Published: 2019-02-11

Theology of time in reformed Protestantism (Calvinism)

Ignacy Bokwa
Studia Oecumenica
Section: Teologia ewangelicka
DOI https://doi.org/10.25167/SOe/18/2018/203-223

Abstract

Protestant reformed theology cultivates unambiguous theology of time. However, it concerns the contemporary – the twentieth century reformed theology as such a reflection can not be found in the writings of the reformed Protestant classics (John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli). Protestant theological thought approaches human wisdom, and thus philosophy, with reserve and skepticism, suspecting it of contamination by the effects of original sin. Reformed Protestants rely on God’s revelation in Jesus Christ and on the Word of God to find data on the concept of time. It must be admitted that Jürgen Moltman, the reformed German theologian, is the most sympathetic for the philosophical concepts. One can find many references to philosophy in his reflection on time. However, it is not taking over these threads uncritically, but the constant awareness of the presence of philosophy in culture, also contemporary culture. The reformed concept of time is thoroughly theology of time, as the authors mentioned in the article (especially Karl Barth, Emil Brunner and Jürgen Moltmann) make a lot of effort and prove that time exists by God’s will and intention and is His work related to him as Lord and Creator. Time is of historical importance and is a kind of God’s story with man. Reformed theology does not know the concept of secular time. Time is the work of God, eternity and God’s existence are inseparable from time, and the authority of God is absolute and manifests itself in the eschatological completion of time. It seems that such a condensed concept of time, proposed by Protestant reformed theology, difficult to extract and systematize, can be a valuable counterpoint to all the concepts of time dividing it into the secular and sacred spheres.

Keywords:

time, theology of time, protestant reformed theology, Karl Barth, Emil Brunner, Jürgen Moltmann

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Bokwa, I. (2019). Theology of time in reformed Protestantism (Calvinism). Studia Oecumenica, 18, 203–223. https://doi.org/10.25167/SOe/18/2018/203-223

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