Understanding Paul's Theology through His Eschatology - Literature review Example

YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND PAUL’S THEOLOGY WITHOUT HIS ESCHATOLOGY (DISCUSS) of due: St. Paul is very important in the studies of the New Testament many theologians and even Scholars are in agreement with the fact that Paul was a great and influential person in the history of Christianity. Pauls theology and his eschatology are linked. This makes it very hard for an individual to understand his theology without comprehending his eschatology. Pauls theology can be studied based on the letters that he wrote to the Romans (Schenelle 2005:7). Although his letters are primary in construing his theology, his inherited convictions and also his conversion and faith may be employed (Dunn 1998:34). His letters focused on specific conditions that he wanted to address, and they were not meant to reflect Pauls theology exhaustively. His letters however reflect his convictions and conversion with the different issues he addresses. Pauls teachings were based on topics such as humankind, God, Christology, salvation, sin, Christian life and the church (Wright 1992:17). Eschatology refers to the study of the events that are going to occur during the final times as indicated by the bible. In his eschatology, he addresses Christs second coming this is among the events that are to take place during the last times. The discussions of the eschatology for all Christians always begin with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is considered to be the first event to initiate the end of times. This shows that Pauls theology and eschatology are linked, and you cannot understand one without the other. The resurrection of Jesus Christ indicated that the events of the last time had already begun. Theological thinking of Paul developed with time. Paul discussed various issues in his letters. These include The question concerning Christs second coming by the church of Thessalonica, in his letters Paul also affirmed that in order for one to understand Christs second coming one must understand Christs resurrection which is the first step; he wrote his letters trying to expound on resurrection including what it meant. In his letters, he also affirmed that because of the death of Jesus Christ our sins are redeemed, and he lastly focused on explaining Christs person as the "son of God, who took flesh." Paul comprehends salvation as being an act of mercy from God to heal a broken world. He, therefore, does not speak of salvation in terms of punishment or justice as mechanistic view of the honor and holiness of the almighty father. Salvation according to Paul was God’s gift to humanity to deliver them from sin and death and also the self-destructive nature of human (Schenelle 2005:19). Paul’s theology mainly focuses on Christ. According to Paul, Jesus Christ is the image of God and represents the true nature of God. He also considers Christ to be the first born of all that God has created. This means that Christ is the Sovereign over the rest of God’s creation (Schenelle 2005:23). He is also the maker of everything in this earth is created by him, and all things are also created for him. Paul also affirmed that Christ magnified in all his creation. Christ is also the head of all things and through him all things are able to be held together (Colossians 11:17). Paul also taught on the unity among Christians and the body of Christ. Christ is the leader of the Church. This shows that Jesus Christ is preeminent in all aspects of Christianity. Paul also addressed the false teachers who were not basing their teachings on Christ. They caused those who were listening to their teachings and also those who they converted not to follow Christ’s way yet Christ was the center of Christianity. Paul taught that completeness is only found in Christ, and one is only full when he is in Christ (Col 2:9-10) so there is only one way to finding fullness, and it is in Christ. When Christians find their fullness in Christ, Christ is glorified. According to Paul’s theology although Jesus Christ was in Gods form he was not equal to God but rather he took the form of a servant born in the image of men. In his human form, Christ was obedient to Gods will. Through accepting his death on the cross, God highly exalted him and gave him authority by giving him a name that is above every name (Schenelle 2005:37). Every knee will bow in earth, heaven, and beneath the earth at the name of Jesus Christ, and every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is indeed Lord to the glory of the father (Philippians 2:5-11). For one to be saved from sin and death, they have to accept Jesus as the Lord and believe in him winning death (Romans 10:9). Pauls theology states that Jesus Christ died because of our sins. Jesus Christ is God’s son who is sinless and perfect, but he died on the cross because of our sins so as to pay our penalty. The wages of sin is death. Paul asserted that Christ was Gods when he was addressing the early Christians but even so Christ was still subordinate to the almighty father. The demise of Christ on the cross was Gods will, and all the actions of Christ were in accordance to the will of God. In 1st Corinthians 15:28 St Paul states that: "When all things are subjected to him, then the son himself