Heaven and Earth in Luke-Acts

Publisher Description

Dr Ming Gao delves into the much-overlooked heaven motif in Luke-Acts in this critical study of a central element in Christian belief. Focusing on several key passages from the biblical canon, Gao analyses them in their Jewish, Greco-Roman and broader literary contexts to enhance our comprehension of the meaning of "heaven" and it's significance for our worldview. Heaven is not simply a static place where God dwells or a symbol of his power, but is a dynamic arena. This study further reveals that arena as the scene of an unfolding of cosmic warfare, the effects of which are felt on earth. Dr Gao also elucidates how heaven, as well as being part of reality, acts as a concept that points to the arrival of God's eschatological kingdom on earth. This book will enhance efforts to understand "heaven," which is often viewed as an unfathomable mystery by so many Christians.