Church history Quote by Walter C. Kaiser Jr
““Up until the 1950s the subject of the missionary movement was referred to as "missions" in the plural form. In fact, the term "missions" was first used in its current context by the Jesuits in the sixteenth century. But the International Missionary Council discussions in the 1950s on the missio- Dei convinced most that the mission of the Triune God was prior to any of the number of missions by Christians during the two millennia of church history. Consequently, since there was only one mission, the plural form has dropped out of familir usage and the singular form, "mission," has replaced it for the most part. Nevertheless, most churches and lay-persons hang on the plural missions. For that reason, and to make our point clear here, we will refer to it in this work from time to time while alerting believers to the coming change.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Mission of God: Unlocking the Biblical Vision of Mission, 2008
The term “mission” shifted from a plural to a singular concept, emphasizing God’s overarching purpose over individual church activities.
In simple terms: God’s overall purpose is singular, not many separate missions.
Key Takeaway
Focus on God’s unified mission.
Themes
theology
mission
church history
language change
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
academic
Type
theoretical
educational
historical
When to use this quote
- church planning
- teaching
- personal study
- mission strategy
Key Concepts
missiology
ecclesiology
semantic shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How does singular language affect your view of purpose?
- What benefits arise from seeing mission as unified?
A Different Perspective
Some may resist changing long‑standing terminology.
