Role of Providence in Missions and Evangelism
Divine providence, literally meaning foresight, describes God's active preservation and governance of all things through secondary causes [1]. This concept extends to the natural world, animal life, and the affairs of humanity, including the free actions of individuals [1]. In the context of Christian missions and evangelism, providence plays a crucial role by orchestrating circumstances and empowering individuals to spread the Gospel.
God's providential hand is evident in preparing the way for missionary endeavors. For instance, the invasion of a land by the Philistines was seen as a providential act to save David's life, demonstrating how God can use seemingly unrelated events to achieve His purposes [4]. Similarly, the sending of the Apostle Paul "far hence unto the Gentiles" was a specific divine appointment, highlighting God's direct involvement in designating individuals for missionary work and guiding their paths [6]. Paul's extensive travels through various regions underscore this providential direction in establishing the early Christian church [6].
The instruments of evangelism are also providentially raised up and equipped. Ministers of the Gospel are described as "maidens" sent forth by Wisdom, emphasizing their role as servants in God's overarching plan to proclaim His message [3]. These missionary evangelists are commissioned by God and are foundational to the church, speaking messages empowered by Him [8]. The support and hospitality shown to such evangelists are considered "worthy of God," acknowledging their divine commission and the importance of their work [7].
Furthermore, God's providence ensures that the efforts of evangelism bear fruit, leading to the glorification of God. When Gentile churches demonstrated liberality towards the poor saints in Jerusalem, it served as an "experiment of this ministration" that caused the recipients to glorify God for the grace and goodness they received, particularly for the Gentiles' "professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ" [5]. This illustrates how acts of Christian charity, facilitated by God's providence, contribute to the spread and acceptance of the Gospel. The entire scheme by which God carries out His purposes towards humanity, including the unfolding of His grace, is referred to as a "dispensation" [2].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Dispensation — (Gr. oikonomia, "management," "economy"). (1.) The method or scheme according to which God carries out his purposes towards men is called a dispensation. There are usually reckoned three dispensations, the Patriarchal, the Mosaic or Jewish, and the Christian. (See [160]COVENANT, Administration of.) These were so many stages in God's unfolding of his purpose of grace toward men. The word is not found with this meaning in Scripture. (2.) A commission to preach the gospel (1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 1:10; 3:2; Col. 1:25). Dispensations of Providence are providenti”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 9:3: She hath sent forth her maidens,.... Not moral virtues, or good works, which subserve the interest of Christ and religion, adorn the Gospel and its professors; nor the liberal arts and sciences, said to be handmaids to divinity; nor angels, ministering spirits to Christ; but the ministers of the Gospel, who being so called does not suppose or encourage women's preaching; but have the name to keep up the decency of the parable, and the propriety of the allegory: for since Wisdom is represented as a lady, a princess or queen, it is proper that her attendants should be ”
- 1 Samuel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Samuel 23:27: There came a messenger - See the providence of God exerted for the salvation of David's life! David and his men are almost surrounded by Saul and his army, and on the point of being taken, when a messenger arrives and informs Saul that the Philistines had invaded the land! But behold the workings of Providence! God had already prepared the invasion of the land by the Philistines, and kept Saul ignorant how much David was in his power; but as his advanced guards and scouts must have discovered him in a very short time, the messenger arrives just at the point of ti”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 22:21: I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles - This was the particular appointment of St. Paul: he was the apostle of the Gentiles; for, though he preached frequently to the Jews, yet to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, and to write for the conversion and establishment of the Gentile world, were his peculiar destination. Hence we find him and his companions travelling every where; through Judea, Phoenicia, Arabia, Syria, Cilicia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Pamphylia, Galatia, Phrygia, Macedonia, Greece, Asia, the Isles of the Mediterranean Sea, the Isles of the Aegean Sea,”
- 3 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 3 John 1:6: borne witness of thy charity before the church--to stimulate others by the good example. The brethren so entertained by Gaius were missionary evangelists (Jo3 1:7); and, probably, in the course of narrating their missionary labors for the edification of the Church where John then was, incidentally mentioned the loving hospitality shown them by Gaius. bring forward on their journey--"If thou (continue to) forward on their journey" by giving them provisions for the way. after a godly sort--Greek, "in a manner worthy of God," whose ambassadors they are”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:20: 2:20 Apostles are missionary evangelists commissioned by God. • Here, the prophets appear to be New Testament prophets, not Old Testament ones (see 3:5; 4:11; see also 1 Cor 12:10, 28-29; 14:1-5, 22-24, 29-32, 39; cp. Acts 13:1; 19:6; 21:9-10). In both the Old Testament and New Testament, prophets are not primarily predictors of the future but are empowered to speak a message from God (see 1 Cor 12:10). • The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets (or on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets)—that is, on their faithful wit”