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The Relationship Between Eschatological Hope and Christian Mission in the Theology of Jurgen Moltmann and Its Implications for Seventh-Day Adventist Theology

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The Relationship Between Eschatological Hope and Christian Mission in the Theology of Jurgen Moltmann and Its Implications for Seventh-Day Adventist Theology THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ESCHATOLOGICAL HOPE AND CHRISTIAN MISSION IN THE THEOLOGY OF JURGEN MOLTMANN AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST THEOLOGY BY Phumlani Lucky Majola A THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THEOLOGY DEGREE IN THE DISCIPLINE OF SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY AT THE SCHOOL OF RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY AND CLASSICS, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL IN February 2014 SUPERVISED BY Prof AO Balcomb DECLARATION I hereby acknowledge that the work contained in this dissertation is my own original work and has not previously in its entirety or in part been submitted to any academic institution for degree purposes. _________________________________ Phumlani Lucky Majola February 2014 DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my lovely wife, Mbalenhle, for her inspiration towards my completion of this project, and my two daughters, Owethu and Luyanda, for their love for me even when I have sometimes been distracted by my studies. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This journey has not been one without challenges, in both time and academically, sometimes requiring me to spend long hours without regular and timely attendance to some of my family responsibilities, and yet my wife has patiently and supportively been there. While I rightly acknowledge my wife’s support as crucial to my motivation for the completion of this thesis, I cannot thank my academic support well enough. Perhaps I should first express my appreciation for the short- lived co-supervisory role of Dr Gosnell Yorke, as he started to support my supervisor after some significant months into the project, and then having had to leave some months prior to its finishing stages. Having recognized Dr Gosnell Yorke’s minor role, comparatively so, I would like to most of all acknowledge my heavy indebtedness to Prof Anthony O Balcomb in his role as supervisor throughout this project. His insights and constructive criticisms have hopefully developed me into a better researcher and scholarly writer. He has constantly encouraged me to leave my comfort zone and has patiently given fitting scholarly advice when needed. I recognize God as my primary guide and strength in life, and as such I cannot but express my appreciation to him for allowing me the opportunity and responsibility to grow through this research and study process. I long to see what it is that he has lined up for me after this, believing that he has allowed me this opportunity for some purpose of service. ABSTRACT This research has the primary objective of developing Seventh-day Adventist theology through a dialogue with Jurgen Moltmann, on the relationship between eschatological hope and Christian mission. Due to space limitations, the particular focus in Seventh-day Adventist theology is on the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment. This research demonstrates that while there are some areas of agreement between Moltmann and Seventh-day Adventist theology, such as that eschatological hope does influence Christian mission, there are also remarkable differences in their views of Christian mission. The particular area that is identified in this study is that of social justice. While Moltmann’s eschatological hope drives him to strong socio- political agendas, Seventh-day Adventist eschatology, while strong in such areas as health and education as methodologies of mission, falls short of the extent of emphasis in socio-political mission that Moltmann has. It is particularly found to be so in the Seventh-day Adventist doctrine of the Investigative Judgment that has traditionally been given spiritual significance to believers on earth as they wait for the Parousia. The dialogue between Seventh-day Adventist theology and Moltmann is designed to challenge SDA theology, even though Moltmann completely rejects the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment. The study argues for a “socio-spiritual” version of the Investigative Judgment. “Socio” refers to its earthliness in direct socio-political relevance to the community, while “spiritual” refers to its heavenliness and relational significance between the saint(s) and Christ. The research begins with an introductory chapter that orients the reader with matters like the background, methodologies and structure of the research. The research then continues to do an analytical overview of the major scholarly discussions on this topic. It then considers Moltmann’s views, and after that the views of Seventh-day Adventist theology. Prior to the analytical focus on the Seventh-day Adventist theology of the Investigative