Mission in the Old Testament

Israel as a Light to the Nations

Second Edition

WALTER C. KAISER JR.

Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Grand Rapids, Michigan

© 2000, 2012 by Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kaiser, Walter C.

Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a light to the nations / Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.—2nd ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and indexes.

ISBN 978-0-8010-3997-3 (pbk.: alk. paper)

1. Missions—Biblical teaching. 2. Bible. O.T.—Criticism, interpretation, etc.

3. Jews—History—To 70 A.D. I. Title.

BS1199.M53K35 2012

266.009′01—dc23

2011048734

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations labeled KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

To the faithful teachers of missions and evangelism, all former or present colleagues and faithful friends:

In memory of:

Dr. Paul and Fran Hiebert

Dr. Herb and Winnie Kane

Dr. J. Christy Wilson Jr.

Dr. Art Johnston

Mrs. Eleanor Warner

And with appreciation for:

Dr. Robert and Mariette Coleman

Dr. David and Gertrude Hesselgrave

Mrs. Muriel Johnston

Dr. Peter and Vlasta Kuzmic

Dr. Lois McKinney

Dr. John and Peggy Nyquist

Dr. Ed and Annie Rommen

Dr. Tim and Julie Tennent

Dr. Tim Warner

Mrs. Betty Wilson

Contents

Preface to the Second Edition

Preface to the First Edition

Introduction

1. God’s Preparation for Missions in Genesis 1–11

2. God’s Plan for Missions in the Patriarchal and Mosaic Eras

3. God’s Promised Person for All—The Davidic King of Promise

4. God’s Purpose for Missions in the Psalter of Israel

5. God’s Use of Individuals to Reach Gentiles in the Old Testament

6. God’s Call to Israel to Be a Light to the Nations

7. God’s Persuasion of Jonah to Be His Witness with Other Prophets from Israel

8. God’s Call to the Missionary Paul Based on the Old Testament

Study and Discussion Questions

Glossary

Bibliography

Scripture Index

Subject Index

Author Index