Rethinking Christianity

Throughout history, Christian theology has taken on many forms and interpretations. As I delved into the study of Christianity, I came across two ancient and unique theological perspectives: Patristic Christian Universalism and Full Preterism. After studying and analyzing these two perspectives, I found myself in agreement with both. I believe that combining these two interpretations creates a compelling and coherent Christian worldview that makes complete sense. The internal conflicts that often arise in traditional interpretations of Christianity, such as the conflict between loving one's enemies and the idea of eternal conscious torment, are reconciled. Similarly, the apparent delay of thousands of years between the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the coming of Christ is no longer a difficult puzzle to solve. In this article, we will explore the details of this combined perspective and its potential to enrich Christian understanding and practice.

Patristic Christian Universalism

The first component of this unique Christian worldview is Patristic Christian Universalism. This belief centers around the idea that all people will ultimately be saved through the grace of God. This is in contrast to the traditional Christian belief that some people will be saved and some will be condemned to eternal punishment. Patristic Christian Universalism emphasizes the unconditional love and mercy of God and sees salvation as a free gift that is available to all, regardless of their beliefs or actions.

The origins of Patristic Christian Universalism can be traced back to the early Church Fathers, such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa. These theologians believed that God's love and mercy extended to all people, even those who were not Christian or who had not heard the Gospel message. They saw salvation as a process of reconciliation and restoration, rather than a punishment for sin.

Over time, Patristic Christian Universalism became a minority perspective within the Christian tradition. Many Christians rejected the idea of universal salvation, citing biblical passages that seemed to suggest that not everyone would be saved. However, proponents of Patristic Christian Universalism continued to defend their position, pointing to the overall message of love and mercy that runs through the Bible.

Full Preterism

The second component of this unique Christian worldview is Full Preterism. Full Preterists believe that the end of the age referred to in the New Testament was actually the end of the Old Covenant, not the end of the world. This belief means that all prophecies in the New Testament were fulfilled in AD 70, and that Christ's return was a spiritual event rather than a physical one.

The origins of Full Preterism can be traced back to the early Church as well, although the term itself is a more recent development. In the first century, the apostles and other Christian leaders believed that Christ's return was imminent and that the end of the world was near.

Full Preterists believe that the events of AD 70, specifically the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, fulfilled many of the prophecies in the New Testament. They see this as a judgment on the Jewish nation and a sign that the Old Covenant had come to an end. They also believe that Christ's return was a spiritual event that happened at this time, rather than a physical return to Earth.

Combining Patristic Christian Universalism and Full Preterism

While Patristic Christian Universalism and Full Preterism are two distinct theological perspectives, they can be brought together to create a unique Christian worldview. Combining these two beliefs emphasizes the love and mercy of God and the ultimate triumph of Christ over sin and death.

For example, if all people are ultimately saved through the grace of God, then the events of AD 70 can be seen as a judgment that led to universal reconciliation rather than eternal punishment. This view also emphasizes the importance of interpreting scripture in its historical and cultural context, recognizing the diversity of theological perspectives within the Christian tradition, and looking at the bigger picture of God's plan for humanity.

Combining Patristic Christian Universalism and Full Preterism creates a unique Christian worldview that emphasizes the love and mercy of God and the ultimate triumph of Christ over sin and death. In this worldview, the events surrounding the end of the Old Covenant are seen as a judgment that leads to universal reconciliation.

This combined perspective encourages Christians to interpret scripture in its historical and cultural context. It also recognizes the diversity of theological perspectives within the Christian tradition, encouraging Christians to look at the bigger picture of God's plan for humanity.

Emphasizing the Love and Mercy of God

Patristic Christian Universalism highlights the unconditional love and mercy of God. This belief asserts that salvation is a free gift that is available to all, regardless of their beliefs or actions. This perspective aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who taught that God loves all people and desires that all should be saved (John 3:16).

The idea of universal salvation can be seen as a logical extension of this belief. If God truly loves all people unconditionally, then it follows that all people will ultimately be saved. This perspective emphasizes that God's love is not limited to a select group of people but extends to all.

Full Preterism, on the other hand, emphasizes the ultimate triumph of Christ over sin and death. It sees the events of AD 70 as a judgment on the Old Covenant and a sign that Christ had achieved victory over sin and death. This perspective affirms the power of Christ to overcome all obstacles, including death itself.

