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After Emmaus: How the Church Fulfills the Mission of Christ
“The church’s mission does not begin with the Great Commission, but is integrally related to the grand storyline of Scripture.” Did the Old Testament simply point to the coming of Christ and his saving work, or is there more to the story? After his resurrection, the Lord Jesus revealed how his suffering, glory, and mission plan for the nations are in fact central to the biblical story of redemption. After Emmaus shows how Christology and missiology are integrally connected throughout Scripture, especially in the teaching of Jesus and the apostles. Brian Tabb explains what Luke 24:46–47 reveals about God’s messianic promises in the Old Testament, their fulfillment in the New Testament, and the purpose of the church. By understanding Jesus’s last words to his disciples, Christians today will be motivated to participate in the Messiah’s mission.
272 pages, Paperback
Published November 16, 2021
6 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Brian J. Tabb
16 books5 followersBrian Tabb (PhD, London School of Theology) is Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Bethlehem College & Seminary.
Brian Tabb has been a full-time faculty member since 2009. He oversees academic programs at Bethlehem College & Seminary and teaches courses in hermeneutics, biblical languages, exegesis, and research. His research interests include suffering, the use of the OT in the NT, Acts, and Revelation. He also serves as managing editor for Themelios, published by The Gospel Coalition.
Brian is married to Kristin, has four children, and serves as an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church’s downtown campus. He enjoys reading good books, playing baseball and sledding with his kids, and cheering for the Minnesota Twins.
Brian Tabb has been a full-time faculty member since 2009. He oversees academic programs at Bethlehem College & Seminary and teaches courses in hermeneutics, biblical languages, exegesis, and research. His research interests include suffering, the use of the OT in the NT, Acts, and Revelation. He also serves as managing editor for Themelios, published by The Gospel Coalition.
Brian is married to Kristin, has four children, and serves as an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church’s downtown campus. He enjoys reading good books, playing baseball and sledding with his kids, and cheering for the Minnesota Twins.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 7, 2021
The story of redemption, fulfilled in Christ, fuels the mission of the church. It's more than just activity, but about the identity of the church as his witnesses. Jesus' revelation of himself on the road to Emmaus reminds us of this. The life of the early church reflects their ability to persevere in suffering and adversity and their response in prayerful witness.
If you're looking for a deeper understanding on Jesus' fulfillment of prophecy and how it impacted the life of the early church, this would be a good one.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
If you're looking for a deeper understanding on Jesus' fulfillment of prophecy and how it impacted the life of the early church, this would be a good one.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
January 2, 2022
First sentence: This is a book about reading the Bible with a focus on Christ and the church's mission in his name.
Tabb continues, "I seek to show that Jesus's teaching about his suffering, resurrection, and mission in Luke's gospel anticipates his paradigmatic summary of the Scriptures in Luke 24:46-47. I also explain that the apostles and their associates follow the risen Lord's model for reading the Law, Prophets, and Writings with concerted focus on the Messiah and his mission. Finally, I contend that the church today should adopt the same hermeneutical lens in our Bible reading, for it grounds our gospel message and galvanizes us to participate in Christ's global work."
The good news is that the preface tells you EXACTLY what to expect from this book. It also does well in showcasing the narrative style. One gets a sense right away that this will be a scholarly read with big words that add complexity and depth to the subject.
The concept is simple enough: CHRIST IS TO BE FOUND IN ALL OF SCRIPTURE. In the Law, the Prophets, the Writings. All of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Christ is the center of it all. But this book seems to dress up this super simple concept that is essential to the faith (in my opinion) and complicates it with scholarly analysis and precision.
I do agree with the basics of this one. "We all need the proper lenses when we read God's word so that we do not fail to see what is really there." Jesus is that lens.
So After Emmaus is a scholarly analysis of LUKE and ACTS (more Luke than Acts perhaps). Tabb argues that a proper understanding of LUKE is the KEY to "getting" the gospel message and mission right. Everything we need to know about the GOSPEL and the MISSION of the church can be found in Luke (and Acts). One can use Luke/Acts to help unpack the rest of Scripture.
The focus throughout remains on Jesus the Messiah.
Tabb continues, "I seek to show that Jesus's teaching about his suffering, resurrection, and mission in Luke's gospel anticipates his paradigmatic summary of the Scriptures in Luke 24:46-47. I also explain that the apostles and their associates follow the risen Lord's model for reading the Law, Prophets, and Writings with concerted focus on the Messiah and his mission. Finally, I contend that the church today should adopt the same hermeneutical lens in our Bible reading, for it grounds our gospel message and galvanizes us to participate in Christ's global work."
The good news is that the preface tells you EXACTLY what to expect from this book. It also does well in showcasing the narrative style. One gets a sense right away that this will be a scholarly read with big words that add complexity and depth to the subject.
The concept is simple enough: CHRIST IS TO BE FOUND IN ALL OF SCRIPTURE. In the Law, the Prophets, the Writings. All of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Christ is the center of it all. But this book seems to dress up this super simple concept that is essential to the faith (in my opinion) and complicates it with scholarly analysis and precision.
I do agree with the basics of this one. "We all need the proper lenses when we read God's word so that we do not fail to see what is really there." Jesus is that lens.
So After Emmaus is a scholarly analysis of LUKE and ACTS (more Luke than Acts perhaps). Tabb argues that a proper understanding of LUKE is the KEY to "getting" the gospel message and mission right. Everything we need to know about the GOSPEL and the MISSION of the church can be found in Luke (and Acts). One can use Luke/Acts to help unpack the rest of Scripture.
The focus throughout remains on Jesus the Messiah.
May 10, 2025
Helpful book connecting the church’s mission with the overarching story of the Bible.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews