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The eschatological orientation in the early theology of Thomas F. Torrance, 1939-1963

Thomas F. Torrance (1913- 2007) is recognised as one of the foremost theologians of the twentieth century. Eschatology occupies a very significant place in his theology, although scholars interested in his work have paid little attention to this fact, focusing instead on his methodology. This thesis not only brings Torrance's eschatology to light through an exploration of his sermons, correspondence, lectures and short writings, it shows that it is a central component of his early theology, uncovering an eschatological orientation in his treatment of various Christian doctrines. It also takes cognizance of the fact that this eschatology is shaped by such events as WWII, the spread Clf communism, the modern eschatological debate and the world- wide ecumenical movement. Torrance's eschatology seeks to recapture, on the basis of a high Christology, the New Testament tension between the present realization of the Kingdom of God and the future consummation of it. In contrast to many contemporary eschatologies, Torrance's eschatology is apocalyptic, ecclesial and ecumenical. It is unique too in its attempt to do justice to the humanity of Christ and to the interrelation of the doctrines of creation and redemption. / Thomas F. Torrance (1913 - 2007) est reconnu comille l'un des principaux theologiens du XXe siecle. L'eschatologie occupe une place importante dans sa theologie, bien que les chercheurs interesses par ses travaux ont porte peu d'attention a ce fait, se concentrant plutot sur sa methodologie. Cette these apporte non seulement l'eschatologie de Torrance a la lumiere a travers une exploration de ses sermons, sa correspondance, ses conferences et de courts ecrits, elle demontre aussi qu'elle est un element central des debuts de sa theologie, devoilant une orientation eschatologique dans son traitement des differente doctrines chretiennes. Elle prend egalement connaissance du fait que cette eschatologie est faconnee par des evenements comme la Seconde Guerre mondiale, la propagation du communisme, Ie debat eschatologique mod erne et Ie mouvement recumenique mondial. L'eschatologie de Torrance cherche a retrouver, sur la base d'une haute christologie, la tension neotestamentaire entre la realisation actuelle du Royaume de Dieu et son accomplissement futur. Contrairement a de nombreuses eschatologies, on decouvre chez Torrance une eschatologie qui est apocalyptique, ecclesiale et recumenique. Elle est aussi remarquable pour sa tentative de rendre justice a l'humanite du Christ et de l'interdependance des doctrines de la creation et de la redemption. fr

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.42279
Date January 2009
CreatorsMacLean, Stanley Stephen
ContributorsDouglas Farrow (supervisor)
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageDoctor of Philosophy (Faculty of Religious Studies)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 003038078, Theses scanned by McGill Library.

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