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Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Aug 13, Kessia Reyne rated it really liked it Shelves: A nice, short book in which Kaiser defends his thesis that, contrary to popular opinion, the mission of Israel in the Old Testament was not centripetal and passive, but rather central to the covenant with Yahweh and an active, centrifugal mission. I think that he did a great job bursting the common notion that the election of the Jewish nation was to salvation or was somehow exclusive; he argues well that it was rather an election to mission.

That says something about the election of a remnant, A nice, short book in which Kaiser defends his thesis that, contrary to popular opinion, the mission of Israel in the Old Testament was not centripetal and passive, but rather central to the covenant with Yahweh and an active, centrifugal mission.

That says something about the election of a remnant, perhaps? His argument about the nature of that mission, however, was less persuasive. Exactly in which way did God intend for Israel to reach the world with the truth? That is a central question that was never addressed. However, it was well worth the few hours that it took to read and I found it a helpful resource on the topic. Sep 09, Bethany rated it really liked it.

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Deep in a way that I needed to read it slowly and digest. Academic while still being understandable. It pointed me to scripture over and over again and made me fall more deeply in love with God and His massive plan for us. The book gives a solid glimpse into the broad story arc between the Old and New Testaments and how the mission paradigm in both rely on one another.

I learned a lot and will continue to ruminate. Jun 04, Evan Gartman rated it it was amazing. Despite being short, this book is packed with information. Chapter four was by far my favorite and the most eye opening. Kaiser expounds on Psalms 67 and 96 in such great detail that I could not help but give praise to God. This book is absolutely a must read. Feb 25, Chris Armer rated it liked it. I rate this book only 3 stars based upon the author's argumentation to support his thesis. His evidence, exegesis, and logic are greatly lacking.

There are far better books that address this subject for those interested. Sep 20, Troy Neujahr rated it really liked it. Walter Kaiser's passion for missions is evident throughout this book, as is his dedicated pursuit of the fact that God's people--in both Old and New Testament--have always had the task of proclaiming His wonders to the world. I agree with his conclusions. But there are several stones left unturned. Kaiser rightly grasps that is is and always has been faith--and faith alone--that saves. More specifically, it is faith in Jesus Christ, who in the Old Testament lay in shadow as the promised Messiah, Walter Kaiser's passion for missions is evident throughout this book, as is his dedicated pursuit of the fact that God's people--in both Old and New Testament--have always had the task of proclaiming His wonders to the world.

More specifically, it is faith in Jesus Christ, who in the Old Testament lay in shadow as the promised Messiah, that is the proper focus of saving faith. But Kaiser does not engage with the concrete form that faith takes, nor the concrete form of God's promises. In the Old Testament, faith is made concrete in the temple, and it is there that God's promises of forgiveness, of redemption, of unity with His people are revealed in their concrete form. Kaiser also speaks of only half of what is truly "mission. We today would call that evangelism. But mission, deeply understood, involves more than proclamation: There is a missionary arc in which God's people go out and tell, but do so for the purpose of gathering back in.

In his sincere and well-motivated efforts to declare mission to be centrifugal, Kaiser neglects the genuine centripetal aspect of God's will that all should be gathered in to Him and His presence.

Not having read enough of Kaiser, perhaps it is true that he engages those aspects in other writings. And perhaps it is true that this slim volume simply does not have the space to explore those aspects. Whatever may be the case, Mission in the Old Testament is nevertheless a valuable missiological read as it stands. You will benefit from coming to understand that God's mission is not a New Testament development, but is something that has always been a part of His mission for His people.

I think we can fall into the trap of seeing the Old Testament being focused solely on God as the Jewish God rather than God as the universal creator, sustainer, and redeemer. This book helps us see how God has had compassion on all people since the beginning of time and intended for Israel to be a witness and a light to the Gentiles. I really appreciate the arguments Kaiser makes here but I wish he had a chapter dedicated to rereading the more nationalistic texts in the Old Testament.

