The Family of Nations with Steve Bryan [Seoul Statement]

In this deeply thoughtful presentation, Steve Bryan reflects on the gospel’s vision for human identity, belonging, and peace across cultures and nations. Drawing from the Seoul Statement, he traces the biblical story of God’s purpose to form one holy people made up of all peoples—countering both violence and the false unity of nationalism. As followers of Jesus, we are called to reject power-based relationships and instead embody Christ’s peace, inclusion, and hospitality in a world fractured by conflict and division.

Part of the Seoul Statement Companion Series, this video offers a rich theological foundation for Christian engagement in multicultural societies, and a vision for the Church as a reconciled, reconciling people.

Watch now to explore how the gospel empowers us to live as agents of peace among the peoples of the world.


00:00 Introduction: The Social Nature of Humanity
00:39 The Gospel and Collective Identity
01:32 The Biblical Narrative of Cultural Diversity
02:11 Humanity’s Rebellion and Its Consequences
03:15 The Distortion of Unity: Nationalism and Ethnonationalism
03:53 God’s Response: Forming a Holy People
05:17 The Role of the Church in Modern Society
06:23 Practical Implications for Christians
07:14 Conclusion: Living Out God’s Purpose

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Speaker's Bio

Steven M. Bryan

Member, Theology Working Group

Before joining the New Testament faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2016, Dr Bryan served as a missionary in Ethiopia for more than 23 years with SIM. He was the first dean of studies of the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology and taught for many years at the Evangelical Theological College in Addis Ababa. From 2009–2015 he served as the director of SIM Ethiopia. In this role he led the work of missionaries and ministry staff from Europe, Australasia, Africa, and North America in a wide variety of church planting, disciple-making, leadership development, and compassion ministries. Bryan also served as part of the Ethiopian delegation to the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa. 

Bryan completed his PhD in New Testament at Cambridge University. His second book, Cultural Identity and the Purposes of God: A Biblical Theology of Ethnicity, Nationality, and Race was published by Crossway in 2022. He is currently working on a commentary on the Gospel of John.

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