde brings together careful biblical interpretation and informed missiological discussion to provide an invaluable perspective on the letter to the Ephesians. He brings clarity to the missiological discussion while highlighting the missional purposes of God revealed in this letter. Whether you are seeking a deeper understanding of the biblical text or insight into the missional conversation, this book will serve you well.”

—Tim Silberman, lecturer in missions, Sydney Missionary and Bible College



“Using an interdisciplinary lens by combining missiology and New Testament studies, Timothy van Aarde opens a fresh perspective on reading Ephesians, forcefully arguing that the letter provides a solid biblical basis for missions and the missional church. For those interested in what it really means for the church to be missional, this book is a must-read.”

—Ernest van Eck, professor of New Testament, Knox College



“Timothy van Aarde’s interpretive approach to the Epistle to the Ephesians brings out Paul as a missionary, pastor, and theologian. Van Aarde gives a reasonable argument for the missional purpose of Ephesians. The contemporary church has been slowly losing the missional focus of engaging with its local community. This book demonstrates why and how the church can regain its missional nature and is essential for the church leader who wants their church to regain its missional calling.”

—Victor Owuor, director of ministries, Baptist Churches Western Australia



“In a time when the ideas and language of the corporate world has overwhelmed the church, The Missions and Missional Purpose of Ephesians is an invaluable reminder of what Jesus meant by ‘mission.’ This is a solid, well-researched explanation of what Timothy van Aarde explains is the dominant theme of the Letter to the Ephesians. As a resource for pastors and teachers and those concerned with advancing the kingdom of God, it is a valuable addition to their library which I heartily recommend and endorse.”

—Richard W. Foster, senior pastor, Australind Baptist Church



“In this book, Timothy van Aarde shows how Paul carefully interweaves ecclesiology and

Christology in a missions and missional dynamic which results from God’s loving, salvific character and ongoing missional engagement with the world in and through the church. The Letter to Ephesians participates in the unfolding of God’s plan to lead the church to maturity and equip it to transform the world through the good news of salvation in Christ. This book deserves thoughtful and prayerful reading. I highly recommend this book to academics and pastors alike.”

—Andre van Oudtshoorn, principal, Perth Bible College



“The readers of Timothy van Aarde’s book will discover that the author of Ephesians had in mind to commit to the church the task of proclaiming to the nations the gospel and that this gospel had to be practically lived out in the local community, in word and deed (Eph 1–3). Consequently, the early church practiced a form of mission to the local community that has been rediscovered in the modern context as the missional church (Eph 4–6). Such a missional reading of the Scriptures is needed today.”

—Fohle Lygunda li-M, author of Transforming Missiology: An Alternative Approach to Missiological Education



“I rejoice that Timothy van Aarde’s work on Ephesians is ready for publication. It is remarkable that he has continued his work as a pastor and assisted other churches, worked in hospital chaplaincy, continued to raise a family, and still managed to finish a work such as this. Van Aarde’s work embodies reflections from many sources and will provide many points of insight and reflection for scholars, missionaries, pastors, and devout readers of Scripture.”

—Mike Bullard, ministry support pastor, Baptist Churches Western Australia

From the Publisher