Holiness and the Missio Dei

by Andy Johnson

In Holiness and the Missio Dei, Andy Johnson takes the reader on a biblical journey that explores the question of what holiness or sanctification has to do with God's mission in the world. He refuses to relegate the idea of humans becoming holy to the realm of individual inward piety or legalism, on the one hand, or to the realm of the impossible prior to Christ's return, on the other. Using a missional lens to guide the reader into a theological engagement with Scripture, Johnson argues that God's primary means of making us holy is through our participation in his saving, reconciling mission to bring creation to its intended destiny. As we become and remain part of an ecclesia, we are corporately and personally shaped by the Spirit into the image of the cruciform Son through participation in the missio Dei, and thereby are being restored into the image of the holy God--the imago Dei. This book is written primarily for church leaders, for students, and for academics who are interested in missional readings of Scripture. It will challenge those who read it to re-articulate the church's becoming holy as being inseparably connected to its active participation in God's mission.

236 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2016

About the author

I've taught at Nazarene Theological Seminary since the fall of 2002 where I'm Professor of New Testament. I am the author of numerous scholarly and popular articles, a co-editor of Holiness and Ecclesiology in the New Testament (Eerdmans, 2007), an associate editor of the Wesley Study Bible (Abingdon, 2009), and part of the translation team of the Common English Bible (2011). My most recent publications include 1 & 2 Thessalonians in the Between Two Horizons commentary series (Eerdmans, 2016) and Holiness and the Missio Dei (Cascade, 2016). I'm currently at work on a book that reflects my career long interest in the theme of resurrection in scripture and theology. It is tentatively titled: Resurrection in Biblical and Theological Context.

I'm also an avid Kansas City Royals and Kansas Jayhawks (basketball!) fan and a youth baseball and basketball coach. The happiest time of my year is when I'm standing over on third base giving signs to my kids at the plate and I'm fully convinced that baseball will be a part of God's new creation about which I love to write!

Reviews

[Marvin Breshears · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fresh look at holiness

Enjoyed the truth Andy brings out as he displays God's desire for His people who truly want to take on the imageo die. Good read. Thank you Andy for the challenge to live as God's holy people.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Johnson uses insightful stories and writes with an impressive understanding in order to bring this book to life. I highly recommend giving it a try.