Judgment, there is a chapter dedicated to an overall comparison of Moltmann’s and Seventh-day Adventist theology. The focus becomes polemical in revising the Seventh-day Adventist theology of the Investigative Judgment towards an added significance that is directly socio-political and transformational. The closing chapter then demonstrates the added value of the proposed version of the Investigative Judgment in the South African socio-political context. The significance of this research lies in the fact no other work has, to the knowledge of the researcher, ever proposed a revision of the Seventh-day Adventist theology of the Investigative Judgment towards direct socio-political relevance, beyond, and not instead of, the traditional spiritual significance, especially through a dialogue with Jurgen Moltmann. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION………………………………...………………………………………….1 . Background and Outline of Research Problem…………………………………...1 . Research Problems and Objectives: Key Questions to be Asked……………….2 . Reasons for Choosing this Topic…………………………………………………...3 . Research Problems and Objectives: Broader Issues to be Investigated………...7 . Principal Theories upon which the Research Project will be Constructed (Research Design)......………………………………………………………………..7 . Research Methodology and Methods……………………………………………...7 . Structure of Thesis……..………………………………………………………….…8 . Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………9 CHAPTER 2 THE MAJOR THEORIES IN ESCHATOLOGY AND IN CHRISTIAN MISSION…..10 . Introduction…………………………………………………………………………10 . An Overview of the Major Theories of Eschatology……………………………10 Apocalyptic Eschatology……………………………………………….……...11 Realized Eschatology………………….……………………………………….12 Existential Eschatology……………….………………………………………..13 Salvation-historical Eschatology……………………………………………...15 . An Overview of the Major Theories of Prophetic Interpretation……………...18 Historicism……………………………...…………………………………..…..18 Preterism………………………...………...……………………………………19 Idealism……………………………………...…………………………………..20 Futurism……………………………………...…………………………………21 . An Overview of the Major Theories of Millennialism…………………………22 Amillennialism………………………………..………………………………...22 Postmillennialism……………………………..………………………………..23 Premillennialism …………………………………………………..…………...23 . An Overview of the Major Theoretical Approaches to Christian Mission…...23 Ecumenical Movement………………………………………………………...24 Ecumenical Liberal Approach………………………………………………...25 Ecumenical Evangelical Approach……………………….....………………..26 Non-ecumenical Approach……………………………………………………27 . Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….….28 CHAPTER 3 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ESCHATOLOGICAL HOPE AND CHRISTIAN MISSION IN THE THEOLOGY OF JURGEN MOLTMANN…………….………...….29 . Introduction…………………………………………………………………………29 . Eschatological Hope………………………………………………………………..29 The Definition of Eschatological Hope……………………………....……….29 The Foundation of Eschatological Hope…………………………..................30 The Ambivalence of Eschatological Hope…………………………………...31 The First Component of Eschatological Hope: Personal Eschatology…….32 The Second Component of Eschatological Hope: Historical Eschatology..34 The Third Component of Eschatological Hope: Cosmic Eschatology…….40 . Christian Mission….………………………………………………………………..42 Mission as Universal……….…………………………………………………..42 Mission as Missio Dei………………..………….……………………………..43 Mission as the Quest for Justice………………………………………………44 Mission as Ecological…………………………………………………………..46 Mission as Love for Life……………………………………………………….47 Mission as Proclamation…..…………………………………………………...48 Mission as Inculturation……………….………………………………………49 Mission as Ecumenical………………………………..………………………..51 . The Relationship between Eschatological Hope and Christian Mission……...52 . Conclusion……………………………………………………….………………….54 CHAPTER 4 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ESCHATOLOGICAL HOPE AND CHRISTIAN MISSION IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST THEOLOGY…………………………….55 . Introduction……………………………………………………………………..…..55 . Eschatological Hope………………………………………………………………..55 The Definition of Eschatological Hope……………………………………….55 The Foundation of Eschatological Hope…………………………..................56 The Ambivalence of Eschatological Hope………………………………..….57 The First Component of Eschatological Hope: Personal Eschatology…….58 The Second Component of Eschatological Hope: Historical Eschatology..59 The Third Component of Eschatological Hope: Cosmic Eschatology…….61 . Christian Mission……………………………….…………………………………..62 Mission as Missio Dei………......……………………………….……………..62 Mission as Classifiable……………………….………………………………...63 Mission as Proclamation………………………………….……………………64 Mission as Conversation…………………………………………….………...65 Mission as Universal…………………….……………………………………..67 Mission as Urgent…………………………………….………………………...68 Mission as the Quest for Justice……………………………………………….69 Mission as Stewardship….…………………………………………………….71 Mission as Inculturation…………….…………………………………………76 . The Relationship between Eschatological Hope and Christian Mission……...81 . Conclusion……….………………………………………………………………….82
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