Heaven (Theology in Community)
Overview
Our culture has a lot to say about heaven. But too much of it is based more on imaginative speculation or “supernatural” experiences than on the Bible itself. In the latest addition to the Theology in Community series, Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson have assembled an interdisciplinary team of evangelical scholars to explore the doctrine of heaven from a variety of angles. Among other contributors, Ray Ortlund examines the concept of heaven in the Old Testament, Gerald Bray explores the history of theological reflection about heaven, and Ajith Fernando looks at persecuted saints’ special relationship to heaven in the New Testament. This team of first-rate scholars offers modern readers a comprehensive overview of this often misunderstood topic—shedding biblical light on the eternal hope of all Christians.
- List of Abbreviations
- Series Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Contributors
- 1 Learning about Heaven by Robert A. Peterson
- 2 Heaven in the Old Testament by Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.
- 3 Heaven in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts by Jonathan T. Pennington
- 4 Heaven in Paul’s Letters by Stephen J. Wellum
- 5 Heaven in the General Epistles by Jon Laansma
- 6 Heaven in John’s Gospel and Revelation by Andreas J. Köstenberger
- 7 Pictures of Heaven by Robert A. Peterson
- 8 The History of Heaven by Gerald Bray
- 9 Angels and Heaven by Stephen F. Noll
- 10 Heaven for Persecuted Saints by Ajith Fernando
- 11 The Hope of Heaven by David B. Calhoun
- Selected Bibliography
- Name Index
- Subject Index
- Scripture Index
Top Highlights
“However, if we view this interim existence in light of the Bible’s story, we must label it temporary and abnormal. God created us as holistic beings with body and soul united. Christians’ great hope therefore is not a disembodied existence in an intermediate state but a resurrected and holistic existence with the Trinity and all the saints on the new earth (John 5:28–29; 1 Cor. 15:20–23; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1).” (Page 32)
“To be in God’s presence is to enjoy his rest, to be under his care. Because Adam and Eve lived in Eden, God’s resting place, they participated in his own perfect rest. Adam’s work was ‘restful’ because it was done in perfect holiness. But it became arduous when sin disturbed the rest of Eden.” (Page 166)
“‘The Bible teaches that the future is not an immaterial ‘paradise’ but a new heaven and a new earth. In Revelation 21, we do not see human beings being taken out of this world into heaven, but rather heaven coming down and cleansing, renewing, and perfecting this material world.’” (Page 260)
“These visions are intended to affect and change the readers and hearers: they do something. Visions of the final state of believers in Revelation function as comfort and encouragement, motivation and warning, and invitation.” (Pages 153–154)
“The glory given to our first parents at creation is being increased in us as we become more like Christ” (Page 181)
- Title: Heaven
- Authors: Christopher W. Morgan, Robert A. Peterson
- Series: Theology in Community
- Publisher: Crossway
- Print Publication Date: 2014
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Heaven › Biblical teaching
- ISBNs: 9781433527814, 9781433527845, 9781433527821, 9781433527838, 1433527812, 1433527847, 1433527820, 1433527839
- Resource ID: LLS:HEAVN
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:29:13Z