Cover

Preface

Table of Contents

Introduction

Jörg Frey: New Testament Eschatology – an Introduction: Classical Issues, Disputed Themes, and Current Perspectives

1. The Term ‘Eschatology’ and the Confusion of Theological Language

2. The Deconstruction of Eschatology in the Modern Debate: From Reimarus to Schweitzer and Bultmann

3. Crucial Issues and Questionable Categories

3.1. Present-Oriented or Future-Oriented Eschatology

3.2. Eschatology and Apocalypticism

3.3. The History-of-Religions Issue: Jewish or Non-Jewish? And which Judaism?

3.4. The Delay of the Parousia and the Development of Early Christianity

4. Concluding Perspectives

Eschatology: Gospels and Acts

Andries van Aarde: ‘On Earth as it is in Heaven’ – Matthew’s Eschatology as the Kingdom of the Heavens that has Come

1. Introduction

2. ‘The Mother of all Christian Theology’

3. A Cameo on Eschatology and Apocalypticism

4. Matthew’s Temporal Sequences

5. Eschatology in Matthew’s Story and its Intertexts

6. Finding

Ernest van Eck: Eschatology and Kingdom in Mark

1. Introduction

2. Eschatology and Son of Man in Mark

2.1. Eschatology

2.2. Son of Man in Mark

3. Narrative Structure of Mark

3.1. The Fabric of Mark’s Structure: Galilee (household) and Jerusalem (temple)

3.2. Plotted Time and Story Time in Mark

3.3. Plotted Time in Mark

3.3.1. The Narrative Line of Jesus: The Restoring of God’s Household (kingdom) as Replacement of the Temple

3.3.2. The Narrative Line of the Disciples: From Success to Failure

3.3.3. The narrative Line of the Religious Authorities: Increasing Conflict and Final ‘Success’

3.3.4. Summary: The Three Narrative Lines in Mark

3.4. Story Time in Mark

4. The Narrative Function of Mark 13

5. Concluding Remarks

Works Consulted

Michael Wolter: Eschatology in the Gospel According to Luke

1. Eschatology

2. Eschatological Expectations in Luke’s Gospel

3. The Eschatological Character of Jesus’ Ministry

4. The Climax of Jesus’ Ministry: His Eschatological Enthronement and Everlasting Reign

5. The Quest for Time

6. Concluding Remarks

Jan van der Watt: Eschatology in John – A Continuous Process of Realizing Events

1. Introduction

2. Patterns to Follow … the Old Testament Unfolding

3. Eschatology in John

3.1 A Crisis and Eschatological Solution

3.2 The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus as Eschatological Events

3.3 The Other Side of the Coin: Jesus and Eschatological Judgment

4. Some Concluding Remarks

Works Consulted

Ulrich Busse: Eschatologie in der Apostelgeschichte

English Abstract

Eschatologie in der Apostelgeschichte

1. Traditionskritische Standortsbestimmung

2. Das lukanische Diegese-Projekt

3. Die Eschatologiekonzeption in der Apostelgeschichte

3.1. Die Erwartung der Apostel und ihre Korrektur: Apostelgeschichte 1:2–11

3.2. Die Pfingstrede und ihr endzeitlicher Horizont

3.3. Die Zeiten der Erquickung und der Restitution: Apostelgeschichte 3:21f.

3.4. Die lukanische Individualeschatologie

4. Gerechtigkeit und vollkommenes Heil

5. Fazit

Hinzugezogene Literatur

Eschatology: The Letters of Paul (Pauline and Deutero-Pauline)

Cilliers Breytenbach: ‘For in Hope We Were Saved’ – Discerning Time in Paul’s Letter to the Romans

1. Introduction

2. The Present Determined by Revelation

2.1. The Present as Time of God’s Favour

2.2. The Coming Day of Wrath and the Revelation of God’s Righteous Verdict

3. Human Future Divided between Condemnation and Salvation

3.1. The Imminent Death of all Sinners

3.2. The Timely Salvation of the Believers Through Christ’s Death and Resurrection

4. Discerning Time: Living Towards the Future

4.1. Looking Back on Baptism

4.2. Hope Sustained by the Spirit

4.3. Hope for the Hardened Part of Israel

4.4. Living Towards Daybreak

5. Conclusion

Wolfgang Kraus in collaboration with Martin Kraus: On Eschatology in Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians

