Eschatological Discipleship: Leading Christians to Understand Their Historical and Cultural Context
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Discipleship is eschatological in nature, because the church that makes and receives disciples is eschatological in nature.
Often eschatology is thought to refer only to “last things” doctrines. However, eschatology in its broader sense encompasses the Christian view of time and the future of the world, informing both one’s evangelism and ecclesiology. Failing to relate the eschatological dimension to discipleship leaves one with an incomplete worldview, imbalanced discipleship, and eventually, a tragic inability to model the Christian way of life.
By answering questions like “What time is it?” and “Where is history going?” Trevin Wax helps Christians view the past, present, and future biblically, and shapes their understanding of following Jesus.
- Seeks to bring together eschatology and discipleship as its primary purpose
- Makes a case for an eschatological understanding of discipleship on the basis of the New Testament authors' appeals to eschatology when exhorting Christians to live according to biblical ethics
- Attempts to demonstrate the need for churches to reenvision disciple making as spiritual formation
Top Highlights
“one’s faith is ‘action-oriented, situation-related” (Page 6)
“Discipleship involves a holistic vision of life as a believer seeks to follow Jesus. Discipleship entails more than the transfer of biblical information or the affirmation of correct doctrines because it includes certain actions and sentiments that bear witness to the gospel.” (Page 6)
“Vanhoozer’s definition emphasizes discipleship as something people do, not something they are or say they believe. The focus is on ‘bearing witness.’” (Page 6)
“true understanding of Christian doctrine has not occurred until the one who has faith has put that faith into action.” (Page 7)
“Eschatological Discipleship is a brilliant book. In it, Trevin Wax argues that Christian discipleship cannot be reduced to the transmission of timeless truths that float above history and culture. Instead, Christian discipleship always and necessarily involves confronting the ideologies and rival eschatologies of our own contemporary context. In our own era, he argues, we must confront the Enlightenment, the Sexual Revolution, and modern Consumerism as rival eschatologies, exposing them as frauds and offering the gospel as our one-and-only hope.”
Bruce Ashford, provost and dean of faculty, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Trevin Wax’s Eschatological Discipleship is a much needed book that teaches that followers of Jesus are shaped in their thinking and actions by Jesus’s kingship, and by the coming kingdom. God’s future—including our future in it—constructs a worldview and supplies us with wisdom for living in the current age. Ultimately, every worldview, whether secularist or Islamic, has a view of the ‘end.’ By knowing God’s plan for the end, we will be better equipped to work for the kingdom here on earth.”
Michael F. Bird, lecturer in theology, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia
“With the publication of Eschatological Discipleship, Trevin Wax has solidified his role as an important Christian voice for the next generation. The call to biblical faithfulness, serious cultural engagement, careful worldview thinking, and long-term eschatological discipleship is masterfully and winsomely presented. Wax has provided us with a clearly written, insightful, well-researched, and illuminating work that will be essential reading for thoughtful Christian leaders in the church and in the academy. It is a genuine joy to recommend this outstanding work.”
David S. Dockery, president, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“Discipleship and eschatology are not often thought of in tandem. Discipleship is about following Jesus here and now, while eschatology is about what happens then and there. But in this important book, Trevin Wax shows the coinherence of these two biblical themes. An impressive theological study written with an eye for Great Commission reflection and praxis.”
Timothy George, founding dean, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University
- Title: Eschatological Discipleship: Leading Christians to Understand Their Historical and Cultural Context
- Author: Trevin Wax
- Publisher: B&H
- Print Publication Date: 2018
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Discipleship; Eschatology; Evangelism
- ISBNs: 9781087794440, 9781462776399, 1462776396, 1087794447
- Resource ID: LLS:9781462776399
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2026-06-17T02:41:46Z