Paradise Now and Not Yet: Studies in the Role of the Heavenly Dimension in Paul's Thought With Special Reference to His Eschatology [Paperback]

Andrew T. Lincoln (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1992 | ISBN-10: 0801056721 | ISBN-13: 978-0801056727

Dr Lincoln sees three main factors contributing to the Pauline picture of heaven: Paul's Jewish conceptual background and knowledge of Old Testament and other traditions about heaven; the effect on that inherited background of Paul's encounter with the risen Saviour and his later visions and revelations of the heavenly Christ; and his apostolic task in moulding the thought and practice of the converts in the churches for which he felt responsible, countering what lie considered to be distorted views or false options. The author analyses passages in Paul's letters where the concept of heaven plays a significant role, and discusses the relation of the concept to the background of his thought, his views of history, of the cosmos, of the destiny of humanity, and of the nature of Christian existence. As a uniquely full treatment of a neglected aspect of Paul's thought this monograph makes an important and contemporarily relevant contribution to New Testament studies.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Book Description

The author analyses passages in Paul's letters where the concept of heaven plays a significant role, and discusses the relation of the concept to the background of his thought, his views of history, of the cosmos, of the destiny of humanity, and of the nature of Christian existence. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 277 pages
• Publisher: Baker Pub Group (January 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801056721
• ISBN-13: 978-0801056727
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,835,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realized eschatology, November 25, 2007

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Andrew Mcclenahan "Andrew" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Paradise Now and Not Yet: Studies in the Role of the Heavenly Dimension in Paul's Thought with Special Reference to his Eschatology (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series) (Paperback)

Lincoln shows in text after text how Paul uses spatial categories to describe our present experience of our risen Lord in heaven. Without denying the consummation of the Kingdom in the future, or using Greek cosmic dualism, Paul sees the heavenly dimension as the sphere from where Christ reigns. By seeing the heavenly and earthly spheres as coexistent, believers have access to heavenly life in the spirit. Lincoln shows that for Paul, eschatology is not only a salvation historical reality, but also a present heavenly reality. Both are held in tension, already and not yet.