The Transitions From Primitive to Classical and from Classical to Contemporary Christian Eschatology

Abstract

<p>This dissertation has a two-fold aim: (1) to give an accurate analytic account of the transition from primitive Christian eschatology to that which, in the wake of Luke's Gospel and his Acts of the Apostles, became classical Christian eschatology; and (2) to define and resolve, in principle, the problems which the historical consciousness of contemporary man poses for classical Christian eschatology. Specifically, this has been done in two steps: (1) by an analysis of why primitive Christian eschatology became a problem, together with the Lucan solution to that problem; and (2) by an analysis of why the Lucan solution also became a problem to the modern mind. Using the Lucan achievement as a paradigm, the dissertation concludes with an attempt to specify a way toward resolution of the contemporary problem.</p>