Thesis advisor: Richard Lennan / This dissertation in Christian eschatology affirms the cosmic implications of the notion of the parousia, and proposes the latter as a suitable symbol for a renewed eschatological narrative of God’s transforming encounter with the whole of creation. Over the last several decades, eschatological reflection has ceased to refer simply to future events, and has become an interpretative key for the entire theological enterprise. The cornerstone of any contemporary eschatological reflection is God as end and goal of the whole of creation. In addition, two other elements arise in the work of most contemporary theologians, namely the anthropological interpretation of eschatology, and an apparent sobriety in the use of images for depicting the future of creation. This dissertation will explore the complementary counterpoints of these perspectives. On the one hand, this work argues for an all-embracing eschatology that broadens those theologies that either restrict God’s eschatological fulfillment only to what will happen to human beings and earth, or give to human beings a role that, seen in a broader, cosmic perspective, seems to be disproportionate. On the other hand, this dissertation maintains the necessary renewal of an eschatological narrative from a Christological, cosmic perspective in a context where the loss of figurative language for eschatology negatively affects our ability to conceive the future of the whole of creation and to be really inspired by it in the present time. The main thesis of this dissertation is that the theological notion of the parousia grounds all eschatological statements in Jesus Christ, broadens the interpretation of God’s fulfillment to a fully transformed creation, offers an illustrative image of this cosmic process, and can empower believers to recognize and embrace their eschatological role within the framework of God’s action upon all things. This seems especially urgent in the contemporary theological context, where an all-embracing narrative about future fulfillment is either challenged or has almost disappeared. / Thesis (STD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

The thesis focuses on the eschatology of the New Testament writings, especially on those it's elements, in which the early church found it's hope. A question of transformation of Christian expectations due to the delayed parousia is questioned here; as well as related question of invariant gospel's elements on one hand and a set of it's historical origins on the other. A development of an early church hope is mapped through the compilation of author's thoughts linked to the Scripture and critically evaluated assertions taken up from other sources. Due to a significant depth of the theme, answers to some of it's sub­questions relies on the prevailing consensus, however, in those cases the author adds his own comment. The theme is described in a way of biblical texts or groups of biblical texts analysis. After an Old Testament introduction, there is an explanation of significant Jesus days' sociocultural phenomena, apocalypticism and several non biblical sources, after that the theme goes on with analyzing the Pauline texts. An influence of...

This research has attempted to discover the ethos and characteristics of the anointing with the Spirit of the Charismatic movements with the reformed assessment. It has been studied how the exegetical interpretation and Scriptural theology of the anointing with the Spirit relate to the systematic reformed theology. This study has indicated the key notion of this research, “the anointing with the Spirit” in Ancient Near Eastern Literature and in Scripture. The biblical foundation of the Reformed tradition on the notion of this research has been investigated and Christian reflection on the anointing with the Spirit has historically been investigated. The church’s dogmata of the anointing with the Spirit examined throughout the history of the church as well as whether the anointing with the Spirit in the Charismatic movement was implicated in the Reformed tradition. Whether the Reformed tradition disallowed all supernatural phenomena has also been examined, and what their concept is of the anointing with the Spirit. The debates between charismatic and reformed perspectives on the theological characteristics of the anointing with the Spirit have been compared. Essential to the argument is the nature and characteristics of the Charismatic movement in relation to the anointing with the Spirit, in which the unique experiences of the Spirit and their response to the world is demonstrated. The explored issues are systematically recapitulated and evaluated to be resolved. Four systematic spheres are examined with different hermeneutical approaches: the biblical and theological pneumatology; soteriology, in which the anointing with the Spirit is to be applied; promulgated eschatology that entails the characteristics of the missio Spiritus and the extent of the establishment of God’s kingdom in connection with the anointing with the Spirit, and finally mandated ecclesiology that requires responsibilities and commitments of those who are endowed with the charismata of the Spirit in the sphere of all contemporary areas. The anointing with the Spirit is related to soteriological aspect, authentic repentance is preconditioned to be gifted the charismata of the Spirit (Acts 2:38-40). Unlikely the pneumatological concept of the Charismatic movements, it is not only a means to achieve the God’s redemptive task, but also a resolution to prepare a residence for the God the Spirit in the hearts of the believers. Consequently sanctification should be the centred-ethos in the manifestation and application of the charismata of the Spirit in the Charismatic movements. The Charismatic believe that the anointing with the Spirit is the presence of God. However, the sanctifying characteristics, which come through God’s presence, are scarcely demonstrated in the life of the Charismatic believers. In the eschatological perspective, this research unveils the anointing with Spirit, poured upon the body of the Anointed One, is for eschatological completion, confirming the godly guarantee of his physical presence of the Anointed One by indwelling of his Spirit in and among their eschatological sanctuary. Simultaneously the anointing with the Spirit is perceived as a reality to encounter the upcoming dreadful judgment day of the Lord which will occur to the world. Justification and sanctification are essential requirements to face those days. Then the anointing with the Spirit in the Charismatic movement is by no means operated only for the present prosperity gospel. Eschatological imminence should be the foundational theology for both the Reformed and the Charismatic traditions. In assessment and evaluation of the Charismatic movements, this research analyses the cohorts of the Charismatic have ostensibly collapsed into a predicament over the intuitive characteristics due to the deficiency of its confirmation with the authority of Scripture in the process of charismatic manifestations of the Spirit. Some Charismatics blunder into a deception since they incline to shape their ethos on emotional and sensational experience, rather than to formulate these experiences in response to the authentic truth of Scripture. In this regards, this research indicates the Charismatics is to revise their dogmata according to Scripture. If spirituality is correlated to the knowledge of God through his Spirit, then the experience of genuine spirituality must be joined to what is meant by the truth of the Spirit. Nevertheless in search for the charismatic anointing with the Spirit, this study does not disregard the essential function of both inspirational intuition and rational conception to form their theology and beliefs on Scriptural foundation. The Reformed contends that they should eliminate the insecure and instinctive category of procedures and solemnly rely on the adequacy and exclusivity of Scriptural authority. The Charismatics believe that such knowledge is not seriously dissimilar to the imperfect nature of contemporary causes. However, both perspectives require some consideration. The instruction of the essence either repeats Scripture either Scriptural or is invalid. Finally this investigation illustrates some contributions of the Charismatic movement that entails the revitalized crucial function of the charismata with manifestations of the Spirit for individual edification, energetic communal worship, and influential evangelism and particularly the contextualization in communication with other society and community in evangelism in the areas of the missio Spiritus, eschatology, and experience. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Dogmatics and Christian Ethics / unrestricted

