Abstract:
In biblical
times the ‘Word of God’ indicated God’s creative and redemptive response to changing human
predicaments and depravations. Redemptive events became traditions that were applied
to new situations. Many biblical future expectations lost their relevance and plausibility
already within canonical history. Modern science has rendered a literal interpretation of the
most recent and radical biblical future expectations – resurrection and a ‘new heaven and
earth’ – problematic. Apocalyptic deliberately employed enigmatic symbols and metaphors
to indicate God’s miraculous intervention to change an evil world into a new and authentic
reality. This motif can be reconceptualised as God’s vision for the comprehensive optimal
well-being of humanity within the well-being of creation as a whole, which translates into
God’s concern for any deficiency in well-being in any dimension of life. The emergence of the
notion of resurrection to face judgement was rooted in concern about God’s justice (theodicy)
rather than the longing for never-ending life. The resurrection of Jesus was deemed God’s
affirmation of his messianic authority to proclaim and enact God’s redeeming love, thus its
validity for all times and places – which opened up participation in the new life of Christ in
fellowship with God for all people.
