Mission of the Church

James P. Ware received his Ph.D. in New Testament and Ancient Christianity in 1996 from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. He is an Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana, where he has taught since 1995.

• PrefaceIntroductionPART ONE: CONVERSION OF GENTILES IN ANCIENT JUDAISMChapter One: The Problem of Jewish Mission1.1 Introduction1.2 Evidence of Gentile Converts1.3 Evidence of Gentile Sympathizers or “God-fearers”1.3.1 The Term “God-fearer” as a Designation for Gentile Sympathizers1.3.2 The Number of Partial Converts in Antiquity 1.4 Evidence of Jewish Missionary Activity1.5 Conclusion Chapter Two: Conversion of Gentiles in Isaiah and Elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible2.1 Introduction2.2 The Nations in Isaiah and Elsewhere in the Old Testament2.3 Conversion of Gentiles in Isaiah 40-552.4 The Servant of the Lord in Isaiah 40-552.5 ConclusionChapter Three: Conversion of Gentiles and Interpretation of Isaiah3.1 Introduction3.2 LXX Isaiah3.2.1 Conversion of Gentiles in Greek Isaiah3.2.2 The Servant in Greek Isaiah3.3 Targum Isaiah3.4 Sibylline Oracles 3.573-6003.5 Wisdom of Solomon 2:12-5:13, 17:2-18.43.5.1 Wis 2:12-5:13 3.5.2 Wis 17:2-18:43.6 The Parables of Enoch 48, 623.7 Philo of Alexandria3.7.1 On Repentance (Virt 175-186)3.7.2 De specialibus legibus 2.162-67; De Vita Mosis 1.149; De Abrahamo 983.7.3 De Vita Mosis 2.43-443.8 Romans 2:17-293.9 Testament of Levi 14.3-4; 4QLevi-a ar 3-5=4Q213 3-53.10 ConclusionConclusion to Part One PART TWO: MISSION IN PHILIPPIANSChapter Four: The Progress of the Gospel in Philippians 1:12-18a4.1 Introduction4.2 The Gospel in Philippians4.3 Philippians 1:12-14: Paul’s Imprisonment and the Progress of the Gospel4.4 Philippians 1:15-18a: Mission and Division at Rome4.5 ConclusionChapter Five: Suffering and Mission in Philippians 1:18b-2:115.1 Introduction5.2 Philippians 1:18b-20: Mission and Salvation5.3 Philippians 1:21-26: Consecration to the Gospel5.4 Philippians 1:27-2:4: The Sign of Salvation5.5 Philippians 2:5-11: The Example of Christ Jesus5.6 ConclusionChapter Six: The Mission of the Church in Philippians 2:12-186.1 Introduction6.2 Philippians 2:12-13: The Work of the Philippians and of God6.2.1 Philippians 2:12 in its Literary Context6.2.2 The Activity of God in Philippians 2:136.3 Philippians 2:14-15: Eschatology and Mission6.4 The Meaning of the Verb ejpevcw in Philippians 2:16a6.5 Philippians 2:16b-18: The Church’s Mission and the Mission of Paul6.5.1 The Priestly Activity of the Philippians in 2:17-186.5.2 Paul’s Apostolic Self-Description in 2:16b6.6 ConclusionConclusionBibliographyIndex

'This study represents a fresh approach to the issue of the mission of the churches in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The author has an impressive grasp of the secondary literature; the book contains a comprehensive bibliography forty-three pages in length. The arguments are presented in a well-ordered way, and Ware’s exegesis of Phil 1:12–2:18 is thorough and extensive. [...] This volume is a welcome addition to a steadily growing literature on the issue of mission in the New Testament, particularly its role in the life and letters of Paul, and a refreshing volume in a prestigious series of New Testament studies. Both missiology students of the history of the early Christian mission and New Testament scholars should find this volume worthy of reading and further discussion.'Torrey Seland, Review of Biblical Literature, 2007'... [Ware] legt ... eine interessante Interpretation von Philipper 1:12-2:18 vor.'Christoph Stenschke, Novum Testamentum, 2009'Ware offers an excellent analysis of a key New Testament passage on the suffering and persecution of Christians and its relation to salvation.' Christoph Stenschke, International Journal of Religious Freedom 5, 2012