II — MEANINGS

II — WHAT ARE THE ROOT MEANINGS OF THE WORDS MISSIO AND DEI?

“Missio” is Latin for the Biblical English word “mission,” which is based on the original Greek word for “send,” “sending,” and “sent.” The Greek root word, ἀποστέλλω (apŏstĕllō, or an official or authoritative sending and authoritative representation), is best translated as “apostolic,” “apostolate” or “apostle.” Therefore, Missio is the same as “send,” “apostolate,” and “mission.” The Hebrew word (חַלָׁש – shalach) for “mission” or “send” is translated “apostolic/apostolate/apostle” in the Septuagint (The Old Testament translated into Greek) with the same basic meaning of sending away on official business or mission.

To understand the main biblical word for mission (send,) three other sending root words in the Bible are used in the context of the main apostolic word to help understand the depth of the biblical sending motif. One is πέμπω (pĕmpō) (sending from the subject view or point of departure). Another is ἀφίημι (aphiēmi, the main word for the biblically translated word forgiveness, thus a sending away of sins, a remission of sins, a release, and this Greek word is also translated leave/leaving/left). One other sending word to consider is ἐκβάλλω (ĕkballō) (thrust [sending away with velocity] as thrusting the laborers into the harvest field in Matthew 9:38).

Dei is Latin for “divinity” and stands for God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the source, authority, and resource of the “sending.”

“Missio Dei” then is

• The sending of God (God is a sending God)

• The sending by God the Father of Christ into the world

• The sending by God the Father and the Son of the Holy Spirit

• The sending by Christ of the community of Christ-believers into the world

• The sending away of sin by God through Christ

7. Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent (ἀποστέλλω, apŏstĕllō) me to proclaim liberty ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed (ἀποστέλλω [apŏstĕllō] and ἀφίημι (aphiēmi)), to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

8. John 20:21-23 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent (ἀποστέλλω or apŏstĕllō) me, even so I am sending (πέμπω or pĕmpō) you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) the sins of any, they are forgiven ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

9. Leviticus 16:9-10 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away (חַלָׁש–shalach/LXX:ἀποστέλλω, apŏstĕllō) into the wilderness to Azazel