This book reaches out to the growing number of missionaries, pastors, Bible translators and teachers, mission and theological educators and students dealing with communicating the Gospel. This is increasingly difficult in todays pluralist and global contexts. What was Gods message and how has spreading that message changed through the generations? The answer to that question requires a hermeneutical process that seeks to understand the biblical text and the context in which it was originally presented. R. Daniel Shaw and Charles Van Engen say that contemporary proclaimers of Gods word can model their approach after that of the writers of scripture, who reinterpreted and restated their received texts for their audiences. Thus, Gospel communication is impacted by the way humans know God. This, in turn, is informed by contexts. "Communicating Gods Word in a Pluralist World" draws lessons from the biblical authors themselves as a guide or how best to present Gods message.
R. Daniel Shaw is on the faculty of the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. in anthropology and served as a missionary in Papua New Guinea for 12 years. He is the author, co-author, or editor of 10 books. Charles Van Engen is Arthur F. Glasser Professor of the Biblical Theology of Mission at the Fuller Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America (RCA), holds a Ph.D. in missiology, and spent 12 years as a missionary in Mexico. He is the author or editor of more than a dozen books. Lamin Sanneh is D. Willis James Professor of Missions & World Christianity at the Yale University Divinity School.
Part 1 Part I-Faithful Communication: Gods Intention in Communicating to Human Beings: Textual Issues Chapter 2 The Intent of Faithful Communication Chapter 3 The Source of Faithful Communication Chapter 4 The Message of Faithful Communication Part 5 PART II-Appropriate Communication: The Communicators Presentation of Gods Intended Message: Theoretical Issues Chapter 6 Theologically Appropriate Communication Chapter 7 Communicationally Appropriate Communication Chapter 8 Culturally Appropriate Communication Part 9 PART III-Relevant Communication: The Receptors Understanding of Gods Intended Message: Contextual Issues Chapter 10 Seeking Relevant Communication Chapter 11 Enabling Relevant Communication Chapter 12 Pursuing Relevant Communication Chapter 13 Conclusion: Gods Word in a Pluralist World
...offers a timely and important account of the current policy climate and of the unfortunate consequences it inflicts on disadvantaged children and thier teachers. * Journal Of Children and Poverty *
stimulating and practical work.... * Mission Studies *
Shaw and Van Engen have addressed many issues that are germane to communicating the gospel in the context of societal and cultural pluralism. Accordingly, this book warrants a careful reading. -- Kenneth McElhanon, Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics
