Die Christelike hoop – ’n Bybels eskatologiese belydenis? Deel 2: Teologiese besinning: Wat beteken die Christelike hoop?

Abstract

Hierdie is die tweede artikel wat die vraag moet beantwoord of die Christelike eskatologiese hoop by uitnemendheid die primêre eskatologiese belydenis is van die Christelike teologie soos in die Bybel gefundeer. Is dit enigsins ook die geval in ’n verskeidenheid van teologiese en filosofiese argumentasies? In die eerste artikel is die basis gelê deur die bybelse spoor van die Christelike eskatologiese hoop te beskryf. In Deel 2 wat op Deel 1 volg, is die fokus op die teologiese bespreking rakende die Christelike eskatologiese hoop. Die verdere vraag wat beantwoord moet word is: Wat is die teologiese kern en inhoud van die Christelike eskatologiese hoop? Binne hierdie raamwerk van argumentasie, en verbandhoudend met die onderwerp, word ook van die filosofiese tendense van veral Immanuel Kant, Gabriel Marcel en Ernst Bloch kennis geneem. Die betekenisvolle teologiese sieninge van Johannes Calvyn, Karl Barth, Wolfhart Pannenberg, Jurgen Moltmann en Hendrikus Berkhof word ook aangeraak. Hierdie artikel konkludeer met ’n eie standpuntstelling oor die Christelike hoop as noodsaaklike eskatologiese raamwerk wat die Christen se uitsig, verwagtinge en etos [leefstyl] bepalend raak. Die Christelike siening van hoop, gefundeer in die opwekking van Jesus Christus uit die dood, word volmaak afgerond wanneer ‘God alles in alles sal wees’ (1 Kor 15:28) by die finale einde.

The Christian hope – a Biblical eschatological confession? Part 2: Theological reflection: What is the meaning of the Christian hope? This is the second of two articles answering the question whether the Christian hope can be seen as the ultimate biblical eschatological confession. Is it by interpretative reflection also the viewpoint of a selection of topic related theologians and philosophers? In the first article the foundation was done by determining what the ultimate expression and confession describing Biblical eschatology is. The motivated finding was formulated as the eschatological concept hope. Building on the first, the second article’s focus falls on the consequential theological discussion. The further question to be answered is: What is the theological core and content of Christian eschatological hope in a wider framework than the biblical? Within such a framework of argumentation and in terms of tendencies the philosophical argumentation of Immanuel Kant, Gabriel Marcel and Ernst Bloch on hope are taken notice of. The comprehensive theological views on hope by Johannes Calvyn, Karl Barth, Wolfhart Pannenberg, Jürgen Moltmann and Hendrikus Berkhof are also briefly mentioned. This article concludes with an own viewpoint on Christian hope as eschatological framework, determining one’s views, expectations and ethos (lifestyle). The eschatological view of hope, grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is a confession, coming to a full circle when ‘God will be all in all’ (1 Cor 15:28) at the final end.