Consistent eschatology (Thoroughgoing eschatology) is a theory in theological and biblical studies that interprets Jesus "in exclusively eschatological terms".[1] The view was initiated by Johannes Weiss, and "picked up, developed, and popularized" by Albert Schweitzer.[2] It is an exclusive futuristic eschatology, the consistent interpretation of Jesus' eschatology as an expectation of an imminent end, and the thorough-going eschatology,[3] the first position by Schweitzer.[4][5] He used a thorough eschatology to provide a solution to the historical problems associated with Jesus' life.[6] According to this view, asserted by Johannes Weiss (J. Weiß),[7] the proclamation of Jesus, his actions and ministry are dominated by the eschatological expectation of the impending return.[8] (For example, "the kingdom of God is at hand”. Mk. 1:15)
It has been described by one critic (George Eldon Ladd) as picturing:
Jesus as a deluded Jewish apocalyptist who proclaimed an eschatological kingdom which never came and which never can come. Jesus had no message about the rule of God in the world or his divine purpose for mankind in history. He believed, mistakenly, that God was about to break off history and establish his eschatological kingdom in which he, Jesus, would be elevated to the glorious status of the Son of Man.[1]
As a futuristic eschatology, it is in contrast to "realized eschatology", which sees the kingdom of God as not in the future but already completed in the ministry of Jesus Christ,[9] (realized eschatology explaining the lack of apocalyptic upheaval and conquering Kingdom of God that Jesus's followers had been expecting). It has evolved into inaugurated eschatology which started the synthesis of the consistent eschatology of Schweitzer and the realized eschatology of C. H. Dodd.[10][11][12][13][failed verification]
- ^ a b LADD, GEORGE ELDON (Fall 1962). "CONSISTENT OR REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY IN MATTHEW". Southwestern Journal of Theology. 5. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ Dawes, Gregory W. (1999). "5. Consistent Eschatology - Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)". The Historical Jesus Quest. - Brill (PDF). Brill. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ Ted M. Dorman, "The Future of Biblical Theology," in Scott J. Hafemann (ed.), Biblical Theology: Retrospect and Prospect, p. 252.
- ^ Charles M. Horne, "Eschatology: The Controlling Thematic in Theology," 60
- ^ Kwang Kyung Hoon, Albert Schweitzer’s ‘consistent eschatology’
- ^ Oscar Cullmann, Salvation in History (New York: Harper and Row, 1967), 29
- ^ Dale C. Allison, Jr, The Eschatology of Jesus, Apocalypticism in early Christianity, The origins of apocalypticism in Judaism and Christianity, ed., J.J Collins, & B McGinn (New York:Bloomsbury Publishing, 200), 268
- ^ Jakub Urbaniak & Elijah Otu, "The dynamics of God’s reign as a hermeneutic key to Jesus’ eschatological expectation", HTS, vol 72, no 1 (2016)
- ^ Anthony A. Hoekema, The Bible and the Future, 297
- ^ Burley, Mikel (2017). "Dislocating the Eschaton? Appraising Realized Eschatology". Sophia. 56 (3): 435–452. doi:10.1007/s11841-016-0534-0.
- ^ The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Term, Donald K. McKim, 106
- ^ George Eldon Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament (1993) ISBN 0-8028-0680-5, page 70.
- ^ Ted M. Dorman, "The Future of Biblical Theology," in Scott J. Hafemann (ed.), Biblical Theology: Retrospect and Prospect, 252.