1. Introduction

2. The Expectation of the Imminent Parousia in 1 Corinthians

2.1. 1 Corinthians 1:4–9

2.2. 1 Corinthians 7:26–31

2.3. 1 Corinthians 10:11

2.4. 1 Corinthians 11:26

2.5. 1 Corinthians 15:51

2.6. 1 Corinthians 16:22

3. The Reason for Writing 1 Corinthians 15

3.1. 1 Corinthians 15 in the Context of the Letter

3.2. The Basis of Paul’s Argumentation, Verses 1–11

3.3. The Denial of the Resurrection (v. 12)

3.3.1. The Denial of a Future Resurrection because of Enthusiasm

3.3.2. The Denial of a Bodily Resurrection

3.3.3. Principal Scepticism of the/any/an Afterlife

3.4. Salvation for Those who Experience the Parousia

3.5. Variations and Combinations

3.6. The Line of Argumentation in 1 Corinthians 15

4. The Order of the Final Events According to 1 Corinthians 15

5. Peculiarities of the Eschatology in 1 Corinthians 15 in the Context of Pauline Theology

Stephan Joubert: Paul’s Apocalyptic Eschatology in 2 Corinthians

1. Language and Reality

2. The ‘Apocalyptic’ Language of Paul

3. Literary Integrity of 2 Corinthians

4. The Basic Building Blocks of Paul’s Apocalyptic Symbolic Universe as Reflected in 2 Corinthians

5. The Hermeneutical Movement of Time in 2 Corinthians

6. Radical Eschatology … From the Right Perspective

7. The Present Past

7.1. 2 Corinthians 3:7–18: All that Glitters is not Gold

7.2. 2 Corinthians 4:1–6: From a Bad Exodus to a New Genesis

7.3. 2 Corinthians 4:7–15: Paul’s Apostolic Ministry as a Paradigm of Jesus’ Presence Both in the Present and Future

7.4. 2 Corinthians 4:16–5:10: A Compelling Vision of a Glorious New Future

8. Conclusion

Francois Tolmie: Living in Hope ‘in the Fullness of Time’ – The Eschatology of Galatians

1. Introduction

2. Life ‘Before the Fullness of Time’

3. Life ‘in the Fullness of Time’

4. What Was Still to Come?

5. The Representation of Time in the Letter to the Galatians

Petrus J Gräbe: ‘And he made known to us the mystery of his will …’ – Reflections on the Eschatology of the Letter to the Ephesians

1. Introduction

2. Eschatology and Time

3. A Mystery Revealed in the Fullness of Time

4. The Church as an Eschatological Entity

5. Bridging the Times: The Holy Spirit as Eschatological Reality

5.1. Marked in Him with a Seal who is a Deposit Guaranteeing our Inheritance

5.2. Be Filled with the Spirit!

6. Victorious in a Position of Authority

6.1. Overcoming in Conflict

6.2. The Fulfilment of Times

3. Conclusion

Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte: In Search of Hope. Eschatology in Philippians

1. Literary Integrity, Provenance, and Date

2. (Potentially) Eschatological Motifs

Conclusion

Jeremy Punt: Eschatology in Colossians – ‘At Home in the World’

1. Introduction: Pauline Eschatology

2. Paul: Theology and Eschatology

2.1. Eschatology and Apocalyptic

2.2. Eschatological Tension: ‘Already’ and ‘Not Yet’

3. Eschatology in Colossians

3.1. The Rhetorical Situation

3.2. Eschatological Notions in Colossians

3.3. Realised Eschatology in Colossians

3.4. The Wide Range of Realised Eschatology in Colossians

3.5. Future Eschatological Elements in Colossians

3.6. Eschatology in Colossians as Spatial Concept

4. Conclusion

Pieter G R de Villiers: In the Presence of God – The Eschatology of 1 Thessalonians

1. Introduction

2. Past and Present from an Eschatological Perspective

2.1. Past Events within an Eschatological Framework

2.2. The Present from an Eschatological Perspective

3. The Future

3.1. The Prominent Place of Eschatology in 1 Thessalonians

3.2. The Divine Initiative

3.3. The Return of Christ

3.4. Eschatological Judgment and Salvation

3.4.1. Salvation and Judgment in the Thanksgivings

3.4.2. Eschatological Judgment

3.4.2.1. Future Judgment

3.4.2.2. Realized Judgment

3.4.3. Salvation and the End Time

4. Entering the Presence of God and Christ

5. The End Time Events

5.1. The Dead and Living Believers at the Parousia

5.2. The Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)

6. Eschatology in light of the Local Situation

6.1. External Pressures

6.2. Internal Factors

7. Conclusion

Pieter G R de Villiers: The Glorious Presence of the Lord – The Eschatology of 2 Thessalonians

