Dr. Dennis H. Dirk's Review - Dr. Yong Soo Hyun's Article: The Great Commission in the Old Testament and its Place in the History of Redemption

[쉐마연구원]

The Great Commission in the Old Testament and

its Place in the History of Redemption

- The Education Theology Perspective on Gen. 18:19 and the Shema -

By 

Yong-Soo Hyun, Ph.D.

(Founder & President of Shema Education Institute)

E-mail: yongshyun@hanmail.net   www.shemaiqeq.com

Abstract

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The writer proposes to have uncovered the ‘Great Commission’ of the Old Testament, which is found in the OT ‘Shema.’ The Shema calls followers to teach their children and make them disciples (Gen. 18:19; Deut. 6:4-9).  This contrasts the Great Commission of the NT, which calls followers of Christ to go to all the nations to teach them and make them His disciples (Mt. 28:19-20a). The OT Great Commission relates to parental ministry in nurturing children; while the NT Great Commission relates to pastoral (evangelism) ministry through the Church. The OT Great Commission prepared Jesus’ first coming because OT Jews employed a ‘vertical’ method of conveying God’s word from generation to generation. In comparison, the NT Great Commission calls for a ‘horizontal’ method of spreading the Gospel of Jesus to all the nations. These two Great Commissions complement one another as the OT complements the NT. Accordingly, family and Church evangelism ministry complement each other and both manifest God’s plan of redemption. Therefore, in the NT era, both Great Commissions should be obeyed in balance and harmony by making children disciples of Jesus at home, evangelizing and disciplining unbelievers, and preparing for the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Key Words: The Great Commission of the OT and NT,  Christian education theology,  Shema,

                         Family ministry,  Church ministry,  Horizontal evangelism,  Vertical evangelism,

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[This paper was presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Nov. 19, 2008]

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Dennis H. Dirks, Ph.D.

Dean of Talbot School of Theology 

   Dr. Yong Soo Hyun gives desperately needed emphasis to biblical principles. Hyun emphatically calls Christian leaders and parents to consider afresh and pracitice anew the paternal and maternal responsibilities commanded of God's people in the Old Testament.

   The connection he draws between Christ's Great Commission in the New Testament and the Old Testament Great Commission places the responsibilities of parents clearly within the grand, overarching mission of God throughout history. The accomplishment of God's purposes among men and women through the ages rests in large measure on the faithful obedience of parents to the instructions found in the 'Shema'(Deuteronomy 6). The degree to which children are instructed carefully to love God with heart, soul, and strength while in the course of daily living is in part the degree to which God's mission is accomplished. The prominence Dr. Hyun gives to these instructions is a welcome return to biblical priorities that should be the focus of all believing parents and the Christian leaders who guide them.

Warmly and for His glory.