Eschatology

by Schwarz, Hans

• ISBN13: 9780802847331
• ISBN10: 0802847331
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-02-01
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

What does the Bible say about the future, about death, about human destiny and heaven and hell? This volume presents a clear and comprehensive introduction to the Christian hope for the future that is particularly relevant to today's world.

Hans Schwarz guides readers through the range of opinions on this fascinating subject, showing how our understanding of eschatology has developed and laying out the factors that must be considered when speaking meaningfully about the Christian hope here in the twenty-first century. He surveys the teachings about the future in both the Old and New Testaments, discusses the views of Christian and secular thinkers throughout history -- including the challenges posed by science, philosophy, and New Age beliefs -- and explores the major themes of eschatology, including death, immortality, and resurrection.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Abbreviations	xiv
Introduction: Who Still Cares about the Future?	1	(1)
Biblical Eschatology contra the Obsession with the Present	2	(4)
Idea of Progress Is Grounded in Christian Eschatology	6	(8)
Estrangement between Eschatology and Progress	14	(3)
For the Sake of Sanity: Recovery of an Eschatological Outlook	17	(7)
PART I: THE DISCOVERY OF THE FUTURE
Expecting Life Beyond as a Primal Human Phenomenon	24	(2)
The Scope and Shape of Eschatology	26	(5)
The Old Testament View of Eschatology	31	(30)
Developing an Eschatological Consciousness	31	(4)
The Human Destiny	35	(6)
Emphasis on the This-Worldly Aspect of Life	36	(2)
Translation and Resurrection	38	(3)
The Last Judgment	41	(6)
Responding to a Holy and Gracious God	41	(2)
The Day of the Lord	43	(2)
Universal Scope of Salvation	45	(2)
The Coming of a Messiah	47	(8)
The Significance of the Term ``Messiah''	48	(1)
Main Sources for the Concept of a Messiah	49	(2)
Expansion of the Messianic Hopes in the Apocalyptic Period	51	(4)
The Iranian Connection	55	(6)
The Eschatological Proclamation of the New Testament	61	(46)
The Jewish Context	61	(7)
The Eschatological Figure of Jesus	68	(14)
Jesus' Eschatological Message of the Kingdom of God	69	(4)
Jesus' Self-Understanding	73	(6)
Jesus and the Question of the Future	79	(3)
The Eschatological Proclamation of the Gospel Writers	82	(9)
The Interim in the View of the Synoptics	83	(5)
The Emphasis on the Present in the Gospel of John	88	(3)
The Eschatological Message of Paul	91	(6)
Paul's Eschatological Call	91	(2)
Our Life as a Life between the Aeons	93	(2)
Eschatology beyond Spiritualism and Disappointment	95	(2)
The Eschatological Scope of the Early Church	97	(10)
PART II: THE MANIFOLD FACES OF ESCHATOLOGY
Present Discussion of Christian Eschatology	107	(66)
The Rediscovery of the Eschatological Perspective	108	(12)
The Kingdom of God as an Eschatological Concept	108	(3)
The Consistent or Consequent Eschatology	111	(4)
A Noneschatological Jesus	115	(5)
Present-Oriented Approach to Eschatology	120	(15)
Existential and Ethical Approaches	120	(9)
Transcendentalistic Approaches	129	(6)
The Future-Directedness of Eschatology	135	(17)
Exegetical Considerations	135	(1)
Eschatology as Fulfillment and Promise	136	(3)
Delay of the Parousia	139	(3)
Systematic Proposals	142	(1)
Prolepsis of Eschatology	143	(3)
Theology of Hope	146	(6)
The Liberating Power of Eschatology	152	(14)
