Paul and the Parousia
An Exegetical and Theological Investigation
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
394 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 x 0.79 in
- Paperback
- 9781620320723
- Published: April 2014
$48.00 / £42.00 / AU$66.00
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Surprisingly, there has never been a comprehensive exegetical study in English of Saint Paul's view of the second coming, or Parousia, of Christ. In this methodical analysis, Joseph Plevnik brings nearly three decades of research to bear on the question of Paul's understanding of this most central tenet of the whole Christ event. With careful attention to the concepts and terms underlying the notion of the Lord's coming, Plevnik examines the key Pauline texts, such as 1 Thess 5:1-11 and 1 Cor 15:23-28. Plevnik then constructs a viable theological interpretation of the great Christian hope, including the language of hope, Christ's parousia and judgment, conflict at Christ's return, the place of the church, and Paul's apocalyptic theology. This volume will be indispensable for any study of Pauline theology, the Parousia, the theology of hope, and apocalypticism.
"It is my hope that the book will be not only a scholarly contribution on the topic but also of some personal value to the reader and to the preacher. It may provide a timely reading at the close of the second millennium. The times and seasons, however, are not for us to determine, but a proper preparedness for the Lord's coming is the message of the New Testament, and of Paul in particular. If the Lord's coming may no longer be said to be near, it can still be desired. Marana tha."
--Preface
Joseph Plevnik (d. 2010) was Professor of New Testament Studies at Regis College, Toronto, Canada.
"Plevnik's study of the concept of the Parousia in Paul is the most thorough and useful treatment of the subject to date. After demonstrating that the concept and its terminology derive from Jewish apocalyptic rather than hellenistic 'comings' of kings, he offers a careful analysis of they key Pauline texts. The final third of the book distills the exegesis into several chapters of theological insight and implications. This is a helpful and important study of a too frequently neglected theme."
--Gordon D. Fee
Regent College
"Paul and the Parousia is a comprehensive study of the passages in the letters of Paul that deal with the second coming of Christ. Plevnik has done a thorough job in his study of them. His discussion copes with other modern interpretations and invariably makes the right choices. For students and pastors who want to know more about the Apostle's view of Christ's Parousia, this book will be of great help."
--Joseph A. Fitzmyer, SJ
Georgetown University