Did the early church erroneously believe that the time of the end was near?

Achilles6129 said:

Did the authors of the New Testament erroneously believe that the time of the end was near? Submit evidence for and against.

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I think the term erroneously is a little harsh and value laden. I think that a more constructive question might be 'How did the early Church's eschatology change, grow and/or develop'?

No. The "time of the end," in the Jewish context, pointed to the forthcoming Kingdom of God on earth, separate and apart from Christian eternity, eternal life in Heaven.

Achilles6129 said:

OK. What's your Biblical evidence that the authors of the NT did not believe the time of the end was near?

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They did not "erroneously" believe it. It was the heart and soul of Hebrew doctrine. The Messiah was coming, and he was near. Even Paul believed that. The fact that Messiah did not arrive for some of them is obvious: They one day died after rejecting Christ. The fact that some of them survived is that they accepted Christ not in accordance with Mosaic Law or the doctrine of the Pharisees, but by Grace though Faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. They were upon death immediately caught up into Heaven.

Supper time..........c u later.

I'd just recommend everyone read thru the NEW TESTAMENT a few times, not study it, just read thru it asking the FATHER in heaven to grant understanding of SCRIPTURE as HE and JESUS did for the Apostles and disciples, as they are pleased to do so.

All through the New Testament it seems clear and evident that the Apostles and disciples not only expected Jesus to return soon,
but
so much so that some had to be cautioned not to worry that He had already returned again and someone apparently was trying to get them to think that they missed His return,
even though it is written that everyone will know when He returns (though they might not have all been given that revelation yet so they were close to doubting or concerned they had missed Him).

Eagerly watching for the return is repeated how many times in Jesus' parables ? and the rest of the New Testament ?

So, especially with all the warnings from Jesus not to get caught off guard, not to be failing
to be doing as a good servant when the Master returns ,
simply rejoice and be glad that our names are written in the Lambs Book in Heaven,
and as He says, be faithfully DOing what the Father says to DO
eagerly watching for Him and eagerly awaiting His Return !

All of the New Testament indicates this and all is in harmony without clashing
and with no contradicting,
perfectly every word ! (albeit, because of how everybody was/is raised and taught, it may need to be untangled slowly and patiently as God Directs and as God Permits, like a fishing net that seems hopelessly wrapped up in itself) ....

Shalom,
jeff

Yes, in fact, there really hasn't been a time period in which at least some Christ did not believe they were living in the end times.
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe" Hebrews 1:1-2
"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
I don't think Paul would have wrote this passage in first person if he did not believe he would see the return of Christ, or at least that it would occur soon. Also, he also wrote this, "What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away." if he did not think that the return of Christ was at least imminent.

That doesn't mean that Paul and other church fathers were wrong, they were correctly following the teachings of Jesus to be prepared for the return of Christ.

Achilles6129 said:

Did the authors of the New Testament erroneously believe that the time of the end was near? Submit evidence for and against.

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It's possible, after all they misunderstood that it was necessary for Jesus to auffer death on a cross too. Jesus also dropped hints on His 2nd coming that perhaps they did not pick up on.

Luke 12:43-46
"Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

The other hint to the end was that it ws not going to happen until the Gospel is published to all nations (ethne')
Mat 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

But the church has always been told to be ready for we know not the day nor the hour.

John 1720 said:

But the church has always been told to be ready for we know not the day nor the hour.

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This is truth, and pretty much annuls the previous thoughts in your post.
In other words, as this says ,
they did not make a mistake expecting Jesus soon return.
They were right on !
Not just because Jesus taught and trained them Himself, either !

.

Achilles6129 said:

Did the authors of the New Testament erroneously believe that the time of the end was near? Submit evidence for and against.

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Yes...

Acts 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Acts 1:7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

During the fall of Rome, Many Christians thought that it was the end days but it was only the end of the Roman Empire. In truth, no one knows, and this is by the Lord's design:

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. - Matthew 24:36

Do remember that God is not bound to our linear time. He is not ruled by time, but rules over it.

Wayholka said:

I'm seeing a lot of these kinds of threads popping up lately. Does the recent events of Syria and North Korea have anything to do with it?

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Yes. As always through history,
It is stirring up men. This happens often.

Wars are nothing new.

Deception is so common, deception is believed more than truth is.

Most people have no idea wwIII started , planned by men, over a year ago.

Achilles6129 said:

Did the authors of the New Testament erroneously believe that the time of the end was near? Submit evidence for and against.

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They certainly believed that the end was near. The only questions are these: 1) Does it matter that they were wrong about that? and/or 2) Is 2000 years still in the ballpark for "near?" and 3) could it have happened but they didn't notice?

The last one's impossible BTW because the Lord described his return as impossible to "miss," so that one at least is already answered.

They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:4, 1984 NIV)

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives (2 Peter 3:11, 1984 NIV)

In 2 Peter (above) Peter uses the immanence of destruction to encourage people to live holy and godly lives, and essentially does the same thing in 1 Peter (below).

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:7-8, 1984 NIV)

Practically speaking, the end is coming for you—when you die—when you will no longer be able to do what Peter said, and you will see God. The end of the opportunity to choose to follow Jesus by faith and do good is coming soon—less than 120 years for everyone reading this (sooner for most of us)—and possibly tomorrow for any of us: be sure you are keeping watch now! That day already came long ago for everyone written to in the NT. They were not in error in any way for considering it urgent to fashion their lives to do good and please God—which is the purpose the NT writers challenged people with knowledge of the impending end.

There is no doubt that the New Testament describes everything following the Day of Pentecost as being the last days. The question is whether they were wrong about that.

My question, then, is if we are no longer in the last days, when did they end and where are we now in relation to God's plan for mankind?

I see no indication in scripture and in history that Jesus Christ has returned, which is the sure testimony that the last days are ended.

Greg J. said:

They were not in error in any way for considering it urgent to fashion their lives to do good and please God—which is the purpose the NT writers challenged people with knowledge of the impending end.

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So many people make the Book of Revelation out to be so difficult to understand, but it echos what you just wrote.


Now look at the words John the Baptist preached.

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Now look at the words Jesus started with.


Lastly, words Jesus told the disciples to preach.