Eschatology from the Underside	152	(1)
Problematic and Legitimation of Liberation Theology	153	(4)
Eschatology in the Context of Liberation	157	(5)
Feminist Perspectives	162	(4)
Christian Eschatology in a Universal Context	166	(7)
Process Theology	166	(4)
Eschatology among the World's Religions	170	(3)
Confronting Secular Varieties of Hope	173	(74)
The Impact of Science	173	(36)
The Option of Scientific Materialism	175	(10)
The Evolutionary Perspective	185	(9)
Facing a Possible Ecological Holocaust	194	(1)
World Come of Age or an Aging World?	195	(1)
Greenhouse Effect	196	(3)
Pleonexia	199	(2)
Overpopulation	201	(2)
The Eschatological Context of Ecology	203	(4)
Future-Directedness of Eschatology	207	(2)
The Impact of Philosophy	209	(18)
The Option of Secular Existentialism	210	(1)
Life Bounded by Death	210	(4)
Humanity Thrown upon Itself	214	(3)
Utopia from the Left	217	(1)
A New World through Revolution	217	(5)
Concrete Utopia	222	(2)
The Right to Be Lazy	224	(3)
The Impact of Religiosity	227	(20)
A Homespun Eschatology	227	(10)
Ambivalence of Secular Humanism	237	(1)
Faith in Human Reason (Humanist Manifesto I and II)	237	(3)
A Modest Assessment of the Future	240	(7)
PART III: WHAT CAN WE HOPE FOR?
Approaching the New World	247	(62)
Death	249	(12)
The Ambiguity of Death	249	(7)
Death as the Gate to the Eschaton	256	(5)
Immortality -- Yes or No?	261	(19)
Immortality and Occultism	262	(1)
Immortality and Near-Death Experiences	263	(6)
Immortality and Greek Philosophy	269	(3)
Immortality and Christian Faith	272	(8)
Resurrection	280	(29)
Decisive Character of Christ's Resurrection	280	(3)
Creative Newness of Christ's Resurrection	283	(3)
Christ's Resurrection and Our Resurrection	286	(1)
Resurrection of the Body	287	(3)
``Between'' Death and Resurrection	290	(1)
Time as a This-Worldly Entity	291	(2)
The Eternity of God as Fulfillment of Time	293	(3)
Death as Finality and Transition	296	(5)
Excursus: Reincarnation and Transmigration of the Soul	301	(8)
Controversial Areas of Eschatological Hopes	309	(56)
Setting a Date for the End	309	(13)
A Fertile Tradition	310	(4)
Bringing About the End by Force	314	(8)
Hope for the Millennium	322	(15)
Origin and Growth of an Idea	322	(3)
Joachim of Fiore and the Rise of Millennialism	325	(5)
Keeping the Fervor	330	(1)
Historic Premillennialism	331	(1)
Postmillennialism	332	(1)
Amillennialism	332	(1)
Dispensational Premillennialism	332	(5)
Universal Salvation (Apokatastasis Panton)	337	(15)
Origen and the Origins of the Apokatastasis Idea	338	(3)
The Apokatastasis Idea in More Recent Theological Reflection	341	(5)
Apokatastasis or ``Christ's Descent into Hell''?	346	(6)
Purgatory	352	(13)
A Narrow Biblical Basis	353	(3)
The Human Component to Salvation	356	(9)
The New World to Come	365	(44)
Beyond Resignation and Futurist Activism	368	(2)
Proleptic Anticipation of the New World	370	(17)
The Church as Reminder of God's Future	370	(1)
The Symbol of the Future	371	(3)
The Whole People of God	374	(3)
The Anticipation of the Heavenly City	377	(4)
The Signs of the End	381	(1)
Anticipating the End	381	(2)
The Birth Pangs of the New World	383	(2)
The Antichrist	385	(2)
Entry to the New World	387	(10)
Consummation of the World	387	(3)
Final Judgment	390	(4)
Paradox between Justice and Love of God	394	(3)
Disclosure of the New World	397	(12)
Disclosure of the Kingdom of God	397	(1)
Heaven and Hell	398	(6)
Completion	404	(5)
Index of Names	409	(8)
Index of Subjects	417	(10)
Index of Scripture References	427