1. Introduction

2. Past and Present

3. The Future as Time of Judgment

3.1. The Prominence of Judgment

3.2. God as Judge

3.3. Christ as Judge

3.4. The Nature of the Judgment

4. The Future as Reunion with the Lord

5. The Day of the Lord

5.1. The Apostasy

5.2. The Lawless One

5.3. The Restrainer

6. Conclusion

Bernhard Mutschler: Eschatology in the Pastoral Epistles

1. Introduction and Survey

2. In search of Eschatological Traces On the basis of texts and terms

2.1. Future Statements Without an Explicit Eschatological Background

2.1.1. 1 Timothy 3:15

2.1.2. 1 Timothy 4:6

2.1.3. 1 Timothy 6:7, 9

2.2. Mέλλειν

2.2.1. 1 Timothy 1:16

2.2.2. 1 Timothy 4:8

2.2.3. 1 Timothy 6:19

2.3.

2.3.1. 1 Timothy 2:15

2.3.2. 1 Timothy 4:16

2.3.3. 2 Timothy 4:18

2.4. Conformity with Christ According to 2 Timothy 2:11–13

2.5. Hope

2.5.1. Titus 1:2

2.5.2. Titus 3:7

2.5.3. 1 Timothy 4:10

2.5.4. Further Records for Hope

2.6. Eternal Life

2.6.1. 1 Timothy 6:12

2.6.2. 2 Timothy 1:20

2.6.3. 1 Timothy 5:6

2.6.4. Further Records for ‘Eternal’ and ‘Life’

2.7. The Eschatological Wreath

2.7.1. 2 Timothy 2:5

2.7.2. 2 Timothy 4:8

2.8. Last Times – Last Days

2.8.1. 1 Timothy 4:1–3a

2.8.2. 2 Timothy 3:1–9

2.8.3. 2 Timothy 4:3f.

2.8.4. Exhortations in the Form of End Time Prophecies

2.9. The Saying of ‘That Day’

2.9.1. 2 Timothy 1:12

2.9.2. 2 Timothy 1:18

2.10. Court/to Judge

2.10.1. 1 Timothy 3:6

2.10.2. 1 Timothy 5:12

2.10.3. 1 Timothy 5:24f.

2.10.4. 2 Timothy 4:1

2.11. The Coming Kingdom of Christ

2.11.1. 2 Timothy 4:1

2.11.2. 2 Timothy 4:18

2.12. The Coming ‘Appearance’ of Christ

2.12.1. 1 Timothy 6:14

2.12.2. Titus 2:13

3. Summary: Eschatology in the Pastoral Epistles

Jeremy Punt: Eschatology in Philemon – ‘Biding the Time’

1. Introduction: Paul’s Problematic Eschatology

2. Eschatology in Philemon

2.1. Rhetorical Situation

2.2. Eschatological Notions in Philemon

2.2.1. Temporal Considerations in Philemon

2.2.2. Slavery as Eschatological Marker?

2.2.3. Philemon, Slavery and Eschatology

2.2.4. Other Eschatological Markers and Final Comments

3. Conclusion

Michael Wolter: The Distinctiveness of Paul’s Eschatology

1. Retrospective Eschatology

2. Between the Times

3. The Reality of Present Salvation in the Light of the Future

4. ‘Behold, Now is the Day of Salvation’ (2 Cor 6:2)

Eschatology: General Epistles, Hebrews and Revelation

Gert J Steyn: The Eschatology of Hebrews – As Understood within a Cultic Setting

1. Introduction

2. Hebrews’ Spatial-Temporal Eschatological Graph

2.1. Relation of the Two Axes to Each Other

2.2. Linear-Temporal Terminology Employed by the Author

2.3. Spatial Images Employed by the Author

2.4. The Present as the Current Point in Time-Space within the Eschatological Graph

3. The Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifices as Cultic Comparison

Song 1: God’s appointment of an angelic priesthood in heaven

Song 2: The Torah, theophany, and the heavenly and earthly communities

Song 3: The number 7; Melchizedek

Song 4: ‘Stillness’ as sound of praise of the Cherubim

Song 5: Divine predestination and God’s transcendence

Song 6: Bridging heaven and earth

Song 7: The heavenly temple

Song 8: The high priest

Song 9: Description of the architecture and decoration of the heavenly temple

Song 10: The inner sanctum behind the curtain

Song 11: Images of heaven

Song 12: God’s judgement and wrath as supreme King in heaven

Song 13: Four themes – offerings, high priests, atonement and sanctuary

4. Concluding Remarks

Patrick J Hartin: James and Eschatology – Place and Function of Eschatology within a Letter to the ‘Twelve Tribes in the Dispersion’