Ho kairos sunestalmenos estin, « le temps est écourté », écrit saint Paul à la communauté de Corinthe. La proclamation chrétienne plonge en effet le croyant dans une temporalité abrégée, pressée, contractée, comprise entre la Résurrection et la Parousie. La fin des temps est donc à la fois existentiellement imminente (« le Jour est tout proche ») et chronologiquement indéterminée (« le Jour du Seigneur vient comme un voleur dans la nuit »). Frappée par la surrection brutale d'une telle de crise dans la fluence chronologique, l'existence ne peut qu'en être sidérée. Cependant, malgré la pénurie d'avenir, le temps n'en continue pas moins d'affluer, et de l'angoisse (thlipsis) suscitée doit rejaillir une retemporalisation du temps lui-même. Explorer la temporalité à partir de l'imminence et de l'indétermination de la fin, expliciter le phénomène du temps à partir l'inquiétude eschatologique : telle est la tâche principale de ce travail. Kairos est le nom d'une telle tension existentielle chez Paul, dont les épîtres fournissent un riche matériau philosophique. Martin Heidegger a proposé en 1920 une approche phénoménologique du temps à partir de la situation d'urgence décrite dans l'épistolaire paulinien (Phénoménologie de la vie religieuse). Il était nécessaire d'en développer les prémices. Nous montrons d'abord, par une approche historique, que la conception paulinienne du kairos n'est réductible ni à l'épistémè grecque ni au « cosmos culturel » juif. Nous montrons également, par une herméneutique existentielle, que la tension du kairos (où se mêlent présence et attente) se résout dialectiquement dans une forme inédite de liberté. Nous détaillons enfin, puisqu'un certain savoir est toujours afférant à une situation temporelle critique, les nouveautés anthropologiques (renouvellement de la compréhension de l'homme), sociales (renouvellement de la signification de la communauté) et politiques (renouvellement du rapport au politique) dont l'expérience chrétienne primitive est féconde. / Ho kairos sunestalmenos estin, "time is shortened", wrote saint Paul to the community of Corinth. The christian proclamation actually takes the believer into an abriged, squeezed, condensed temporality bound by the Resurrection and the Parousia. The end of time is therefore both existentially imminent ("the Day is near") and chronologically undefined ("the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night"). Struck by the sudden uplifting of such a crisis in the chronological flow, the existence is necessarily stunned. However, despite the lack of future, time is still flowing and generates anxiety (thlipsis) from which must spring out a temporal delimitation of time itself. The exploration of temporality from the imminence and the indeterminacy of the end and the explication of the time phenomenon using the eschatological anxiety are the objects of this work. For Paul, whose epistles constitute a rich philosophical material, that existential tension is referred to as Kairos. Martin Heidegger, in 1920, proposed a phenomenological approach of time based on the situation of urgency described in the Pauline epistolary (Phenomenology of Religious Life). It was necessary to develop those first signs. First, by means of an historical approach, we point out that the pauline conception of Kairos can neither be reduced to the Greek espitémè nor to the Jewish "cultural cosmos". Using existential hermeneutics, we also show that the tension of the kairos (where presence and wait mingle) is dialectically resolved by an unprecedented freedom. Finally, since a certain knowledge is always pertaining to a critical temporal situation, we detail the anthropological (understanding of man renewed), social (significance of the community renewed) and political (relation to politics renewed) innovations of which the primitive christian experience is full of.

