XI — WORLD

XI — WHAT IS THE MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE “WORLD” IN THE MISSIO DEI?

(The participants are encouraged to read all of John 17 and then work together to answer these Catechism questions)

• What is the meaning of the “world?”

• What is the significance of “not of the world?” 

• What is the significance of “not taken out of the world?”

• What is the meaning of “sent into the world?”

• What is a similarity between the incarnation of Christ and the incarnation of the church in the world? What is a difference?

• What is a similarity between the exegesis (interpretation, explanation) of the Word and the exegesis (interpretation, explanation) of the world? What is a difference?

43. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

44. John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

45. Mark 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Most manuscripts omit this verse even though it is commonly quoted.)

46. Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

47. Matthew 5:13-14 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

48. Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one.

49. John 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.

50. 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

51. Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world — he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 

(For further study, see First Article, Apostle’s Creed, Luther’s Small Catechism.)