Abstract:
Elements of the mission discourse of the Synoptic Gospels are found in Mark 6:6b−13; Matthew
9:35−10:15; Luke 9:1−6 and Luke 10:1−20. Similarities and differences in these accounts have
led many New Testament scholars to posit the presence of a mission discourse in Q. This
discourse, along with the parable that introduces it (Q 10:2), provides insight into how Q
conceives of ‘mission’ as well as the ethical principles and precepts that are part of Jesus’
missional charge in this document. Through an intertextual approach to Q, with particular
emphasis on narrative structure and imagery, this paper considered the interplay of mission
and ethics in this early Christian text.
Description:
This article is a revised
version of a paper presented
at the ‘Prestige FOCUS
Conference on Mission and
Ethics’ held at the University
of Pretoria, South Africa from
14−16 September, 2011 in
my capacity as a research
associate of Prof. Dr Kobus
Kok in the Department of
New Testament Studies,
Faculty of Theology,
University of Pretoria in the
research field of mission and
ethics.