1. Introduction

2. Situating the Letter of James: Its Religious and Cultural Voice

2.1. The Excellent Quality of the Greek

2.2. James and the Septuagint

2.3. James’s Predominantly Wisdom Character

2.4. The voice of James and the voice of Paul

2.5. The voice of Jesus through the voice of James

2.6. Implications

3. The Eschatological Dimension of the Letter of James

3.1. To the Twelve Tribes in the Dispersion (1:1)

3.2. Judgment on the Rich (4:13–5:6)

3.1.1. Judgment on Rich Merchants (Jas 4:13–17)

3.2.2. Judgment on Rich Landowners (Jas 5:1–6)

3.3. Call to Patient Endurance (James 5:7–11)

3.4. Eschatology and the Ethical Instruction

3.5. How Apocalyptic is James’s Eschatology?

4. Conclusion

Fika J van Rensburg: The Eschatology of 1 Peter – Hope and Vindication for Visiting and Resident Strangers

1. Introduction

2. The Life Situation of the Addressees

3. The Eschatological Utterances Identified and Categorized

4. The Argument of 1 Peter

5. The Eschatological Utterances Interpreted

5.1. A Consciousness of a Present and a Future Dispensation

5.1.1. A present (last) dispensation, with an end

5.1.1.1.

5.1.1.2. Kαιρός, unqualified

5.1.1.3. Tέλος, etc

5.1.1.4. Conclusion

5.1.2. An unlimited next dispensation

5.2. Salvation as a Present Reality, Anticipating Complete Fulfilment in the Future

5.2.1. The appearance and/or revelation of salvation / Jesus Christ / Christ’s glory

5.2.2. Hope (έλπίς): a certainty of the future fulfilment of salvation, a present reality

5.2.3. Salvation (σωτηρία) as present reality, but still to be ‘completed’

5.2.4. The heir-imagery (κληρονομία, συγκληρονόμος, κληρονομέω)

5.3. God as Judge, Present and Future

6. Conclusion: Hope and Vindication for Visiting and Resident Strangers

Jörg Frey: Judgment on the Ungodly and the Parousia of Christ – Eschatology in Jude and 2 Peter

