Missiology (Theology of Mission and Evangelism): History of Christian Missions

The history of Christian missions is the history of the church’s obedience to Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18–20). From the first century to today, the concept of mission has developed from the apostolic witness to a global movement encompassing evangelism, discipleship, cultural engagement, and service. At its heart, mission is not simply an activity of the church but a participation in the mission of God—the sending of the Son and Spirit for the redemption of the world.

Missiology, or the theology of mission and evangelism, helps us see how the gospel has been proclaimed across history, how it has adapted to cultural contexts, and how the church has sometimes stumbled in its witness. By tracing the history of Christian missions, we better understand not only the past but also the ongoing call to bear witness to Christ until the end of the age.

1. Mission in the New Testament and Early Church

The roots of Christian mission lie in the ministry of Jesus Himself. Jesus declared that He was sent by the Father (John 20:21), and He in turn sent His disciples into the world. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20) and the command to be witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) established mission as essential to the church’s identity.

The apostles carried this mission forward. Paul’s journeys throughout the Roman Empire illustrate the movement of the gospel across cultural and geographical boundaries. The early church faced persecution, but this very pressure spread believers across the empire, multiplying mission opportunities (Acts 8:1–4).

By the second and third centuries, Christian mission was primarily evangelistic, focused on preaching, baptism, and catechesis. Mission was understood as obedience to Christ’s command and the natural outworking of the Spirit’s power. Despite lacking political power or institutional resources, the early church spread rapidly, embodying the gospel through worship, charity, and martyrdom.

2. Christian Mission in the Medieval Era

As Christianity moved from a persecuted minority to the religion of the empire, the nature of mission shifted. With the conversion of Constantine and the spread of Christianity across Europe, mission was increasingly tied to political power. Missionary monks, such as Patrick in Ireland and Boniface in Germany, embodied the evangelistic drive of the medieval church, preaching to new peoples and planting churches.

At the same time, the rise of Christendom blurred the lines between church and state. Conversion was sometimes imposed, and mission became entangled with political expansion. This legacy of coercion complicates the history of Christian missions, reminding us of the dangers of confusing the kingdom of God with earthly kingdoms.

Yet even in this era, faithful witnesses carried the gospel to unreached peoples, and the missionary impulse of the church continued to grow. The medieval period laid the groundwork for the global missions movement that would follow.

3. Reformation and Catholic Missionary Expansion

The Protestant Reformation reshaped mission theology. Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin emphasized the preaching of the Word and the sovereignty of God in salvation. While early Protestants focused primarily on reform within Europe, their rediscovery of the gospel fueled later missionary movements.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church developed missionary orders dedicated to global evangelization. The Jesuits, founded by Ignatius of Loyola, became one of the most influential missionary groups in history. Their work in Asia, Africa, and the Americas combined education, cultural engagement, and evangelism. Figures like Francis Xavier carried the gospel to India and Japan, demonstrating remarkable zeal and adaptability.

This era highlighted both the successes and failures of Christian mission. While many came to faith in Christ, mission was often entangled with colonial expansion and cultural domination. These tensions continue to shape how missions is perceived today.

4. The Modern Missions Movement

The late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the rise of the modern Protestant missions movement, often traced to William Carey, known as the “father of modern missions.” Carey’s vision to send missionaries overseas led to the formation of missionary societies, which became powerful engines for global evangelism.

Missionaries such as Adoniram Judson in Burma, David Livingstone in Africa, and Hudson Taylor in China carried the gospel to new frontiers. Their efforts emphasized translation of Scripture, education, medical care, and church planting. This period witnessed both incredible advances in global Christianity and continued complications due to the overlap of missions with Western imperialism.

At the same time, the theology of mission expanded. Mission came to be understood not only as sending missionaries abroad but as the church’s very identity. The Lausanne Movement in the twentieth century reaffirmed mission as evangelism rooted in the gospel, coupled with holistic concern for justice and mercy.

5. Mission as the Nature of the Church Today

In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, mission theology has matured into the recognition that mission is not merely one activity of the church but its very essence. Vatican II declared that “the pilgrim Church is missionary by her very nature,” echoing the conviction that the church exists for the sake of God’s mission in the world.

Contemporary mission now emphasizes partnership with the global church. The gospel is no longer exported from the West alone but flows from Africa, Asia, and Latin America as well. Missiology today stresses contextualization—bringing the gospel faithfully into diverse cultural settings while avoiding syncretism.

At the same time, the church must reckon with the failures of past missions, particularly where it aligned too closely with colonial powers. The challenge is to recover mission as gospel witness: proclaiming Christ crucified and risen, serving the poor, and living as a sign of the kingdom that is already present yet not fully realized.

Conclusion

The history of Christian missions tells the story of the church’s obedience, faith, and failures in bearing witness to the gospel. From the apostles to the modern missions movement, the task has always been the same: to make Christ known among the nations.

Mission remains essential to the church because it reflects the very heart of God. The Father sent the Son, the Son sends the Spirit, and the Spirit sends the church. To participate in mission is to join in God’s redemptive plan for the world. As Revelation 7:9–10 shows, the end of mission is worship, when a multitude from every nation will stand before the throne of the Lamb.

Bible Verses on Mission and Evangelism

• Matthew 28:19–20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”

• Acts 1:8 – “You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.”

• John 20:21 – “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

• Romans 10:14 – “How will they hear without someone preaching?”

• Isaiah 49:6 – “I will make you as a light for the nations…”

• 1 Corinthians 9:22–23 – Paul became all things to all people for the sake of the gospel.

• Revelation 7:9 – A great multitude from every nation worshiping the Lamb.

• Psalm 96:3 – “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all peoples!”

• 2 Timothy 4:5 – “Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

• Habakkuk 2:14 – “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord…”