As a participant of the course “People and faiths on the move” at the Ecumenical Institute Bossey in July 2016, the author of this paper was inspired by the message of the course, which focused on migration, to write down this perspective on migration within Christianity with focus on the time of the New Testament and particularly just before and immediately after the life of Jesus Christ.
In looking at the issue of how people have moved from place to place over the years in search of either a means of survival or a god, this theme anchors strongly on how we can better view some religious experiences of today. It can be seen clearly that there is surely no one faith that does not have in its structure some issues regarding migration. It is either some members of the faith or some items that had been forced to leave or willingly left a certain place to another for some reasons.
It is worth noting that the way we will treat the issue of migration here may remain unsatisfactory to others since this paper will also dare into the spiritual dimension of migration. Migration therefore would be viewed here bearing in mind the three angles, being: internal, external and spiritual migrations. This paper does not desire to view Migration only as a movement from one country to the other but also as a movement within the same national territory and as involving both physical movement and spiritual journeys too. In this way, it would be clearer to see certain features of migration in the New Testament.
This paper also tries to highlight some aspects of migration in the remaining two Abrahamic faiths, Islam and Judaism, which means that the focus will be on Christianity and allusions will be made to Islam and Judaism. Judaism and Christianity have a lot common on the issue which will be discussed already at the beginning of this paper. Islam will be examined very briefly at the end. It must be emphasized here that the various topics chosen are open to critical discussion for the purpose of achieving a better result -- Take some time to read this work and make constructive criticism so that academic work can triumph.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
DEFINITION OF MIGRATION
THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY (Glimpses)
MIGRATION BEFORE CHRIST (A Glimpse)
a. The wondering Arameans
b. The Exodus (Exodus 12: 31ff)
MIGRATION AT THE DAWN OF CHRIST
a. Within the family; Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1: 39ff)
b. The Census (Luke 2)
c. The visit of the Magi (Matthew 2)
d. The flight to Egypt and back (Matt. 2:13-23)
MIGRATION IN THE TIME OF JESUS
a. From Heaven to Earth (John 1:14)
b. Jesus’ Journey to the Desert (Luke 4)
c. Jesus’ General Ministry Movements
d. Jesus sent out the Twelve and the Seventy-two (Luke 9 and 10)
e. From Jerusalem to Jericho (The Good Samaritan)
f. The Parable of the Talent and the Ten Minas (Matt 25:14ff and Luke 19:11ff)
g. The Ascension into Heaven (Luke 24: 50ff)
MIGRATION AFTER JESUS (limited glimpses to the Apostles’ time)
a. The Great Commission (Matt 28:18ff and Mark 16: 15ff)
b. The Pentecost Gathering (Acts 2:5-13)
c. The Ministry of the Apostles
d. The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)
e. The Journey to paradise; Spiritual migration (2Cor 12:2-4)
f. The Exile to Patmos (Rev 1:9ff)
THE NOTION OF MIGRATION IN ISLAM (Brief summary)
CONCLUSION
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper examines the role of migration within Christianity, specifically focusing on the New Testament period, including the life of Jesus and the ministries of the Apostles, while drawing parallels to Jewish and Islamic perspectives on mobility.
- The theological dimensions of internal, external, and spiritual migration in the Bible.
- Jesus Christ as a central figure experiencing migration, from the incarnation to his earthly ministry.
- The impact of migration on the spread of the early Christian faith and missionary efforts.
- Comparative analysis of migration concepts in Abrahamic faiths.
- The role of forced and voluntary movements in shaping religious identity.
