The Recent Renaissance of Paul as Missionary and the Missing Missio Spiritus Sancti

Abstract The resurgence of interest in Paul as missionary has neglected the role of the Holy Spirit. It is argued that the Spirit’s character and role is intrinsically missional, justifying a study of the Missio Spiritus Sancti within a triad relationship with the Father and Son. Three texts are considered: in 1 Thessalonians, the missional Spirit was at work through Paul’s preaching as a saving and ‘experienced power’ (1:5), expressed visibly by the believers’ joy at conversion (1:6) with missional implications within and outside the church. In 4:8, and in Paul’s forced absence, God is still present as evidenced by his giving his Holy Spirit to the Thessalonian siblingship, instilling a missional lifestyle distinct from those on the periphery of the church (i.e., Gentiles, 4:5). In Romans, Paul reminds the believers how his preaching and the Holy Spirit purposefully combine to ‘set apart’ the Gentiles, a salvific moment when they first embraced the gospel (15:16). Paul goes on to rehearse the work of the Spirit in his previous missionary endeavours to the Gentiles as evidenced by the power of ‘signs’ and ‘wonders’ (15:19), aware that the same Spirit who galvanised his past work will be necessary as he relocates to Spain, a gentile region (15:24). In Philippians, and in light of Paul’s incarceration, the church engages in intercessory prayer—an instrument of the church’s mission—for God to supply Paul with the Spirit of Jesus Christ in preparation for his upcoming trial (1:19). And in 1:27a, and in light of adversity from outside, the church is to live united in the Spirit by showing the gospel while also actively contending together in proclaiming or sowing the good news (1:27b).