Inaugurated Eschatology

First-Century Jewish Expectation:

This Age Age to Come

Some (extra-biblical) Jewish Texts:

• 4 Ezra 7:50- “The Most High has made not one age but two.”
• 4 Ezra 7:113- “The Day of Judgment shall be the end of this age and the beginning of the
eternal age to come.”
• 2 Baruch 15:7- “And with regard to the righteous ones, those whom you said the
world has come on their account, yes, also that which is to come is on their
account.”

The Presentation of the New Testament

Overlap The Age to Come

This Age

First Advent of Christ Second Advent of Christ

OR:
This Age
The Age to Come

Mid-point End-point
cross/resurrection Return of Christ

(see James D.G. Dunn, The Theology of Paul the Apostle [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997] 464)

A Few Key Verses:

• Matthew 12:28
• Acts 2
• 1 Cor. 15 (especially 20-25; in verse 25 “He must reign” is present tense to denote that he
is currently reigning)
• Galatians 1:4 and Colossians 1:13
Definitions:

Eschatology- Generally in theology the word refers the study of the end times including but not
limited to the rapture, the tribulation, the antichrist and the millennium. For example, the
popular series Tribulation Force deals with eschatology.

This definition needs to be modified some,

Inaugurated Eschatology- The schema that God has acted triumphantly and climactically in
history with Christ so that the blessing of God’s reign and future restoration can be
experienced in the present life in some extent with a clear expectation that there remains
a ‘mopping-up’ battle with the fulfillment of the rest of the Old Testament promises.

Key Old Testament Passages:

• Isaiah 40-66, especially the Servant Songs: 42:1-9; 49:1-13; 50:4-11 and 52:13-53:12
o Note the use of the word ‘gospel’ or ‘good news’ Isa. 52:7
o Important for our understanding of ‘Justification’ is Isa. 53:11 and its similarity to
Romans esp. 5:17-20.
• The Spirit and the New Covenant
o Joel 2:28-32 (see also Acts 2:14ff)
o Ezekiel 26:24-27 (see also John 3:5-8)
o Jeremiah 31:31-34 (see the New Covenant theme in Hebrews)

RELVANCE TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF JUSTIFICATION:

It is precisely within this schema that Paul locates is doctrine of justification. The verdict
of the future judgment of God has penetrated into history specifically as the result of the work of
Christ (cf. Isa. 53:11 and Rom. 4:25; 5:17-20). Justification is not an ahistorical or abstract
declaration but relates specifically to the climactic working of God in Christ at the cross and
resurrection. Christ’s righteousness becomes the righteousness of his people (1 Cor. 1:30).
Justification has significance for the future judgment before God (see especially Rom 8:30-39).
The person who is justified remains secure because justification is the activity of God upon the
believer. However, the person does not have to wait until the judgment to have this verdict
declared upon him.