Judgment and Universal Reconciliation

Combining Patristic Christian Universalism and Full Preterism allows for a unique interpretation of the events surrounding the end of the Old Covenant. While Full Preterism sees the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 as the fulfillment of New Testament prophecy, Patristic Christian Universalism sees this event as a judgment that leads to universal reconciliation.

In this perspective, the destruction of the Temple was a necessary step in God's plan for humanity. It was a judgment on the Old Covenant, which had become corrupt and no longer served its intended purpose. However, this judgment ultimately leads to universal reconciliation, as all people will be saved through the grace of God.

Interpreting Scripture in Context

This combined perspective encourages Christians to interpret scripture in its historical and cultural context. It recognizes that the Bible was written by people who lived in a specific time and place and that their writings reflect their own cultural and theological perspectives. By understanding the historical and cultural context in which the Bible was written, Christians can gain a deeper understanding of the text and its intended message.

Both Patristic Christian Universalism and Full Preterism are valid biblical interpretations that can be supported by biblical evidence. Patristic Christian Universalism emphasizes the all-encompassing love and mercy of God, and the idea that God desires all people to be saved. Support for this perspective can be found in several passages of the Bible, such as John 12:32, which states that Jesus will draw all people to Himself, and 1 Timothy 2:3-6, which emphasizes God's desire for all people to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Full Preterism, on the other hand, is based on a historical interpretation of the end-times prophecies in the Bible. This perspective argues that these prophecies were fulfilled in the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 70, rather than in a future end-of-the-world scenario. Full Preterists point to several passages of the Bible, such as Matthew 24:1-34 and Revelation 1:1-3, which they argue were fulfilled in the events leading up to the destruction of the Temple. They also argue that this interpretation is consistent with the historical and cultural context in which these prophecies were written.

I believe that both of these perspectives are valid and that they can be combined to create a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of Christian theology. By emphasizing the love and mercy of God and recognizing the historical and cultural context of biblical texts, this combined perspective encourages Christians to interpret scripture in a more holistic and inclusive manner. This approach offers a profound perspective on Christian faith and practice, emphasizing the ultimate triumph of Christ over sin and death, and the promise of universal reconciliation.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

Finally, this combined perspective encourages Christians to look at the bigger picture of God's plan for humanity. It recognizes that the events of the Old Covenant and the New Testament are part of a larger narrative of God's relationship with humanity.

By understanding this larger narrative, Christians can gain a deeper understanding of their place in God's plan and can be encouraged by the ultimate triumph of Christ over sin and death. This perspective also encourages Christians to focus on the essentials of faith, such as love, mercy, and reconciliation, rather than getting bogged down in debates over specific theological issues.

The combined perspective of Patristic Christian Universalism and Full Preterism offers Christians a unique and compelling worldview that emphasizes the love and mercy of God and the ultimate triumph of Christ over sin and death. This perspective has the potential to inform and transform Christian faith and practice in a number of ways.

First, by emphasizing the ultimate reconciliation of all people through the grace of God, this perspective encourages Christians to view all people as beloved children of God. This means that Christians are called to love and serve all people, regardless of their beliefs, background, or lifestyle. This emphasis on universal reconciliation also challenges Christians to reject a narrow, exclusive understanding of salvation and to embrace a more inclusive and expansive vision of God's grace.

Second, by recognizing the diversity of theological perspectives within the Christian tradition and interpreting scripture in its historical and cultural context, this perspective encourages Christians to engage in a deeper and more nuanced understanding of their faith. Christians are called to explore the rich and complex history of Christian theology and to recognize the validity of diverse perspectives, even those that may differ from their own.

Third, this combined perspective offers Christians a unique perspective on the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. By understanding the events surrounding the end of the Old Covenant as a judgment and a beginning of universal reconciliation, Christians can gain a deeper appreciation for the continuity and coherence of the biblical narrative. This perspective also challenges Christians to reject simplistic or overly literal readings of scripture and to engage in a more sophisticated and nuanced understanding of biblical interpretation.

Finally, this perspective emphasizes the importance of love, mercy, and reconciliation in Christian faith and practice. By focusing on these essential aspects of the Christian message, Christians are challenged to reject legalistic or judgmental attitudes and to embrace a more compassionate and gracious approach to others.

Overall, the combined perspective of Patristic Christian Universalism and Full Preterism offers Christians a compelling and transformative worldview that emphasizes the love and mercy of God and the ultimate triumph of Christ over sin and death. By embracing this perspective, Christians can gain a deeper understanding of their faith, a more inclusive vision of God's grace, and a more compassionate and gracious approach to others.