1. The Epistle according to Jude: The predetermined Judgement on the Ungodly and the Hope for the Mercy of the Lord

1.1. The Question of the Opponents

1.2. The Concept of Time

1.3. The Adoption of the Enochic Tradition and the Judgement on the Sinners

1.4. The Parousia of Christ and the Hope for Mercy

1.5. Summary

2. Second Peter: A Reminder of the Trustworthiness of God’s Promises

2.1. The Reception of Jude

2.2. The Concept of Time

2.3. The Opponents’ Scepticism and the Argument of the Author

3. Concluding Perspectives

Ruben Zimmermann: Remembering the Future – Eschatology in the Letters of John

1. Introduction

2. Fundamental Orientation: The Letters of John and the Eschatological Concept

2.1. The Letters of John

2.2. The Eschatological Concept

3. Analysis of the Eschatological Statements of the Letters of John

3.1. According to Motif:

3.1.1. The ‘Last Hour’ (1 Joh 2:18bis)

3.1.2. The ‘Antichrist’ or the ‘Antichrists’ (1 Joh 2:18–23; 4:3; 2 Joh 7)

3.1.3. The Parousia of Christ (1 Joh 2:28–29)

3.1.4. The Apocalyptic ‘Being Revealed’ to the Children of God (1 Joh 3:1–6)

3.1.5. Further Eschatological Motifs and Metaphors

The discussion of death and (eternal) life

The discussion of light and darkness

The discussion of the end of the world and judgement

3.2. The Function of the Eschatological Statements in the Individual Letters

3.2.1. Eschatological Pragmatic in the Second Letter of John

3.2.2. Eschatological Pragmatic in the First Letter of John

4. Attempt at a Conclusion: The Eschatology of the Letters of John

4.1. The Christological Mediation: Christ or Antichrist? (The recognitive function of the eschatology)

4.2. The ethical mediation: love now! (The action dimension of the eschatology)

4.3. The communicative mediation: Remembering the Future (The appeal function of the eschatology)

Jan A du Rand: Depicting Eschatology in the Apocalypse of John

1. Coming to Grips with Terminology

2. Relating the ‘already, in time’, and ‘not yet, in future’ in Apocalyptic-Prophetic Eschatology

3. What Are We to Expect in a Typical Biblical Eschatology?

3.1. Selected Old Testament Perspectives in General

3.2. Selected New Testament Perspectives in General

3.3. Obvious Aspects in New Testament Eschatology

4. Eschatological Moments according to the Apocalypse

4.1. A Story Behind the Story

4.2. The Already, In Time and Not Yet, in Future Eschatology – Providing the Apocalyptic-Prophetic Perspective as a Viewpoint

4.2.1. Typical Characteristics in General to be taken into Consideration

4.2.2. Survey of the Already, In Time (Prophetic) and Not Yet, In Future (Apocalyptic) Eschatology in the Apocalypse of John

4.2.3. Systemising Selected Moments of Already, In Time (Prophetic) Eschatology

4.2.4. Systemising of Selected Moments of Not Yet, In Future (Apocalyptic) Eschatology

5. Conclusion

Eschatology: Some Explorations into its Immediate Influence and Development

Jonathan A Draper: Eschatology in the Didache

1. Introduction

2. Eschatology in the Eucharistic Prayers

3. Eschatology in the Conclusion

4. Conclusion

Hennie Stander: The Eschatology of the Theologians of the Second Century

1. Introduction

2. The Apostolic Fathers

2.1. The Epistle to Diognetus

2.2. 1 Clement

2.3. The Epistle of Barnabas

2.4. Ignatius of Antioch

2.5. Papias of Hieropolis

2.6. The Letter of Polycarp

2.7. Shepherd of Hermas

3. The Apologists

3.1. Justin the Martyr

3.2. Theophilus of Antioch

3.3. Melito of Sardis

3.4. Athenagoras

4. An Anti-Heretical Theologian: Irenaeus

5. The Alexandrians: Clement of Alexandria

6. Latin Theology: Tertullian

7. Conclusions

Tobias Nicklas: Gnostic ‘Eschatologies’

1. The Future of the Individual

1.1. The Destiny of Souls – a Case of Present Eschatology?

1.2. Reincarnation?

1.3. ‘Eschatological’ Places of Punishment?

1.4. The Ascent of the Soul

1.5. The Destination of the Soul’s Ascent

2. The Future of the World (Universal Eschatology):

2.1. The Gathering of Light Particles

2.2. The End of the Cosmos

3. Conclusion

Wilhelm Pratscher: Eschatology in 2 Clement

1. The Future Eschatology

1.1. The Certainty of the Parousia

1.2. The Date of the Parousia

2. Realized Eschatology

2.1. The Righteous Behaviour and the Coming of the Kingdom

2.2. The Salvation by Jesus Christ

3. Summary

Hermut Löhr: The Role of Eschatology in New Testament Moral Thought – Some Introductory Observations

1. The Practical Concern of the New Testament

2. Some Implications of Eschatology

2.1. A Shift in Time and Space

2.2. A Matter of Standpoint

2.3. A Figure of Legitimatization

2.4. Unity and Diversity in the New Testament

3. An Eschatological Community?

3.1. The Communal Character of New Testament Ethics

3.2. Imagery of the New Community

3.3. Egalitarian Tendencies

3.4. The New Community and the Others

4. Eschatological Agents?

4.1. The Holy Spirit in Man

4.2. Light

5. Eschatological Norms?

5.1. Jesus as a Moral Teacher in the Gospel Tradition

5.2. Outside the Gospels

6. Eschatological Responsibility

6.1. God’s Reign

6.2. κατάπαυσις and σωτηρία

6.3. Eternal Life

6.4. Final Judgement and Reward

7. Conclusions

List of Contributors

Index of Authors

Index of Sources

I. Old Testament

II. Jewish Writings

III. New Testament

IV. (Early) Christian writings

V. Gnostic and related material

V. Greek-Roman writings