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Contours of Christian Theology #9
The Last Things
There is no shortage of books on eschatology--the study of the last things and the end-times. Many arise out of incoherent or superficial readings of the Bible that detract from the "once and for all" achievements of God through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Others fail to consider the manner in which God reveals himself through the Lord Jesus and by the power of his Spirit. Too many fail to distinguish sufficiently between the genuine hope provided by the gospel and the superficial aspirations of culture. In this final Contours of Christian Theology volume, David H�hne offers a trinitarian theological description of eschatology that is at once systematic, generated from the theological interpretation of Scripture, and yet sensitive to essential elements for Christian practice. His reading of the Bible is shaped by the gospel, informed by the history of Christian thought, and dedicated to serving the church in a world that is frustrated by sin, death, and evil, yet longing for the return of our Lord and Messiah. Contours of Christian Theology, edited by Gerald Bray, is a series of concise introductory textbooks focused on the main themes of Christian theology. The authors introduce the perennial questions and their time-tested solutions while moving forward to explore contemporary issues and rework evangelical formulations of the faith.
322 pages, Paperback
Published June 25, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 10, 2023
A book about eschatology that does not focus too much on millennial views: he interacts a lot with Karl Barth and Jurgen Moltmann, which did not appeal to me.
January 1, 2020
Summary: A theology of the last things that is Trinitarian in focus, centered on the exaltation of the crucified Lord, and the preservation of the believer.
There are many books about the last things or the end times. This work takes a different approach. The author contends that the Lord's prayer is an eschatological prayer, that the focus of each of its petitions is the full realization of the kingdom of God in the person of the crucified and risen Lord through the work of the Holy Spirit. This includes the preservation, purifying, and protection of those whose hope is in the crucified and risen Lord.
The book is written for those (all who have ever believed in Christ), are living in the Middle. It is both about what God has promised us for the future but how this is already being fulfilled in our lives. It concerns how God has already established a relationship and a people, and how we will one day be perfected.
The chapters focus around each of the petitions in the Lord's prayer. At the same time, he discusses these through the lens of interacting with Karl Barth's theology of the Word and Jurgen Moltman's theology of hope. The first three petitions for the hallowing of the name, the coming of the kingdom, and the doing of God's will on earth as in heaven are the what, how, and why of God the Father's purposes through the Son in the Spirit. The prayers for daily bread, for forgiveness, and for deliverance focus around what we need to make it to the resurrection, and our eternal glory with Christ.
I found this the hardest "read" in the series. I think this has to do with the author's engagement with Barth and Moltmann throughout, and a conscious effort to emphasize the work of the persons of the Trinity throughout. The introduction to the series speaks of making this accessible to educated laypeople. The author appears to assume a familiarity with Barth and Moltmann that may be true of seminarians, but probably only a minority of others. I founded the presentation stronger where the author connected themes in the Lord prayer to the rest of scripture, establishing the eschatological "arc" of this prayer.
I had looked forward to the completion of this series, this "last" volume of which had been long-awaited. While there were elements I appreciated, particularly the structuring of the work around a prayer many of us pray daily or weekly. But I had hoped for more in a series that had set a high standard of theological reflection accessible to the educated layperson. What the book did make clear is that we will not be disappointed by the God who keeps all his promises both for the exaltation of the crucified and risen Lord, and the resurrection hope of we, his people.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
There are many books about the last things or the end times. This work takes a different approach. The author contends that the Lord's prayer is an eschatological prayer, that the focus of each of its petitions is the full realization of the kingdom of God in the person of the crucified and risen Lord through the work of the Holy Spirit. This includes the preservation, purifying, and protection of those whose hope is in the crucified and risen Lord.
The book is written for those (all who have ever believed in Christ), are living in the Middle. It is both about what God has promised us for the future but how this is already being fulfilled in our lives. It concerns how God has already established a relationship and a people, and how we will one day be perfected.
The chapters focus around each of the petitions in the Lord's prayer. At the same time, he discusses these through the lens of interacting with Karl Barth's theology of the Word and Jurgen Moltman's theology of hope. The first three petitions for the hallowing of the name, the coming of the kingdom, and the doing of God's will on earth as in heaven are the what, how, and why of God the Father's purposes through the Son in the Spirit. The prayers for daily bread, for forgiveness, and for deliverance focus around what we need to make it to the resurrection, and our eternal glory with Christ.
I found this the hardest "read" in the series. I think this has to do with the author's engagement with Barth and Moltmann throughout, and a conscious effort to emphasize the work of the persons of the Trinity throughout. The introduction to the series speaks of making this accessible to educated laypeople. The author appears to assume a familiarity with Barth and Moltmann that may be true of seminarians, but probably only a minority of others. I founded the presentation stronger where the author connected themes in the Lord prayer to the rest of scripture, establishing the eschatological "arc" of this prayer.
I had looked forward to the completion of this series, this "last" volume of which had been long-awaited. While there were elements I appreciated, particularly the structuring of the work around a prayer many of us pray daily or weekly. But I had hoped for more in a series that had set a high standard of theological reflection accessible to the educated layperson. What the book did make clear is that we will not be disappointed by the God who keeps all his promises both for the exaltation of the crucified and risen Lord, and the resurrection hope of we, his people.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
June 1, 2022
One of the most interesting takes on eschatology I have read to date. Instead of starting the discussion in terms of systems such as which millennial system is most correct, David Hohne seeks to trace the eschatology of the Bible using the Lord's Prayer. This provided a systematic overlay for the topic as well as within each potion of the Lord's Prayer, Hohne would trace the themes using biblical theology. This rich combination brought about an unique work on eschatology.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews