Unveiling the Russia–Ukraine war nexuses to the birthpangs in Matthew 24:1–26

Abstract

Wars and rumours of wars have occurred worldwide since time immemorial. After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, wars [πολέμους] and rumours of wars [ἀκοὰς πολέμων] and other events enlisted in the Olivet–prophecy are now being theologically re-interpreted to be eschatological birthpangs. Many Christians around the globe do not understand the peculiar nexuses that exist between each ongoing war and news of wars as well as the apocalyptic views and teachings of Jesus in the Olivet–prophecy. Because of the lack of understanding many have about wars and rumours about wars, it is significant to study the didactic Matthean Gospel’s redacted account of the Markan eschatological sermon, and thereby unveil the peculiar nexuses that the ongoing war and news between Russia and Ukraine have with Jesus’ eschatological views and teachings. Therefore, the main concern of this study is whether the Russia–Ukraine war and its rumours of war have nexuses with Jesus’ presaged biblical eschatological birthpangs, as redacted by Matthew the theological redactor. The study adopted the exegetical design and specifically employed the redaction method of Bible criticism to study Matthew 24:1–26, focusing on unveiling whether there are peculiar nexuses and theological implications that the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war and its news have with the eschatological views and teachings of Jesus. The results drawn from the exegetical study of Matthew 24:1–26 when applied to the war that started on 24 February 2022 and is still ongoing between Russia and Ukraine revealed that there are nexuses that relate them to the apocalyptic views and teachings of Jesus as preached and preserved by Mark and redacted by Matthew. Such nexuses have theological implications for Christians being troubled by this war and other intensifying wars and rumours of wars and how to understand these. The highlighted theological essence and engagement help to discern whether the nexuses underline the peculiar understanding Christians should have regarding their response to the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war.

Contribution: This study unveiled that the ongoing conflicts and war between Russia and Ukraine have peculiar nexuses with the theological underlined characteristics of the eschatological birthpangs Jesus enlisted in the Olivet–prophecy. With special reference to the Russia–Ukraine war, the study unveils the theological implications that manifest due to the nexuses the Russia–Ukraine conflicts and war have as merely eschatological birthpangs.