A new creation

[Amanah]

I've become a fan of N.T. Wright because his books resonate with my understanding of certain biblical concepts as shown below:

Heaven and Hell as Platonic Concepts

The idea of heaven and hell as separate realms for the afterlife is rooted in Platonic philosophy, rather than biblical teaching. In Plato's view, the soul is immortal and exists before birth and after death. This concept was later adopted by many Christian theologians, but it's not a biblical teaching.

NT Wright, a New Testament scholar, notes: "The idea of 'heaven' and 'hell' as destinations for souls after death is not a biblical concept, but a later Christian development." (Wright, Surprised by Hope, 2007)

Immortality and Resurrection

The Bible teaches that only Jesus has immortality (1 Timothy 6:16). However, through Jesus' resurrection, we have hope for our own resurrection to immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53-54). As Wright puts it: "The resurrection of Jesus is the beginning of the new creation, and those who belong to him are already part of that new creation." (Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God, 2003)

New Creation and the Spirit

When we receive the Holy Spirit, we become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new creation is not just a spiritual reality but also a foretaste of the physical transformation that will occur at the resurrection.

As Paul writes in Romans 8:18-25, all creation groans in anticipation of the redemption of our bodies and the renewal of the world. This passage highlights the cosmic scope of God's redemption plan, which includes not just human beings but also the entire created order.

One God, One People, One Eschatology

The Bible presents a unified narrative of God's relationship with his people. From Genesis to Revelation, the story revolves around God's covenant with Israel and the ultimate fulfillment of that covenant in Jesus Christ.

As Wright emphasizes, there is only one people of God, which is the church, the renewed Israel. This people is called to live out its identity as a community of Jesus' followers, anticipating the ultimate redemption of all creation.

The eschatology of the Bible is not about escaping the world for a heavenly realm but about the transformation of the world through God's redemption. As Revelation 21:1-4 describes, the ultimate hope is for a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells with his people in a restored creation.

In conclusion, the biblical narrative presents a rich narrative of God's relationship with his people and the world. By exploring the themes of resurrection, new creation, and the ultimate transformation of the world, we can gain a deeper understanding of the Bible's eschatology and the hope that it offers.