Irenaeus
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Early
Augustine
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Later
Augustine
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Main theme: Glorified
Material World
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Main theme: The Ascetic
Promise—A Heaven for Souls
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Main theme: The
Ecclesiastical Promise: Physical Beauty Eternalized
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Reliance on kingdom view coming from John the Apostle and Polycarp
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Heavy reliance on Neoplatonism worldview
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Views largely the same as the early Augustine with some modifications
as mentioned below
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Historical Situation: Persecution and martyrdom were main
issues facing Christians of Irenaeus’s day; showed your allegiance to Christ
via suffering and martyrdom
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Historical Situation: Christianity is an accepted part of
society; show spirituality by fleeing society and its comforts and delights
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Historical Situation: Mostly same as early Augustine but Augustine became more comfortable interacting with society
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Hermeneutic: Prophecies about earthly kingdom and physical
blessings should be taken literally and not allegorized
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Hermeneutic: a mix of literal and allegorical interpretation; don’t
take Revelation literally
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Hermeneutic: Mostly same as early Augustine
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Heaven will be on a renewed, restored earth
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Heaven has nothing to do with earth; only a spiritual realm
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A renewed, restored earth will occur after Jesus’ return
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Earth and material things viewed positively and will be restored in
the future
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Earth and material things viewed negatively and will not exist in the
future heaven
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Softening of dualism between physical and spiritual matters
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Physical bodies viewed positively now and will exist in the future
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Physical bodies viewed negatively and will not exist in the future
(came close to denying bodily resurrection)
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Physical bodies not viewed as negatively with later Augustine, and
will exist and be beautiful in Heaven; yet must obey the will of the spirit
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Food, culture, and society are often good and can be enjoyed now and
in Jesus’ messianic kingdom
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Food, culture, and society hinder the pursuit of God; ascetic ideal
should be sought; those matters do not exist in Heaven; no social
interactions
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Seeing God is primary but some eating and drinking will occur, but
not out of necessity; societal interactions will occur
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Civilized urban life in the present can be good, is not all bad
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Urban life in the present is corrupt and bad; escape it
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A somewhat softening from the early Augustine; some appreciation of
civilized life
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Jesus’ kingdom is compensation for lost life and production in this
world
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Heaven is a glad escape from the present world
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Mostly early Augustine
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Those loyal to Jesus will regain life on earth in the future world
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Those loyal to Jesus will be rewarded with a heavenly escape from the
world
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Mostly early Augustine
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The physical body will be a major part of Jesus’ kingdom; Believers will do
much with their bodies
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The human body is not part of Heaven
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More place for physical,
resurrected body; physical eyes will be part of seeing God
|
3 main eras: 1. Present era; 2. Kingdom of Messiah (millennium); 3.
Kingdom of the Father (Eternal State)
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2 main eras: 1. The present era is Jesus’ kingdom. 2. Then eternal state
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Same as early Augustine
|
Not much discussion of what the Kingdom of the Father will be like
after Jesus’ messianic, millennial kingdom
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This is the era of Jesus’ kingdom; spiritual Heaven is the eternal
state
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Same as early Augustine but Augustine open to a renewed earth
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Marriage, family, childbearing occur in Jesus’ kingdom (future
millennium)
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No marriage, family, childbearing in eternal Heaven
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Same as early Augustine but some recognition of previous
relationships could occur
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Distinctions in genders exist in the future
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No distinctions in gender
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Distinctions in gender will exist in the future; gender body parts will
exist, but are beautiful and lust will not occur
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