tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607158207630609452.post4988748819225530054..comments2014-04-03T09:26:50.194-04:00Comments on Essentially Lutheran: Can a Lutheran be a Universalist? (Part 5)T. Hahmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02322084345464570459noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607158207630609452.post-1690674484260828122007-07-16T11:50:00.000-04:002007-07-16T11:50:00.000-04:00Adam,Finally answering your question, "How is it y...Adam,<BR/><BR/>Finally answering your question, "How is it you are so sure that in this particular case 'eternal" pertains to 'unending'?"<BR/><BR/>Answer: I'm not sure at all. I agree with you that there are valid reasons to believe that 'unendedness' was not necessarily the point when Jesus used the phrase 'eternal life'. In fact, I would go so far as to say it was definitely NOT the point. <BR/><BR/>Jesus explained exactly what he meant by 'eternal life' in his high priestly prayer of John 17.<BR/><BR/>"And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." John 17:3<BR/><BR/>If this is eternal life, then its parallel opposite in Matthew 31:46 (eternal punishment) is NOT knowing God or Jesus.<BR/><BR/>The "unendedness" of these two states is not what is being emphasized, and not necessarily clear - particularly in light of the different meanings for the Greek word "aeonios."T. Hahmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02322084345464570459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607158207630609452.post-49848618155023411112007-07-03T04:49:00.000-04:002007-07-03T04:49:00.000-04:00May I recommend to you:Boldgrace.comA bunch of goo...May I recommend to you:<BR/><BR/>Boldgrace.com<BR/><BR/>A bunch of good guys, proclaimed Universalists. Though I can not label myself a universalist, these guys really help me understand what grace is.<BR/>Blessings to you as you continue your journey faithJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682007915158940095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607158207630609452.post-66302949397991447832007-06-30T22:13:00.000-04:002007-06-30T22:13:00.000-04:00It's reassuring to see another LCMS Lutheran (I am...It's reassuring to see another LCMS Lutheran (I am one myself) considering universalism. For my part, I'm about 99% convinced all men will eventually be saved, along the lines of Gregory of Nyssa's teachings. Christians are, as St James put it, "firstfruits." The rest of humanity will follow at some time or season known only to the Father.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607158207630609452.post-21677704814680679092007-06-25T15:25:00.000-04:002007-06-25T15:25:00.000-04:00"Here it can be said that we know 'eternal life' t..."Here it can be said that we know 'eternal life' to be unending."<BR/><BR/>Question: How is it you are so sure that in this particular case 'eternal' pertains to 'unending'? <BR/><BR/>Could it be that tradition has informed how we exegete this passage?<BR/><BR/>Is is that we always imagine eternal life to mean unending heavenly bliss?<BR/><BR/>I would suggest this is not what the biblical writers had in mind. Unending heavenly bliss would have been far from their minds.<BR/><BR/>"Eternal life" might I suggest means this: an 'eternal kind of life' 'life that is charactized by the age to come where God's shalom is established'<BR/><BR/>With this in mind this passage you quote might have more to do with the justice established at the beginning of the new age of God's shalom when the world is put to rights.<BR/><BR/>This might leave the door open for 'eternal punishment' to be a redemptive act.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com