Midterm Flashcards
(21 cards)
“From first to last… Christianity is eschatology.” Is this true for the OT? Why or why not?
Yes; eschatology is more than just Daniel and Revelation, it is the eager awaiting for God to fulfill His covenant promises.
What is the theological and practical significance of understanding the Kingdom of God within the frame of Inaugerated Eschatology in the NT?
The Kingdom is already and not yet; Christ reigns, but not for all to see yet. God works in the unexpected and shows us His patience through His works. We praise Him for what He has done and eagerly await what He will do next.
What are the major contributions/insights Vos makes toward understanding the concept of the Kingdom in the NT?
Vos states that Kingdom is characterized by dominion rather than geographical rule or authority.
The Kingdom is a kingdom established by God for God, it is not merely a religious community of men.
The Kingdom is against every earthly kingdom; it is unintelligible and unacceptable to every worldview and religion which favours man over God.
How is the Exodus important in Biblical History? How is it important for understanding the relationship between Law and Covenant?
Prefigures Christ’s salvation
Every other OT and NT event comes out of the fact that Israel are slaves no more
We cannot fulfill the Law, all we can do is trust in the blood of the spotless Lamb of God and slather it on our souls, the only way to make us clean. If we trust in Him, the judgment of God will surely pass us by and spare us, enabling us to emigrate into the new creation.
Are the Ten Commandments to be obeyed today? How does the
teaching of Jesus reflect the Ten Commandments?
The Law is a manifestation of the heart of God, and since God does not change, neither do His righteous requirements
Christ came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it
We are not to sin that grace may abound, but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
How do the prophets reiterate God’s purpose to establish and expand his presence among His people after the exile?
He reminds/reiterates His promises and His covenants (Protoevangelium is restated to Abraham, Moses, and David, eventually leading to Christ)
He reproves His people, calling them to repentance (every single prophet did this)
He renews His people, returning them from exile, redeeming them through Christ, and restoring them as His people
True return from exile is found in Christ
How should we understand the role and task of the prophets in the Old Testament? What two covenants are important to rightly interpret their message with a view to the New Testament?
Role and task of prophets in OT (reminding, reproving, renewing, and restoring)
2 Important Covenants:
Mosaic - The prophets often remind the people of what God has done for them, one of the big things being the Exodus from Egypt and institution of the law at Sinai.
Israelites would be disobedient, the prophets remind/rebuke them of what they agreed to in the Mosaic covenant, and (most of the time) Israel was punished because she wouldn’t listen to the rebuke.
Prophets remind what God requires of his people, often pointing back to the Mosaic covenant.
Davidic - Confirms the covenant he made previously by promising to rule over them by means of the Davidic king forever
Would be fulfilled in Christ
The prophets would also remind/rebuke the kings when they disobeyed. (2Sam. 12; Nathan rebukes David for murdering Uriah and taking his wife).
How does the book of Daniel inform our understanding of a righteous deliverer?
The book of Daniel anticipates an endtime ruler who will judge the pagan nations and usher in God’s eternal kingdom.
- The “rock cut out of the mountain” in chs. 2-3 represents Christ, who will come to destroy idolatry forever.
- The “son of man” in ch. 7 unites the people of Israel with the coming Messiah
His victory becomes their victory; his rule is their rule; his obedience is their obedience. (this applies to Christians as well)
What were the key OT restoration promises and why are these important to understand in understanding the message of the New Testament?
Temple: God promises to once again dwell with His people; we are made into the temple through Christ and the Holy Spirit
Torah: the hearts of the people will be changed from rebellious to obedient by the Holy Spirit
Turf: God promises a land for His people, similar to His promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David; this land is the Kingdom in the NT
Throne: continues the Davidic covenant by setting Jesus on the throne
What would you identify as the essential aspects of the New Covenant as revealed in the OT Prophets?
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Coming Days
Law within the hearts of God’s people
The forgetting of sin
What fresh insights on the life and ministry of Jesus did you gain from viewing them through the lens of his mission to restore his people from their exile away from the presence of God?
God retuned His people from exile physically, but He never returned to the temple. Jesus coming in the flesh is God returning to Jerusalem, banishing Satan and sin from the land, restoring Israel.
God extends His rule.
What is “Inaugurated Eschatology” and why is it an important concept for understanding the message of the New Testament?
Inaugurated Eschatology is the belief that we are now in the latter days, that Jesus established His Kingdom at His first coming and will fully consummate it at His second coming. This teaches us that victory is assured, but not fully realized yet; we must be patient.
What are the main features of a Christian interpretation of History? Why is this important for understanding the message of the New Testament?
Christ becomes the focus of history rather than man. History is ruled and purposed by God with the goal of redemption, restoration, and the renewal of all creation.
How does Inaugurated Eschatology help us understand the mission of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit grows the Kingdom of God, the Church, on earth, both in number and purity. He makes Christ’s works effectual in the lives of the saints
What practical life application can be made from appreciating the tension of the “Already/Not Yet”?
Wait on the Lord, trust His promises, and believe that God works all of history for the benefit of His glory and the good or His people. While we suffer now, it is a purifying flame that will not destroy us; we will be glorified with Him at the consummation of the Kingdom and the renewal of the heavens and the earth
What’s the significance of Jesus being true Israel? How is Jesus a better priest? How is Jesus a better prophet?
Jesus is faithful, even under trial, where Israel failed. Jesus endured Satan’s temptations and the revilings of the Pharisees without sinning. He is a greater priest because He properly represents Israel as they were intended to be before God and offered atonement for the sins of the people, once for all. He is a greater prophet by not only declaring the Word of God, but He Himself is the Word of God, the Divine Logos. He properly represents God before men.
What key insights on the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus do you gain from viewing them through the lens of his mission to restore his people from their exile away from the presence of God?
Exile was spiritual death to Israel; thus, Christ’s death is a symbol of Him being exiled on their behalf. His resurrection represented a return from exile. His ascension represented not only a restoration to Israel’s prior status, but a surpassing of that greatness, being lifted high in glory. God and His people now enjoy sweeter communion than they ever did, even before the Fall.
What theological richness is added to our understanding of Jesus’ death by presenting him as a Passover lamb in John’s Gospel?
Ties Jesus into Exodus; the original Passover lamb was a mere type of what the real Lamb would accomplish. The same trust the Israelites had in the lamb’s blood is what we have in Christ now.
The prophets also foretell of Christ, referring to Him as a Lamb.
How are the Gospels “Covenant Documents”?
The Gospels outline Jesus ushering in the New Covenant through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. It shows us what our responsibilities are: to have faith in Christ
How does God’s promise of an eschatological Temple help us understand Jesus, the identity of the Church, and her mission?
Jesus was always the true Temple, everything else was a mere shadow. New life is found only in the true Temple. We worship God through Him in spirit and truth
The Church is the fulfillment of the creation mandate to be fruitful and multiply. Reconciliation is required in Christ first and the Church expands through the preaching of the Word.
The mission of the Church is to be bricks in the spiritual Temple; she is called to be holy and faithful, offering the lives of each saint to His service.
Give examples of life situations whereby a believer’s sure hope is found in the resurrection—what problems or struggles will be resolved finally and everlastingly at the resurrection?
In the midst of persecution, pain, hunger, disease, and sin, we know that our God is faithful, and so we look to the resurrection in order to receive peace that it will be accomplished.
The Beatitudes have eternal rewards and fulfillments attached to them.
We can take joy in looking ahead to the time when these will no longer be, but we will be in heaven, the eschatological Sabbath.
