The Significance of Calvin’s Theology of Mission and its realization in the sixteenth century for twenty-first century church mission in Indonesia

Abstract

This article aims to examine the theological themes of mission in the works of John Calvin and their implementation in the 16th century, as well as their significance to the mission of the present-day church. This purpose contradicts the criticism of modern mission experts who consider Calvin to have made no contribution to the mission movement and even to have weakened
it. However, an in-depth study of Calvin’s works, using a theological-historical method, reveals the meaning of mission, the Bible as a missional book, the mission of the Trinity, the holistic mission of the kingdom of God, the church as the sole agent of mission, the missionary function of the apostles, holistic mission, and inclusive mission to the nations. All of these were implemented by Calvin in Geneva in the 16th century, continued and contextualised by Calvinist mission experts and missionaries in many countries, including Indonesia, in the 21st century.