Realized eschatology: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Concept in Christian eschatology}}

Popularized by [[C. H. Dodd]] (1884–1973), this [[Christian eschatology|eschatological]] theory holds that the eschatological passages in the [[New Testament]] do not refer to the future, but instead refer to the work and life of [[Jesus]] himself. Eschatology is therefore not the end of the world, but its rebirth instituted by Jesus and continued by his followers, a this-worldy phenomenon. Those holding this view generally dismiss "[[end times]]" theories, believing them to be irrelevant. They hold that what Jesus said and did (and told his followers to do likewise) are of greater significance than any Messianic expectations.

'''Realized eschatology''' is a [[Christian eschatology|Christian eschatological]] theory popularised by [[J.A.T. Robinson]], [[Joachim Jeremias]], [[Ethelbert Stauffer]] (1902–1979), and [[C. H. Dodd]] (1884–1973) that holds that the eschatological passages in the [[New Testament]] do not refer to the future, but instead refer to the [[ministry of Jesus]] and his lasting legacy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Horne |first=Charles M. |date=1970 |title=Eschatology - The Controlling Thematic In Theology, |url=https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/13/13-1/13-1-pp053-063_jets.pdf |journal=[[Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society]] |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=53-63 |archive-date=2020-08-20 |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820153118/https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/13/13-1/13-1-pp053-063_jets.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{Rp|page=60}}<ref>{{cite book|title=A Theology of the New Testament|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eIdkM00EdlAC|page=56|author1=George Eldon Ladd|author1-link=George Eldon Ladd|author2=Donald Alfred Hagner|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|date=1993|isbn=0802806805}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author = McKim, Donald K. | date = 2014 | title = Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms | page = 106 | edition = 2nd | ___location = Louisville, KY | publisher = Presbyterian Publishing | isbn = 978-1611643862 | url = https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1611643864 | access-date = April 3, 2017 }}</ref> [[Eschatology]] is therefore not the end of the world but its rebirth instituted by Jesus and continued by [[Disciple (Christianity)|his disciples]], a historical (rather than [[transhistorical]]) phenomenon. Those holding this view generally dismiss [[eschatology]] theories, believing them to be irrelevant; they hold that [[Ministry of Jesus|what Jesus said and did]], and told his disciples to do likewise, are of greater significance than any [[Messiah|messianic]] expectations.<ref>[https://bible.org/seriespage/22-johns-problem-jesus-luke-718-35 John's Problem with Jesus]</ref> Realized eschatology is contrasted with [[consistent eschatology]]. The two concepts have been combined in [[inaugurated eschatology]].<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/document/41829212/Eschatology Ruby Mathews, Eschatology in Matthew]</ref>

== Criticism ==

This view is attractive to many people, since it reverses the notion that Jesus' coming is a looming and bellicose thing, something hardly in keeping with the overall theme of Jesus and his teachings in the Gospels. Instead, eschatology is about being engaged in the process of becoming, rather than waiting for external and unknown forces to bring about destruction.

Theologian [[John Walvoord]] asserts that this view is attractive to [[liberal Christianity|liberal Christians]] who prefer to emphasize the love and goodness of God while rejecting the notion of judgment.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Walvoord |first=John F. |date=1970 |title=Realized Eschatology |journal=[[Bibliotheca Sacra]] |volume=127 |issue=508 | pages=313–323 |publisher=<!-- [[Dallas Theological Seminary]]--> |issn=0006-1921 |url=http://walvoord.com/article/115 |access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref> Instead, theology professor David Wheeler suggests that eschatology should be about being engaged in the [[process theology|process of becoming]], rather than waiting for external and unknown forces to bring about destruction.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Wheeler |first=David L. |date=1993 |title=Toward a Process-Relational Christian Eschatology |url=http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2847 |access-date=4 April 2017 |journal=Process Studies |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=227–237 |___location=Claremont, CA |publisher=Center for Process Studies |doi=10.5840/process199322438 |issn=0360-6503 |archive-date=26 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626025834/http://religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2847 |url-status=dead |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Biblical scholar [[John Dominic Crossan]] of the [[Jesus Seminar]] coined and uses the term “sapiential eschatology” to refer to a similar concept.<ref>[http://www.mystae.com/restricted/reflections/messiah/ministry.html The Ministry of Jesus] accessed [[January 16]] [[2006]]</ref>

==See also==

*[[Category:Christian theologyperfection]]

*[[Idealism (Christian eschatology)]]

*[[Immanentize the eschaton]]

*[[Jesuism]]

*[[Postmillennialism]]

*[[Preterism]]

*[[Tikkun olam]]

*[[World to Come]]

*[[Consistent eschatology]]

*[[Christian eschatology]]

*[[Idealism (Christian eschatology)]]

*[[Kingdom theology]]

*[[Inaugurated eschatology]]

==References and notes==

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* Donald K. McKim, ''Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms'' (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996).

[[Category:Eschatology]]

[[Category:Christian theology]]

[[Category:Christian eschatology]]

[[Category:Christian terminology]]