Devant la mort qui s’impose comme fin inhérente à tout être humain, le message hermasien, dans la neuvième similitude, évoque une vie après la mort dans une démarche qui séduit son lecteur et l’interpelle en vue d’une conversion immédiate et ponctuelle. Tout en travaillant sur des données préexistantes, Hermas monte une thématique eschatologique, avec un vocabulaire propre : il christianise ses données, en mettant en lumière, la prééminence du Fils de Dieu, déjouant ainsi les difficultés liées, à cette époque (IIe siècle), aux expressions « Messie », « Christ » ou « Jésus ». Il voudrait démontrer aux chrétiens, en général, et aux saints qui sont tombés (lapsi) qu’une possibilité est à nouveau donnée. Ils doivent sortir de la conception de damnation pour enfin bénéficier, de manière ultime, d’une metanoia (postbaptismale) qui favoriserait leur purification, et la grâce de vivre dans la félicité, quand reviendra (d’ici peu d’où parousie imminente) le Maître de la tour en construction en Sim. IX (en Arcadie). Ainsi se dévoile toute la pensée hermasienne : la metanoia ne se réalise pas pour elle-même, elle a un but qui est essentiellement eschatologique. Elle prépare les chrétiens à la venue du Fils de Dieu, à la sunteléia définitive, et leur promet (après l’acquisition du Nom, par le baptême et la vie vertueuse) une place dans la tour, symbole du royaume des cieux dans la Sim. IX. / In front of death which imposes itself as inherent end to all human beings, the Hermasian message (of Hermas) in the ninth Similitude suggests a life after death in an approach that appeals to the reader and calls him for an immediate and timely conversion. While working on existing data, Hermas mounts an eschatological theme, with a proper vocabulary : he christianized its data, highlighting the rule of the Son of God, and thwarting the difficulties related to this time (second century), to the expressions « Messiah», « Christ » or « Jesus ». He would demonstrate to the Christians in general, and the Saints who have fallen (Lapsi), that one new possibility is given. They must depart from the conception of damnation to finally benefit, in an ultimate way, a metanoia (post baptismal) that would favor their purification, and the grace to live in bliss, when will return (shortly where imminent parousia) the Master of the tower under construction in Sim. IX (in Arcadia). Thus reveals all Hermasian thought: metanoia does not occur for itself, its purpose is essentially eschatological. It prepares Christians for the coming of the Son of God at the final sunteleia and promises them (after acquiring the Name, by baptism and virtuous life) a place in the tower, symbol of the kingdom of heaven in the Sim. IX.

Pentecostalism, which developed its essential character during the classical period of 1901-1916, has many significant contributions to make to modern theology. Often viewed as a type of fundamentalism, it is actually a theological tradition in its own right that deserves consideration along with the other two major streams of protestantism, conservative evangelicalism and more liberal ecumenical-mainline thought. Although it emphasizes the experience of the Holy Spirit, pentecostalism is highly Christocentric as is evidenced by its foundational symbol of faith, the fourfold gospel of Jesus as savior, healer, baptizer, and coming king. This work examines how the pentecostal fourfold gospel, as a functional, from below Spirit Christology, anticipates and intersects with trends in twentieth century ecumenical theological thought. The result of the study is the articulation of a fuller, more holistic understanding of the work of Christ in salvation in the world today. / Systematic Theology & Theological Ethics / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

The thesis explores the subject of purgatory and its relative value for modern people. It summarises: 1. The manner in which biblical texts used to underpin the doctrine; 2. The history of the doctrine within the Roman Catholic Church and the reaction to it during the Reformation and beyond; and 3. Contemporary formulations of purgatory and purgatory-like ideas. The thesis argues, from several perspectives, that a modern formulation of the doctrine is: 1. Reasonable; 2. Biblically consistent; 3. Meets the criteria of an established Tradition at practice within the Church; and 4. Is capable of assisting people in understanding and appreciating the existential questions of death and the after life. The thesis is approached from the angle of a Legal Counsel presenting an argument for acceptance of the thesis. / SYS THEOLOGY & THEOL ETHICS / MTH (SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY)

