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IX. Johannine Eschatology

IX. Johannine Eschatology. Early Christian eschatology Earliest Christians Inherited much from Jewish apocalyptic: resurrection of dead, final judgment, eternal life in New Age.

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IX. Johannine Eschatology

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  1. IX. Johannine Eschatology

  2. Early Christian eschatology • Earliest Christians • Inherited much from Jewish apocalyptic: resurrection of dead, final judgment, eternal life in New Age. • Fervent expectations of “imminent Parousia” – Son of Man coming on clouds, bringing Kingdom of God (Mark 8:38; 9:1; 13:14-31 par.; Acts 3:19-21). • Paul • Parousia still imminent; will bring resurrection of believers, etc. (1 Thess. 4:15-17; 1 Cor. 15:20-24, 51-52). • Taught both an “already” and a “not yet” (cf. Overlapping of the Ages); emphasis on future hope of salvation. • Delay of Parousia – late 1st century; two ways to adjust: • Push traditional expectation to distant future (Luke-Acts; 2 Peter). • Reinterpret in spiritual sense (Gnosticism): denied future return; Christ’s resurrection was spiritual return; resurrection of believers has already occurred in spiritual insight (cf. false teachers in 2 Tim. 2:18); salvation is already possessed in full; nothing new in future. • FG modifies second approach: emphasizes “realized eschatology;” retains future consummation.

  3. Johannine eschatology • Future eschatology is scarce in John. • Very few passages allude to traditional future expectation (5:28-29; 6:39-40, 54; 14:3; 16:33). • Even these are vague and undeveloped. • “Parousia” does not occur; nothing like Synoptic apocalyptic discourse (Mk. 13 par.). • “Realized” eschatology is dominant emphasis. • “Realized eschatology” means the present fulfillment of the traditional future hopes. • Judgment, resurrection, and eternal life are experienced now by faith in Jesus. • Judgment occurs now in response to Jesus (3:16-19): presence of Christ sets in motion a sifting process; people sort themselves in response to him – this is the judgment. • Resurrection is not just future hope but takes place now by faith response. • Note how 5:24-25 emphasizes realized eschatology, then 5:28-29 repeats same thought but acknowledges future consummation • In 11:23-26 Martha expresses traditional future resurrection; Jesus responds that resurrection is available now through him. • Eternal life as quality of life experienced now (3:36; 5:24; 10:10). • FG pulls future expectations into present, declares them fulfilled in Jesus – The future is now!

  4. Johannine eschatology • Conclusion • Bultmann thought Evangelist had purely “realized eschatology;” the few future eschatology passages were added by Redactor (“spoiler” theory). • More likely future passages were taken over by Evangelist from tradition and reinterpreted with emphasis on present (Kysar’s “preserver” theory). • FG strongly emphasizes “realized” eschatology in response to delay of Parousia. • Delay does not matter because “the End” has already come in Jesus. • By faith in Jesus, salvation becomes a present experience – in him, we already experience judgment, resurrection, eternal life. • It is theologically/ethically significant that FG also retains vestiges of “future eschatology” (5:28-29). • We do not possess salvation in all of its fullness now; there will be a future consummation. • This distinguishes FG from Gnosticism.

  5. (John’s distinctive term for Holy Spirit) • The Paraclete • Holy Spirit signifies divine presence. • Farewell Discourse (Jn. 14-16) promises coming of Spirit as “another Paraclete” (cf. 1 Jn. 2:1). • 14:15-17 c. 15:26 • 14:25-26 d. 16:7-15 • “Paraclete” = “one called alongside” (to help) • Legal: Advocate (NRSV); Intercessor; Defender. • Non-legal: Comforter (KJV); Counselor(RSV; NIV);Helper(NAS). • Functions of Paraclete • Teaches the truth of Christ by recalling and illuminating the teaching of Jesus (14:25-26; cf. 2:22; 12:16). • Teaches the truth of Christ by revealing new truth (16:12-15). • Puts world on trial, convicting of sin (16:7-11). • Makes Christ present in world (14:15-17). Answers 3-fold problem of the “absence of Jesus”: • Crucifixion – disciples will not be “orphaned” (14:18). • Delay of Parousia – already returned in Spirit (realized eschat.) • Passing of eyewitness generation – Spirit mediates revelation of Christ (probably through activity of Christian prophets).

  6. John 3:16-19 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.

  7. John 5:24-25, 28-29 24 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 "Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live…. 28 Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and will come out-- those who have done good, to the resurrectionof life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

  8. John 11:23-26 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

  9. John 3:36; 5:24; 10:10 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life… 5:24 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life… 10:10 …I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

  10. John 14:25-26 (cf. 2:22; 12:16) 14:25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 2:22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. 12:16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.

  11. John 16:12-15 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

  12. John 16:7-11 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

  13. John 14:15-18 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” 18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.”

  14. Parousia Age to Come (Kingdom of God) Cross / Res. Christians Present Evil Age Overlapping of the Ages Overlapping of the Ages Overlapping of the Ages Parousia Parousia Age to Come (Kingdom of God) Age to Come (Kingdom of God) Cross / Res. Cross / Res. Christians Christians Present Evil Age Present Evil Age

  15. Vestiges of Future Eschatology in FG 5:28-29 - Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out-- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 6:39-40, 54 - And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day”... Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 16:33 - I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution (tribulation). But take courage; I have conquered the world!"

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