Understanding COVID-19 birth-pangs’ theological responses and the promised Parousia of Jesus

Verbum et Ecclesia

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Understanding COVID-19 birth-pangs’ theological responses and the promised Parousia of Jesus
 
Creator Ukeachusim, Chidinma P.
 
Subject History; Education; Cultural Studies; Religion Matthew 24:15−51; eschatology; Parousia; COVID-19 pandemic; church; Nigeria
Description Jesus in Matthew 24 presaged to his disciples about the eschatological birth-pangs that would be occurring in the world in the interim of his departure and his promised Parousia and the end of this age. It is a theological concern how the disciples of Jesus in every era are to be responding to eschatological birth-pangs in the light of Jesus’ promised Parousia. This study is based on the existential reality that many Nigerian professing Christians do not understand how they are to be responding to an eschatological birth-pang like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in relation to the promised Parousia of Jesus. How then are the elects in Nigeria to be responding to eschatological occurrence like COVID-19 and as well be preparing for the Parousia of Jesus? Therefore, using redaction criticism approach of conducting biblical exegesis, this study focusses on theologically interpreting the context of Matthew 24:15−51, to unveil and recommend pragmatic theological Christian responses that underline how Nigerian Christians are to be righteously responding to the COVID-19 pandemic as an eschatological birth-pang, and as well be preparing for the promised Parousia of Jesus.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: In the Olivet-discourse, Jesus in advance informed his disciples how they are to be responding to the birth-pangs, and also be preparing for his Parousia. This study explored Matthew 24:15−51 and unveils how the church in Nigeria is to be responding to the COVID-19 pandemic as an eschatological birth-pang in the light of Jesus’ promised Parousia.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor Prof Ernest Van Eck Department of New Testament and Related Literature, Faculty of Theological and Religion, University of Pretoria
Date 2024-02-29
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Historical Inquiry; Redaction Analysis
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ve.v45i1.2834
 
Source Verbum et Ecclesia; Vol 45, No 1 (2024); 10 pages 2074-7705 1609-9982
 
Language eng
 
Relation
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https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2834/7215 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2834/7216 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2834/7217 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2834/7218
 
Coverage — First Century Christian era and the 21st century Christian era Religion; Ethnicity; Education
Rights Copyright (c) 2024 Chidinma P. Ukeachusim https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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