The salvation-historical implications of Matthew 24-25 in light of Jewish apocalyptic literature
[Thesis]
J. M. Lunde
S. McKnight
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
1996
342
Ph.D.
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
1996
This dissertation seeks to shed light on apparently contradictory texts and themes in Matthew by discerning salvation-historical implications from chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew's Eschatological Discourse. To inform this study, insight is drawn from nine Jewish apocalypses, a methodology which is justified in light of Matthew's 'apocalypticizing' redaction. It is concluded that Matthew weaves together two strands in his salvation history--the eschatological and the Christological. Eschatologically, Matthew expects that the tribulation leading up to and including the first-century Jewish War is the final time of suffering before the in-breaking of the usd\pi\alpha\rho o\upsilon\sigma\'\iota\alphausd's and the eschaton. But he carefully distinguishes between the Jewish War and the eschaton itself. Combining this with his admission of the universal human ignorance of the usd\pi\alpha\rho o\upsilon\sigma\'\iota\alphausd's actual timing, Matthew holds imminent expectation and temporal unknowability in creative tension. These two elements combine to urge perpetual ethical 'vigilance' on the part of his readers. But these ethics are Christologically defined as faithfulness to Jesus' teachings and the treatment of his disciples. The latter criterion implies Matthew's Christological definition of 'true Israel.' For it is Jesus who has already suffered and been vindicated as the ultimate antitype of the Danielic suffering community. Although the age continues, it is conditioned from that point on by the actualization within history of this proleptic usd\tau\varepsilon\lambda o\varsigmausd accomplished by Jesus. Those from every nation who faithfully follow him in lives of service and hardship thereby demonstrate their solidarity with the resurrected Son of Man and can anticipate a share in his vindication. The persecuted lives of Christians are therefore 'eschatological,' being lived out in this short interim before the usd\pi\alpha\rho o\upsilon\sigma\'\iota\alphausd, but enlivened by the knowledge that their King, who is also their Judge and corporate representative, has already been vindicated. National Israel's salvation-historical removal from privilege at the crucifixion of Jesus is therefore explained Christologically. For, by virtue of its rejection of 'true Israel,' the nation became 'non-Israel.' Now numbered among usd\tau\'\alpha\ {\buildrel{,\sb\prime}\over{\varepsilon}}\theta\nu\etausd, the Jews continue to be among those to whom the disciples go in their universal mission.