Contextualization in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission

by Dean Flemming

Winner of a Christianity Today Book Award

Honored as one of the "Fifteen Outstanding Books for Mission Studies" by International Bulletin of Missionary Research

From Cairo to Calcutta, from Cochabamba to Columbus, Christians are engaged in a conversation about how to speak and live the gospel in today's traditional, modern and emergent cultures. The technical term for their efforts is contextualization....

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830828311
• ISBN13: 9780830828319
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Length: 344 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

great material

I've not finished reading the book, but several chapters in, I can say that it is an excellent resource. Flemming does a great job of correlating scripture with theory.

Outstandinf pastoral scholarship

Dean Flemming's book is an outstanding example of scholarship that serves a pastoral function. His approach towards contextualization yields rich results, for the academy and the church. Although primarily focused on the Pauline corpus he ventures wider providing insight along the way. This volume will be of great use to those engaged in missions cross-culturally and to the emerging post-Christian culture of the west.

Important Contribution for Contextualization

In this book, Flemming not only provides insight into issues of contextualization and expositions of the contextualization methodology of the NT writers; he has also given us a handbook to help in reading the NT reflectively with regard to re-contextualization of the NT for historically Christian cultures, as well as to assist others in contextualization of the gospel in their cultures. The reader will realize that the NT provides us with a rich compendium of case studies in theological contextualization in a variety of cross- and inter-cultural contexts, in each of which a particular worldview (with its beliefs, values, ethics and consequent behavior) is challenged, and where an alternative, biblical and gospel-centered worldview (with its own beliefs, values, ethics and consequent behavior) is presented in a variety of possible ways. There is no "one size fits all" approach. Each context is treated with sensitivity to the specific issues faced. What is crucial in this process is firstly a clear grasp of the bible narrative and its theology of redemption, and secondly, a sensitive but critical understanding of the culture with the ability to apprehend and build on the common ground, while at the same time, to challenge what does not align with the Bible's theological perspective. This is a wonderful contribution to the literature on contextualization. In my experience, missionaries do not appreciate the resource they have in Scripture for contextualization, or that good contextualization starts with good exegesis. Flemming's book is a great guide and rich resource. He has done a lot of spade work in grappling with a number of significant texts, and shown that the NT writers were already doing contextualization and how they did it! I am the Asia Training Coordinator in an international mission agency and am recommending this to my colleagues.

Biblical Insight for a Complex Challenge

As the emergent village dialogs to frame new paradigms, more orthodox churches and movements struggle to maintain their theological integrity while contextualizing their message. Dean Flemming, with teaching experience in southeast Asia and western Europe, contributes usefully to this discussion. Flemming, whose orientation is Wesleyan-Arminian, provides a careful and thorough study of the contextual ministry of New Testament authors, whom Flemming contends were highly aware of the cultural settings they addressed, framing their messages accordingly. Moving with an articulate grace through many Pauline passages, Flemming devotes the core of his book to Paul's efforts to contextualize both the transitional and cultural aspects of Christ's life --- e.g. his Jewish birth and heritage --- as well as the universal and transcultural realities of Christ's atoning death and subsequent resurrection. Flemming proposes that, among its other relevant characteristics, authentic contextualization is compellingly incarnational. Rich in theological and Biblical insight, this volume approaches an essentially missiological task from the broader framework of cross-cultural apologetics, informed by a scholar's passion for first-century Christian thought and experience. Greatly useful for those doing missiology today, this volume is also a first-rank contemporary study of key New Testament issues. (--- Together with wife Lisa, Dr. David Frisbie is co-Executive Director of The Center for Marriage and Family Studies in Del Mar, California. He is the author of four books and numerous articles on marriage and family life.)