Text in German / Zusammenfassung Die Predigten zur Parusie Jesu finden im Perikopenplan der Evangelischen Landeskirche eine geringe Aufmerksamkeit. Die Thematik beschränkt sich auf das Ende, wie auf den Anfang des Kirchenjahres, genauer gesagt auf den 2. Advent. Das Thema der Parusie Jesu ist nicht unbedingt ein Hauptthema in der Predigtarbeit. Aber die Parusie Jesu ist das Hauptziel des Glaubens der Christen. Durch diese Arbeit soll der Predigtarbeit, sowie dem Thema der Parusie Jesu mehr Beachtung geschenkt werden. In dieser Arbeit wird die DDR Sozial- und Kirchengeschichte mit den Kurzbiographien der Prediger vorgestellt. Diese sind zum Teil Hintergrundinformation für die Predigtanalysen. Die Arbeit widmet sich einer Predigtanalyse zum biblischen Hintergrund und zum historischen Hintergrund der DDR, um den Stellenwert der Parusie Jesu in den Predigten zu erforschen. Die Bewertung der Predigtpraxis und die Evaluation bilden den Abschluss der Arbeit. Zusammenfassung Die Predigten zur Parusie Jesu finden im Perikopenplan der Evangelischen Landeskirche eine geringe Aufmerksamkeit. Die Thematik beschränkt sich auf das Ende, wie auf den Anfang des Kirchenjahres, genauer gesagt auf den 2. Advent. Das Thema der Parusie Jesu ist nicht unbedingt ein Hauptthema in der Predigtarbeit. Aber die Parusie Jesu ist das Hauptziel des Glaubens der Christen. Durch diese Arbeit soll der Predigtarbeit, sowie dem Thema der Parusie Jesu mehr Beachtung geschenkt werden. In dieser Arbeit wird die DDR Sozial- und Kirchengeschichte mit den Kurzbiographien der Prediger vorgestellt. Diese sind zum Teil Hintergrundinformation für die Predigtanalysen. Die Arbeit widmet sich einer Predigtanalyse zum biblischen Hintergrund und zum historischen Hintergrund der DDR, um den Stellenwert der Parusie Jesu in den Predigten zu erforschen. Die Bewertung der Predigtpraxis und die Evaluation bilden den Abschluss der Arbeit. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology))

This thesis is designed to outline the systematic-theological and theological-historical basis for the Eschatological Gospel of Both Comings of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha Mashiach). This cohesively combines Jesus‘ First Coming (for redemption, reconciliation and restoration) with His Second Coming (for the Rapture/Resurrection of the Church/Body of Christ and judgment at the Day of the Lord/Yahweh) into the complete salvation of the Church. The historical writings of the Patristic, Ante- and Post-Nicene Fathers are examined to ensure the continuity of this Eschatological Gospel message being communicated through their writings to the Early Church. The remainder of Church history is examined to ensure the Eschatological Gospel continued to be communicated by the Church as a part of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. Then, in keeping with the eschatological prophetic intent of the Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Weeds) in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, of both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan coexisting and growing until ―the end of the age,‖ the antithesis of the Eschatological Gospel is examined—Satan‘s plan of lies, deception and heresy throughout history, culminating with the explosion of activity since 1948. This satanic plan is described as being not only insidiously deceptive by recruiting converts to the kingdom of darkness in rebellion and opposition to the kingdom of God, but also as preparing the way for the End-time/Last Days‘ ten-nation confederacy to be led by the antichrist. Biblical chronology is used to trace the history of both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness to the present day. Finally, the ―Signs of the Times‖ in modern history are examined, thereby showing the need for the Eschatological Gospel to be taught in the twenty-first century, especially as the day of the Lord Jesus Christ‘s Parousia rapidly approaches. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

Pentecostalism, which developed its essential character during the classical period of 1901-1916, has many significant contributions to make to modern theology. Often viewed as a type of fundamentalism, it is actually a theological tradition in its own right that deserves consideration along with the other two major streams of protestantism, conservative evangelicalism and more liberal ecumenical-mainline thought. Although it emphasizes the experience of the Holy Spirit, pentecostalism is highly Christocentric as is evidenced by its foundational symbol of faith, the fourfold gospel of Jesus as savior, healer, baptizer, and coming king. This work examines how the pentecostal fourfold gospel, as a functional, from below Spirit Christology, anticipates and intersects with trends in twentieth century ecumenical theological thought. The result of the study is the articulation of a fuller, more holistic understanding of the work of Christ in salvation in the world today. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)