will also be subjected to Him who put all things under him that God may be everything to everyone." Paul preached that Jesus Christ was the messiah of the Jews. The challenge that he faced was that the Jews were not anticipating their messiah to be crucified. Paul argued with the Jews on the issue of Christ’s crucifixion, and he affirmed that it was vital for Christ to suffer, die and afterwards for him to resurrect from the dead. The two comings of Jesus Christ are not clearly differentiated by the prophets of the Old Testament. This is evident in Isaiah 7:14 and Zechariah 14:4. Isaiah 7: 14 only say that a young woman will conceive and bear a child whom she will name Immanuel. Zechariah 14:3 states that: "The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on the day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the; and the mount Olives shall be split into two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one side of the mount shall withdraw northward and the other half side southward." Prophesies of the prophets of the Old Testament appeared to be speaking about two different messiahs. This resulted to majority of Jewish Scholars believing that there will be two messiahs: the one who suffers and the one who conquers. What they did not comprehend is that there is only going to be one messiah who is going to fulfill all the prophecies. Paul inscribed a letter to the Christians in Rome explaining to them the reason as to why Christ had to die. He used the biblical story of Adam and Eve to explain the Genesis of death and sin. He asserted that the sin is in the world because of the actions of the initial humans on earth, that is Adam and Eve, and with sin comes death (Romans 5:12). After Adam and Eve sinned all men became prone to sin. Paul wrote that we were all delivered from sin and death through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Although we are all sinners, God demonstrated his love for us by sending his only son to die on the cross for the errors of mankind. He explained Christs crucifixion by affirming that it was a blood sacrifice to redeem us from our sins. By studying Pauls eschatology, it gives clear explanations to the matters that he talks about in his theology. This includes Christs authority, which he gained by obeying Gods will to sacrifice his life on the cross, Christs triumph over sin and death, reasons for Christs suffering and Christ as the son of God. The demise of Christ on the cross was just the beginning of his victory which will be seen during his second coming and for one to understand the reason as to why He died someone needs to understand the importance of Christs second coming and the benefits that it will have on Christians. In Christs second coming people will be judged and those who accept Christ as Lord, believe in His resurrection and obey Gods commandments will be united with God. Pauls eschatology The very first Christians were expecting Christs second coming to be very soon. They believed that Lord could come any time even when they are in their gathering. Early Christians waited for Christs second coming as promised by Jesus (John 14:18-19) Jesus promised them that he would not abandon them desolate and would return and also the two angels who were with Christ during his ascension (Acts 1:11). This made Christians life to be built on the expected coming of Christ. When the early Christians saw that Christs second coming was delaying, and it is not as soon as they expected, they began to ask questions with others being doubtful. This pressured Paul to explain the status of Christs second coming. According to the Old Testament, the eschatology will come late. At first Paul also believed in the late coming of Jesus Christ since he was a Jew. His believed was changed by his conversion when he was going to Damascus and also by the personal experience he had with Christ. He then believed that the second coming was going to be soon. He urged people to remain awake since Christs second coming will come like a thief- when no one is expecting, "For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night" (1st Thessalonians 5:2). Paul also advised Christians always to do good deeds to one another, more so to the ones they share the same faith with. He also urged Christians to obey Gods commandments so that they can become sons of the light and also to endure difficulties, painful experiences associated with their faith. For Paul even though Christs second coming is delayed, the Lord is already living in glory. Christs second coming will be his comeback to fulfill the prophecies that were made by prophets regarding his second coming. The first time that Jesus Christ came to earth he came in the image of a human being, as a suffering servant. In his second appearance, he will come in the form of a conquering king. During his second coming he will also arrive with armies of heaven besides him. Paul employed five words while explaining the second coming. The words included: Parousia, Apocalypses, Eschatologia, Epiphania, and Hemera. Eschatologia is a special word that describes the end of the world. For Paul end of time did not only refer to the end of time, but also the start of fulfilling the will of God in Jesus Christ. The incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension, coming down on the holy spirit on those who believed are all indicators of the end of time and the events act as preparation for the last event which is Christs second coming. Hemera is a word found in the Old Testament that refers to the day of Yahweh. Prophets in the Old Testament used it in describing the wrath of God and the final judgment. During the judgment, good people will receive an eternal kingdom while the evil ones will not. Paul uses the word in explaining the day of the Lord.