Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1997 The Time of the Reign of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 in Light of Early Christian Session Theology Roger P. Lucas Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Lucas, Roger P., "The Time of the Reign of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 in Light of Early Christian Session Theology" (1997). Dissertations. 88. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/88 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. 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Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE TIME OF THE REIGN OF CHRIST IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-28 IN LIGHT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN SESSION THEOLOGY A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Roger Lucas May 1997 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 9733899 Copyright 1997 by Lucas, Roger Paul All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9733899 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © Copyright by Roger Lucas 1997 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE TIME OF THE REIGN OF CHRIST IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-28 IN LIGHT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN SESSION THEOLOGY A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Roger Lucas a p p r o v ; Y THE COMMITTEE: < Faculty Adviser, .D. Programs Abraham Terian Professor of Intertestamental and Early Christian Literature Robert M. Johnston Dean, leqlogical Seminary Professor of New Testament Werne: Vyhmeister and Christian Origins Jacques B. Doukhan Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis JPaulien Professor of New Testament Interpretation 1 ^ / f f ' ? Roberta#ewett Date approved ^ The Harry R. Kendall Senior Professor of New Testament Interpretation Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT THE TIME OF THE REIGN OF CHRIST IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-28 IN LIGHT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN SESSION THEOLOGY by Roger Lucas Adviser: Abraham Terian Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE TIME OF THE REIGN OF CHRIST IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-28 IN LIGHT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN SESSION THEOLOGY Name of researcher: Roger Lucas Name and degree of faculty adviser: Abraham Terian, Ph.D. Date completed: May 1997 This dissertation reviews interpretations of the time of the Reign of Christ portrayed in 1 Cor 15:24-28 in light of early Christian Session Tradition. From an assessment of these views, it determines whether, and to what degree, utilizing contemporary tradition is warranted in order to comprehend Paul1s assumed understanding regarding the temporal scope of Christ's rule. The survey of interpretations shows that opinions are divided between two primary theses: a post-Parousia Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reign of Christ and a pre-Parousia Reign of Christ. This scholarly impasse exists because there is a lack of explicit data regarding the beginning point of Christ's reign and because of the ambiguous nature of several words that are perennially debated within the larger pericope of 1 Cor 15:20-28. Efforts to resolve this problem by appealing to the concept of the Jewish, temporary Messianic Kingdom tradition are examined and rejected for a number of reasons. More appropriately, it is seen that early Christian tradition forms the milieu of this passage. Accordingly, session texts, passages that make explicit reference to Christ's session at the right hand of God, his ascent, or his presence in heaven, form the basis of the tradition present in 1 Cor 15:20-28. From an analysis of select session passages in the NT and Pol. Phil. 1-2, it is shown that there exists in this type of text a fourfold theological pattern that is expressed by a specific vocabulary consisting of about twenty words. As 1 Cor 15:20-28 is compared with this tradition, it is demonstrated that this passage shares these same characteristics. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. As 1 Cor 15:20-28 is interpreted in light of the session tradition, this dissertation concludes that Paul contemplates Christ's rule as a pre-Parousia scenario that continues, nevertheless, for a very brief period beyond his return. Even though this text comprehends future events in the Reign of Christ, its underlying tradition requires that one assume its present, cosmic reality. Consequently the time of the Reign of Christ belongs to both the present and the future. In brief, Christ rules from his ascension until the Parousia-Telos complex of events that constitutes one summary drama. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES......................................... vi INTRODUCTION........................................... 1 Chapter I. A SURVEY OF LITERATURE ILLUSTRATING THE PROBLEM OF DETERMINING THE TIME PERIOD OF THE REIGN OF CHRIST IN 1 CORINTHINANS 15:24-28 ............... 17 The Post-Parousia Reign of Christ............. 21 Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer............... 22 Robert D. C u l v e r ............................ 27 Wilbur B. Wallis ............................ 31 The Temporary Messianic Kingdom Background . 40 Henry St. John Thackeray.................. 44 Albert Schweitzer ......................... 46 L. Joseph Kreitzer........................ 51 The Double Epoch Reign of Christ............ 56 Oscar Cullmann............................ 57 Hans Bietenhard........................... 61 The Pre-Parousia Reign of Christ .............. 63 Bernard Alio ................................ 64 Hans-Alwin Wilcke .......................... 68 C. E. Hill .................................. 74 Temporary Messianic Kingdom Background 80 Traces of an influence.................... 83 Direct influence.......................... 89 Denial of an influence.................... 98 Summary........................................ 107 II. ASSESSMENT OF VIEWS AND ISSUES REGARDING THE TIME OF THE REIGN OF CHRIST...................... 119 The Terminus a quo Not Stated in 1 Cor 15:20-28 .......................... 122 Ambiguous Meaning of Crucial Terms ..........126 K&VXEC,...................................... 127 xdyp-a ...................................... 127 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. elta......................................... 13 0 x £ k o q ........................................ 133 The secondary terms........................ 134 The