This book traces God's compassion as it is revealed in the Old and New Testaments, exploring the expression and impact of compassion in the early church through its actions and teachings as part of its witness. Focusing on the church's responsibility to be compassionate, Dr Rupen Das underlines the theological and missiological questions central to any discussion on the compassion of God. Culminating with how compassion is lived out by God's people, the book looks at concepts of transformation and the demonstration of the kingdom of God in the real world. This book provides an excellent biblical and theological foundation for anyone involved or interested in ministries of social justice, relief, development and compassion.

Contents
Cover
Foreword
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
A Personal Journey
The Question
Putting It Simply – Why Another Book?
2 Issues That Frame the Discussion on Compassion
Reading the Bible: The Lenses through Which the Bible Is Read
The Question of Theology and Context
The Missiological Question
The Poor
Filters and Lenses
3 The Biblical Basis to Understand the Poor and Poverty: The Old Testa-
ment
The Wisdom Literature
Ancient Israel
So What Does All This Mean?
4 The Biblical Basis to Understand the Poor and Poverty: The Gospels
First-Century Palestine
Jesus – The Rich and the Poor
Jesus – Injustice and Poverty
So What Does All This Mean?
5 Teachings and Practices of the Early Church: The New Testament and
Church History
The Context of the Early Church
The Practices and Impact of the Early Church
The Teachings of the Early Church
So What Does This All Mean?
6 Theological Challenges
What Is the Gospel? – The Teachings of Jesus versus Paul
Righteousness
Understanding the Millennium and the Attitude towards the Poor
7 Healing the Divide
Modern Missions
The Impact of Liberation Theology
The World Council of Churches
The Fundamentalist Evangelical Reaction
Lausanne 1974 and Beyond
The Micah Declaration 2001 and Integral Mission
8 Transformation or Witness: The Challenge of Transformation
Understanding Development and Transformation
The Impact of Missions
The Challenge of Transformation
The Theological Basis for Transformation
9 Transformation or Witness: Being a Witness
Being a Witness
Bearing Witness
The Challenge of Bearing Witness
10 The Face of Compassion
Agents of Blessings
Advocates for Justice
Proclaiming God the Redeemer
Compassion Is the Face of Discipleship
11 Conclusion: A God of Compassion
Bibliography
About Langham Partnership
Endnotes