He is grea I think we can fall into the trap of seeing the Old Testament being focused solely on God as the Jewish God rather than God as the universal creator, sustainer, and redeemer. In this book Kaiser goes back much farther. He says that God has always had a missionary heart for the whole world, and desired from the earliest Old Testament times for the whole world to know of the coming Man of Promise-and for Israel to be His active emissary in spreading that news.

First, the Bible begins with the protoevangelium i.

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It is most clearly expressed in Genesis In keeping with this, the Exodus narrative Even Peter echoes this understanding in Acts 3: Outline of the Thesis After this promising start, Kaiser develops these themes in six chapters: Chapter wise Analysis 7. In the First Chapter, Kaiser begins by elaborating on the overall plan of God to reclaim a world gone wrong.

Kaiser mentioned three crises that fell on humanity as a result of their sins: However, with each crisis came a promise from God that formed the worldwide blessing of God to all mortals and given the words of grace Gen. In order that you may be a blessing; I will bless those who bless you, And whosoever curses you I will curse. The whole purpose of God was to bless one people so that they might be a channel through which all the nations on earth might receive a blessing. The redemption promised is not exclusive theirs, rather they have the pleasure of carrying this good news to all nations.

Based on Exodus Peter further claims that all the Psalms could be labeled as missionary psalms with direct missionary messages and challenges and given special emphasis on Psalms 2, 33, 66, 72, 98,, and to set his claims.

The three reasons fit into the three strophes already observed as the structure used here and probably directly imitating the structure of Genesis The reason is because God rules and guides all nations Ps. God is not a judge in the judicial, condemning cases, but a royal ruler who rules in righteousness. He is the shepherd of all nations just as a great shepherd predicted in Psalms He will reign, as Psalm 72 promised, wherever the sun sojourns. In the Third Chapter, Kaiser shifts his focus from the macro to the micro giving several examples of individual Jews sent to missions among the gentiles.

Here he continues to argue that Genesis Jethro , a priest in Median, who brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God as Aaron and all the elders of Israel broke bread together and participated in the joint worship of the living God Exo. Later she married Boaz; the son she bore was the grandfather of David, in the line of Messiah.

Though Naaman is far from orthodox in his understanding of appropriate worship as the story closes, the reader is to understand that God can surely perfect the work He has begun. Yahweh is sovereign and the God of all the nations.

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To prove the universalism of Yahweh, Kaiser, details through use of the Servant songs i. It can also be a collective and corporate term. Here Kaiser, took Jeremiah 5: The Covenant people, according to Kaiser, cannot be simply identified with all Israel, but with a faithful remnant within that group. The Servant being a Covenant people of God, Yahweh will take hold of that remnant of Israel by the hand to guide them to the mission of witnessing.

This is what the Lord had commanded Paul and Barnabas: Though much of Servant Songs are prophetic about the coming Messiah it also implicates Israel to be a light to the nations teaching them the manner of serving Yahweh.

Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations by Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

The book of Jonah is the account of a man who was sent by God to preach in the gentile capital city of Assyria, Ninevah. His book needs to be read carefully with an open Bible to absorb the rich panorama of God's mission heart. Christians who study this book will more fully understand the wonder of God's grace and gain a fuller appreciation of the continuance of God's mission of love from Old Testament times into our contemporary era. Kaiser's thesis is a compelling one.

Evangelical readers who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the Old Testament will find Kaiser's book to be a source of both information and comfort. He has produced a valuable volume. The many insights offered make the volume a useful resource. He knows how to make his case so that students and churchmen will appreciate it. The book is a helpful introduction to missionary themes in the Old Testament. Its brevity, its price, and its language should make it attractive to prospective readers.

Walter Kaiser questions the notion that the New Testament represents a deviation from God's supposed intention to save only the Israelites. He argues that--contrary to popular opinion--the older Testament does not reinforce an exclusive redemptive plan.