Synopses & Reviews
PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN ESCHATOLOGY THE HULSEAN PRIZE ESSAY FOR 1908 E. C. BEWICK, M. A. TUTOR AND DEAN Ot ST AIDANs COLLEGE, BIRKENHEAD AND TEACHER IN ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVFRPOOL tK HIA0ON KATAAYSAI, AAAA TTAHPHSAI CAMBRIDGE AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS i 912 TO THE RIGHT REVEREND THOMAS WORTLEY DRURY, D. D. LORD BISHOP OF R1PON WHOSE GUIDANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FIRST LED THE WRITER OF THIS ESSAY TO UNDERTAKE THE STUDY OF PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN ESCHATOLOGY PKEFACE THIS essay in its original form obtained the Cambridge University Hulsean Prize for the year 1908. Since then, with the sanction of the University authorities, I have revised it throughout, and have made a few brief additions. The process of revision, which of necessity has been carried out in the midst of the activities of a large suburban parish, has tended at times to encroach somewhat seriously upon the claims of pastoral duties and I am deeply grateful to the Eev. H. A. Wilson, Vicar of Norbiton, for the generosity with which he arranged that I might devote a con siderable amount of time to this extra-parochial work. It is a pleasant duty to acknowledge the debt which I owe to the many friends who have helped me with counsel and criticism. Among these I would specially mention the Rev. Dr. J. B. Mayor, who most kindly read through the whole essay as originally written, and by his careful criticisms enabled me to remove many blemishes. To Professor Burkitt I am indebted for much valuable advice, which more than once has opened up new and fruitful lines of thought. viii PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN ESCHATOLOGY In revising the Old Testament section, I have received no little help from my friend Mr. R. S. Cripps, formerly of St. Johns College, Cambridge. To another old friend of Cambridge days, Mr. C. W. Previte-Orton, Fellow of St. Johns College, I owe a very special debt of gratitude. During the past four years his wide knowledge and critical ability have been constantly brought to my assistance, both during the time when this essay was first being written at Cambridge, and also during the subsequent period of revision. I am also grateful to my father, for much helpful advice, and especially for reading the proofs. And lastly, I wish to express my appreciation of the valuable suggestions and the invariable courtesy which I have received from the authorities of the University Press. The contents of the present volume are somewhat wider in their scope than might be inferred from the title but I have thought it best not to alter the title, which was assigned as the subject for the Hulseaii Efiway in 1908, nor yet to delete or abridge the earlier sections in order to produce a closer agreement between the title and the contents. That there are many faults in the following pages I do not for a moment doubt I would only venture to hope that there may also be some thoughts whHi will contribute towards a clearer understanding of the truth. E. C. K ST. AIDANS COLLEGE, BIKKEJSKKAI, Decomlw 1911. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION ... 1 PAET I. OLD TESTAMENT ESCHATOLOGY CHAPTEE I PRIMITIVE J KLIEFS ...... 7 Lack of direct evidence Animism Ancestor - worship Nature worship. CHAPTER II EARLY HKBUKW EKCHATOLOO-Y . . . .11 Traces of primitive beliefs The Babylonian background of ideas Egyptian influence The rise of Jewish Nationalism Its hos tility to animistic ideas But as yet no eschatology of its own. CHAPTER IIITHE DOCTKINK OF THK PROPHETS, a Tlie Jfuture of the Indi vidiwl . . . 16 Fundamental ideas of the Hebrew prophets Their doctrine of retribution Their confidence in tho fulfilment of the Covenant-ProniiHCH Effect of these upon the doctrine of personal immortality Individualism Tho doctrine of the Resurrection. CHAPTER IV THE DOCTKINK OF THE PROPHETS Continued. 6 The Future of tk World . . . . . . .26 Tho am fundamental ideas at work The birth of cosmic eschatology The Last Judgment The Kingdom of God x PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN ESCHATOLOGY P4...