There are at least ten meanings of the word "eschatology" currently being employed within the guild of New Testament Studies.We like to use certain buzzwords to show that we are hip and in with the current theological trends. "Eschatological" is one of these; I've read some works where it occurs in every third line. Rarely, however, is it defined to show which particular sense is intended. Quite often, the work would make just as much sense omitting it or substituting "red," "happy," or "cubic."
Lazy liberation and contextual theologians are especially guilty of this sort of thing; I'm half sure some of the articles I've read on the subject were just written automatically via Word macros. Just throw out the terms "liberation," "oppression," "perspective," "globalization," "eco-feminist," etc. in some random order, and there are some "journals" that will automatically publish whatever happens to stick to the paper.
2 comments:
'There are at least ten meanings of the word "eschatology" currently being employed within the guild of New Testament Studies.'
2,000 years ago there was only one meaning of the word 'resurrection' in the entire world, despite the widespread cultural , religious and political differences that existed between various parts of the Roman Empire.
And 'resurrection' had meant the same for hundreds of years as Wright demonstrates by quoting from Greeks who said such things were impossible.
The pace of change of language nowadays is remarkable.
Yeah. I've read through that part where he discusses the meaning to the Greeks. So far, the book is excellent.
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