Christ and the Judgement of God (2nd Edition)

Publisher Description

In this scholarly study Stephen Travis examines the role of retribution in NT theologies of judgement. This long awaited second edition includes three entirely new chapters as well as being completely revised and updated. Travis' main thesis is that NT theologies of judgement are more fundamentally relational than retributive. He argues that whilst elements of retribution are present in each 'strand' of the New Testament, they are remarkably infrequent, in view of their prominence in the Jewish and Greco-Roman worlds. He argues that both in Paul and in the gospels one's relationship to God, through Christ, is the criterion of judgement; and the ultimate outcome?of the judgement is conceived in terms of that relationship.Travis explores the place of retribution in the OT and Jewish literature, the Pauline texts, the four gospels, and Revelation. In the process the theme judgement is explored in relation to divine wrath, 'paying back', condemnation, its present and future realization (including a discussion on Hell), the role of human deeds, the possibility of losing salvation, the place of rewards, and the role of divine judgement in interpretations of Christ's death.