(1st Thessalonians 5:2). Epiphania is a word used in explaining the appearance of God to Moses, Ibrahim and other prophets. Paul affirmed that Christs second coming is linked to incarnation. Paul used the word Apocalypses when explaining that Christs second coming will unveil Christs mystery and all that was secret and hidden will be known. Parousia refers to presence or entrance. This word is used in describing kings or emperors glorious entrance to their cities. Paul describes Christ in the second coming as the son of man and the messiah. Christ will judge those who are living and also those who are dead. Christ’s appearance during his second coming is accompanied by joy and victory and at that moment He will declare his glory. Christ’s resurrection was just the first step to his victory in his second coming, which will be the last step. When Christ died and resurrected, he had defeated the law and sin. The third thing that Christ will defeat is death (1st Corinthians 15). Christ’s victory will be over adversary powers that fight and oppose Christians in their preaching of the gospel between the period of Christ’s resurrection and his second coming. His victory will also be over cosmic powers. Paul uses different terms in describing Christ’s victory: Lord (Kurios), Glory (Doxa) and King (Basileus). Paul affirmed that Christ died and resurrected so that he becomes the Lord of those who are living and also those who are dead (Romans 14:9). He also stated that Christ was “Lord of Glory” and that his crucifers would not have crucified him if they were aware of this (1st Corinthians 2:8). He lastly also refers to Christ as king. He affirmed that through his death and resurrection we are saved from the power of darkness and delivered into his kingdom (Colossians 1:13) Christ’s second coming will also be a day of judgment. People will be judged as per their deeds. Paul told the Corinthians that those people who were committing vices will be judged by God and that they will also be considered to be out of the community of Christians. Paul also forbade them from judging their fellows. This is because they judged Paul, their brethren and also leaders. In 1st Corinthians Paul teaches the Corinthians on the importance of love? He advises them that they behave to give love a priority rather than their spiritual gifts and evil doings. According to Paul, the God’s eschatological plan began by Jesus Christ. Via the demise and resurrection of Jesus Christ the plan of God regarding eschatology had already had already commenced, and it was taking its shape this shows that Paul taught an “Inaugurated Eschatology” with reference to the analogy of Oscar Cullmann. According to Paul, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the D-Day, and his return (Parausia) will be the v-day (Sobanaraj 2007:37). For Paul, Christians are living their lives between those two periods. He taught Christians on how to lie with one another and also encouraged them in doing good deeds and for them to be guided by love. By doing so, they will be living according to God’s command and when the Judgment day comes they will be regarded as the sons of the light and would join Christ in celebrating his victory (Sobanaraj 2007: 18). The two epistles of Paul that he used in addressing the Christians in Thessalonica are the main eschatological epistles found in the New Testament. Paul used the epistles to remind the believers of all that he taught them during the first week that they were with Paul. He taught them of the last times at the period of their first indoctrination into Christianity. Some of the topics which he discussed with them included; Christ second coming, Rapture the great tribulation and the Antichrist (Sobanaraj 2007: 39). In conclusion, the theology of Paul is based on his eschatology. Eschatological tension undergirds Christian life. Struggle and tension are building blocks for Christian experience (Dunn 1998:73). Paul’s anticipation and grounds in life, the possession and the importance of Christianity are the main issues concerning his concept of the future. All thorough studies of Paul’s Gospel or theology should always start with understanding and deep studying of his eschatology. The religion in which Paul was brought up in had its functional core in eschatology; its heart was the messianic hope. It is evident that Paul’s theology cannot be clearly understood without his eschatology and that the two go hand in hand. Bibliography Dunn ,J. 1998. The Theology of Paul the Apostle, Cambridge: Erdmans Schenelle, U.2005. Apostle Paul: His Life and Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. Sobanaraj, S. 2007. Diversity in Paul’s eschatology: Paul’s View on Parousia and Bodily Resurrection The Bible: Revised Standard Version. New Testament Wright, NT. 1992.The New Testament and The People of God, London: SPCK Read More