When many Christians read the Bible, they first look for how a passage points to Jesus. That instinct reflects a long-standing tradition in Christian interpretation: messianic reading. According to Dr. Trevor Castor, faculty member at Columbia International University’s School of Missions and Intercultural Ministry and Director of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies, there is another important lens that can deepen how believers understand the Bible: a missiological reading of Scripture.
Dr. David Croteau, Dean of the Seminary & School of Counseling, sat down with Dr. Trevor Castor to discuss how these two approaches work together to reveal the Bible’s unified story and why that perspective matters for Christians today.
Seeing Christ Throughout Scripture
For many believers, recognizing the Bible’s messianic focus comes naturally.
“When we read the Scriptures, we see Christ clearly in the New Testament,” Castor explained. “But as believers, we also see Christ throughout the Old Testament.”
When readers encounter God’s actions in the Old Testament, they can see how those events ultimately point forward to the coming of the Messiah. The New Testament then reveals Christ as the fulfillment of those expectations.
“There’s a messianic reading of the Old Testament,” Castor said. “And in the New Testament it’s even clearer — Christ is right there, fulfilling what the Old Testament anticipated.”
This approach rightly highlights the central role of Jesus in the biblical narrative, but the Bible tells an even larger story.
A Missiological Reading of the Bible
A missiological reading asks a different question: What does this passage reveal about God’s mission in the world?
Castor points to the work of theologian Christopher J. H. Wright, who once suggested renaming a course titled The Biblical Basis of Missions to The Missional Basis of the Bible.
“That small change in wording says a lot,” Castor noted.
Reading Scripture missiologically means recognizing that the Bible is not primarily about dozens of separate themes. Instead, it tells one overarching story repeated in many ways: God making His glory known throughout the earth.
“From Genesis to Revelation,” Castor said, “the story of the Bible is about God filling the whole earth with the knowledge of His glory.”
Seeing Familiar Stories in a New Way
This perspective can reshape how readers understand familiar biblical narratives.
Take the story of Daniel in the lions’ den. Often, the focus falls on Daniel’s courage or how believers can remain faithful in difficult circumstances.
But from a missiological perspective, the story highlights something bigger.
“It’s not primarily about Daniel, and it’s not primarily about us,” Castor explained. “It’s about God about Him making His name known in the midst of these Old Testament kingdoms.”
Moving Beyond “Yearbook Theology”
Castor uses a memorable analogy to explain how people often approach Scripture.
“I like to call it ‘yearbook theology,’” he said.
When someone receives a yearbook, the first instinct is usually to flip through the pages looking for their own picture. Once they find it, they keep searching for other places where they appear.
“That’s often how we approach the Bible,” Castor said. “We’re looking for ourselves in the story.”
A missiological reading shifts that focus.
Instead of asking primarily how a passage relates to us, readers begin to ask how it reveals God’s larger purpose: making His name known among all peoples. That shift does not remove personal application. Rather, it places personal faith within the context of God’s global mission.
The Promise to Abraham
One of the clearest examples appears in Genesis 12, when God calls Abraham.
God sets Abraham apart, blesses him and promises him land. But the promise extends far beyond one individual or even one nation.
“All the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you,” God declares.
“That’s the heart of a missiological reading,” Castor said. “It’s about God making His name famous among all peoples.”
Joining God’s Story
When believers read Scripture through both messianic and missiological lenses, the Bible’s storyline becomes clearer.
It reveals a single meta-narrative: where humanity began, how God is working in the present, and where history is ultimately heading.
“We’re part of God’s story,” Castor explained. “Right now, we’re called to participate in His mission.”
“It’s not our mission. It’s His,” Castor said. “And the beautiful thing is that God’s purposes will be accomplished with or without us, but He invites us to take part.”
Preparing for Mission at CIU
At Columbia International University, students are equipped to understand Scripture not only theologically but also missionally.
Through seminary and mission programs in biblical studies, theology and intercultural ministry, students learn how the story of the Bible shapes the mission of the church today.
Programs such as the Master of Divinity in Ministry Studies, the Master of Divinity in Missiological Studies, the Master of Arts in Muslim-Christian Relations or the Master of Arts in Theological Studies prepare students to interpret Scripture faithfully while engaging cultures and communities around the world.
Faculty like Dr. Castor help students connect the Bible’s message to real-world ministry contexts, from global missions to cross-cultural engagement in local communities.
Discover Your Calling at CIU
At Columbia International University, students discover their purpose in a Christ-centered academic community where faith and learning are deeply connected. Whether preparing for ministry and missions, counseling, education, business, communication, nursing or science, CIU equips students to live out their God-given calling with confidence.
Dr. Trevor Castor serves as a faculty member at Columbia International University and is the Director of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies, where he contributes to research and training focused on Christian engagement with Muslim communities.
Before joining CIU, Dr. Castor and his wife, Katie, served as missionaries with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in South Asia. Their ministry experience shaped his long-term interest in cross-cultural engagement and Muslim-Christian relations.
Dr. Castor began working with the Zwemer Center in 2008 and teaches courses in missiology and Muslim-Christian relations. His research interests include Muslim-Christian relations, cognitive anthropology and identity formation among Muslim immigrants in the United States. His doctoral research focused on the process of identity formation for Muslim immigrants in America.
Through his teaching and research, Dr. Castor helps equip students to understand global cultures, engage thoughtfully with people of other faiths and participate faithfully in God’s mission around the world.
Watch the Full Interview with Dr. Trevor Castor
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