Albert Schweitzer and Jesus' predictions

[asymmetricblog]

How do people deal with these ideas? (from Wiki):

In The Quest, Schweitzer reviewed all prior work on the question of the “historical Jesus” starting in the late 18th century. He pointed out how Jesus’ image had changed with the times and with the personal proclivities of the various authors. He concluded with his own synopsis and interpretation of what had been learned over the course of the previous century. He took the position that the life of Jesus must be interpreted in the light of Jesus’ own convictions, which he characterized as those of “late Jewish eschatology.”

Schweitzer wrote that Jesus and his followers expected the imminent end of the world.[23] He became very focused on the study and cross referencing of the many Biblical verses promising the return of Jesus and the exact details of this promised event, as it was originally believed that it would unfold, in the First Century. He noted that in the gospel of Mark, Jesus speaks of a “tribulation,” with his coming in the clouds with great power and glory," and even tells his disciples exactly when all this will happen: “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”(Matthew 24:34) The same story is told in the gospel of Matthew, with Jesus promising his rapid return: “Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.”(Matthew 23:36)

Schweitzer observes that St. Paul believed in the immediacy of the “Second Coming of Jesus,” mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Schweitzer concludes that Christians of the first century theology literally believed in the imminent fulfillment of the promise of the World’s ending, within the lifetime of Jesus’s original followers. Schweitzer cross references many Biblical verses to confirm this very serious theologic problem: “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28) Mark 9:1 "And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” and Luke 9:27 “But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.” and Luke 21:32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.

Other key Biblical verses that Schweitzer documents in The Quest demonstrate the impossibility of the original Gospels’ literal accuracy are: “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:32), “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none.” (1 Corinthians 7:29) and “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…” (Hebrews 1:2) He finds also, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” (1 Peter 1:20, “But the end of all things is at hand.” (1 Peter 4:7) and “Surely I come quickly.” Revelation 22:20)

 

[Della]

It tells me that people will force onto the text whatever ideas they want to embrace. It also tells me that those who weren’t given the authority by Christ to interpret his words ought not to do it. As the article itself points out, many people have tried to figure out when the Second Coming will happen and what those in the 1st Century believed based just on the words of the NT, but that’s not the right way to examine the issue. We are to follow what the Magisterium of the Catholic Church teaches on these matters because Jesus gave them the authority to teach in his name and no others.

 

[chaunceygardner]

And Schweitzer took a lot of heat for what he wrote.

It is interesting to Note that none of the NT quotes given are from the Gospel of John, with just one from Revelations (with the distinct possibility that the part quoted was added later). By the time of that Gospel, the last recorded, the disciples had realized that Jesus was not returning as soon as they thought. And many of the given quotes from the Synoptics are the same; is it because they are independent verbatim recordings of what Jesus said or are drawn from the same source?

The question is: Did Jesus mis-speak, or did the disciples not understand Him?

Here is the passage from Matthew 23 that leads to the final statement. Note that Jesus is not talking about His return but about the persecution of His followers, which did occur, and the coming reign of justice:

Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and pursue from town to town,
so that there may come upon you all the righteous blood shed upon earth, from the righteous blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
Amen, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

The same passage in Luke 11 is much clearer on this and does not include the last sentence.

In Matthew 24, the verses following the one quoted seem to give a different view of the return. Here is the part that leads directly into verse 34 and what follows:

Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see all these things, know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

In Luke 21, you read a very similar passage in which Jesus says:

Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

What things have taken place? The things Jesus mentions, or ALL THINGS. Makes a big difference.

Regarding Mark 9 and Matthew 16, is Jesus talking about His resurrection (“coming in glory”) which did occur soon after?

Then one must compare those statements with this one, from Luke 17 (with similar statemens in two other verses):

For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.

This stuff is not knew. Schweitzer did his study more than a century ago, and he was following other German Biblical scholars. And many since have dissected all this. There are many possibilities, depending on one’s approach to the NT. What appears to me to be the most logical is that the early Gospel authors (and Paul) were basing their writing on what they expected, and when they expected it. They thought the world as they knew it would end soon. They thought the Kingdom of God meant the return of Jesus in Glory; but perhaps Jesus was telling us (as He did in Luke 17 and in other places) that the Kingdom of God is among us, and within us…“The Kingdom of God is at hand”, then and now.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

This stuff is not knew. Schweitzer did his study more than a century ago, and he was following other German Biblical scholars. And many since have dissected all this. There are many possibilities, depending on one’s approach to the NT. What appears to me to be the most logical is that the early Gospel authors (and Paul) were basing their writing on what they expected, and when they expected it. They thought the world as they knew it would end soon. They thought the Kingdom of God meant the return of Jesus in Glory; but perhaps Jesus was telling us (as He did in Luke 17 and in other places) that the Kingdom of God is among us, and within us…“The Kingdom of God is at hand”, then and now.

Yes, that is what our priest said yesterday in church. That we should be aware every day, because we never know when we will meet Christ face-to-face, in the guise of ordinary people.

“…the Kingdom of God is spread upon the world, yet men do not see it”.

 

[asymmetricblog]

Thank you very much. Many of my friends are atheists and they bring this stuff up. I read Hitchens’ book (very bad) and he makes a big deal of the “Wandering Jew” myth based on an interpretation of these passages.

 

[asymmetricblog]

Thank you very much. Many of my friends are atheists and they bring this stuff up. I read Hitchens’ book (very bad) and he makes a big deal of the “Wandering Jew” myth based on an interpretation of these passages.