The eschatology of the apostle Paul

Abstract

Eschatology in Christian theology means doctrines about the return of Christ to Earth and matters related to that return, such as the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, the beginning of the etemal Kingdom of God, and those events and phenomena one can expect to precede or accompany the return. These issues were of paramount importance to the earliest Christians, the apostle Paul included. Eschatology was not then, as in later Christian theology, simply an appendix to Christianity much in the way that John's Revelation seems to be a sort of strange appendix to the New Testament. Even the importance of such issues as the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus depended upon the way in which they fit into and altered the eschatological scheme. Because Jesus had died and had been raised again, he was Lord of the world and was even then beginning to prepare to bring in the Kingdom of God. Christians were not to wait for the day when they would die and go to heaven, but for the day when Jesus would come from heaven to bring the Kingdom to Earth (I Thessalonians 1:9-10). Eschatology was an essential key to their whole way of thinking. Historically Paul's eschatology has been the focus of scant attention. This is because the more elaborate apocalyptic stories found in texts such as Daniel, the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 13 with parallels), and especially John's Revelation seem to swallow up and render superfluous anything Paul has to say about the issue. Whether Paul might have had in mind something different or even contradictory to these other sources is often a possibility considered unthinkable if not heretical. The purpose of this research has been to allow Paul to speak for himself on the issue, letting the chips fall where they may in regard to his agreement or disagreement with other New Testament authors.