Excerpt from the Book
MIGRATION IN THE TIME OF JESUS
In this section, we are talking about the events of migration that actually took place while Jesus lived and ministered on earth. Some of these events included the journeys He made to different places, the people He sent out for missions and some of the stories in His teachings which were mostly in parable forms. This is to say that Jesus lived and taught around issues of migration or the movement of people in general. Certainly, movements may have been of a great deal as people could last days and months on caravan routes either going for political, religious or economic reasons to other areas. Thus, within the context of migration, Jesus taught and lived and ministered.
a. From Heaven to Earth (John 1:14)8
Let us consider the scriptural words “and the word became flesh and dwelled (lived) among us” in John 1:14. This text suggests that there was a movement, or a journey but only in this case it was not as someone running away from danger to seek refuge on earth but as someone being sent on mission. This spiritual migration is “pushed” by the “Missio Dei” (mission of God). Remember we had said that God chooses whom He wants to move and for what reasons. The incarnation is one story we cannot completely deny to be situated within the context of migration. At least it can be considered as an aspect of spiritual migration. Jesus can be defined in this case as a “divine migrant who crossed borders between heaven and earth (Darrell, J. and Passarelli, A. (2008). And if that be the case then He sojourned on earth for more than 33 years. 9 Let us consider some exegesis on this text.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Outlines the inspiration for the study based on interfaith discussions and defines the scope of migration within the New Testament period.
DEFINITION OF MIGRATION: Establishes working definitions for internal and external migration, highlighting the difference between refugees and migrants.
THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY (Glimpses): Traces the origins of Christianity within Judaism and identifies migration as a foundational element of its development.
MIGRATION BEFORE CHRIST (A Glimpse): Examines Old Testament narratives, specifically the "wandering Aramean" and the Exodus, as precursors to Christian migration patterns.
MIGRATION AT THE DAWN OF CHRIST: Analyzes the movements associated with the birth of Jesus, including Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, the census, the Magi, and the flight to Egypt.
MIGRATION IN THE TIME OF JESUS: Explores how Jesus’ ministry, parables, and his own physical travels underscore the importance of movement and mission.
MIGRATION AFTER JESUS (limited glimpses to the Apostles’ time): Discusses the expansion of the faith through the missionary journeys of the Apostles, the Pentecost event, and the exile of John.
THE NOTION OF MIGRATION IN ISLAM (Brief summary): Provides a concise overview of migration concepts in Islam, such as the Hijra.
CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the findings, asserting that migration is a major theme within the history and theology of the Abrahamic faiths.
Keywords
Migration, Christianity, New Testament, Mission, Jesus Christ, Diaspora, Interfaith, Pilgrimage, Exodus, Gospel, Apostles, Refugee, Abrahamic Faiths, Theology, Mobility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the role of migration within Christianity, analyzing how movement, displacement, and mission shaped the lives of biblical figures and the spread of the faith.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The central themes include the theology of migration, Jesus as a migrant figure, the missionary journeys of the Apostles, and the broader context of migration within Abrahamic religions.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The objective is to establish migration as a fundamental, yet often overlooked, theme in Christianity by examining its biblical roots and practical manifestations.
Which scientific methodology does the author use?
The author employs a theological and historical approach, analyzing scriptural texts in light of migration studies and interfaith reflections.
What is the focus of the main section of the book?
The main body details specific instances of migration in the life of Jesus, such as the census, the flight to Egypt, and his ministry, as well as the Apostles' travels and experiences.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The most relevant keywords are Migration, Christianity, New Testament, Mission, Diaspora, Theology, and Interfaith.
How does the author interpret the flight to Egypt?
The author views the flight to Egypt not just as a refuge sojourn, but as a repetition of the Exodus story and a way in which migration acted as a divine tool for the protection of Jesus.
What is the connection between the Great Commission and migration?
The author argues that the "Go" command in the Great Commission necessitated movement and that migration provided the fertile ground for the spread of the gospel across cultures.
How does the author define spiritual migration?
Spiritual migration is described through events like the incarnation (the Word moving from heaven to earth) and spiritual experiences like those of Paul and John on Patmos.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Rev Emmanuel Wayi (Autor:in), 2016, Migration in Christianity. Events of Migration in the New Testament, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/341655
