Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 87 No. 2, 2017.
Review article
The Eschatological (Apocalyptic) Observations of luke, with Reference to Luke 21
Darko Tomašević
orcid.org/0000-0002-4900-8308
; The Catholic Faculty of Theology University of Sarajevo, Bosna and Herzegovina
Abstract
Luke’s interesting observations about eschatology are extensive, and they are also multi‑layered. His eschatology may be seen through the prism of »the history of salvation «. The immediate expectation of the Second Coming of Christ was not a view heldduring Luke’s lifetime. Trying to address this question, Luke »postpones« the parousia, but at the same time speaks of its abruptness, which is why it is necessary to be vigilant and to live the right moral life – because the time when the parousia will happen is not known. Not to be ready for the parousia means eternal destruction. The absence of the parousia is, at the same time, a sign of God’s mercy, and a time for people to be converted and saved, with which the Church can be of help to them. Luke expresses his views on eschatology in many places in his gospel (especially in chapters 12, 17, 21) using certain terms(»almost«, »approached«, »judgment«, »Son of Man«, »end«), and even more through the eschatological theme and concept of »the kingdom of God« – which is one of Luke’s fundamental theological concepts. The principal eschatological text in Luke is Luke 21:5-36, where he speaks about the parousia and the Last Judgment. He does not provide an answer to the question of »when« the end will occur, but calls for spiritual and moral vigilance: »Be alert at all times, praying« (Luke 21:36), and in this way he reveals his goal: to connect eschatology with the correct moral life; how to live is more important than knowing the time of the parousia.
Keywords
Luke; eschatology; apocalypse; parousia; moral life
Hrčak ID:
184985
URI
Publication date:
20.7.2017.
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