Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Was Jesus an apocalyptic prophet?
Position2 of 2

Jesus was not an apocalyptic prophet

This position holds that Jesus was not an apocalyptic prophet. It argues that many sources portray him otherwise, that the apocalyptic material was read back into the gospels by the early Church, and that Jesus was in fact preaching a 'realised eschatology' already present, not a coming end.

Supporting arguments · 3

  1. Jesus' apocalypticism was retrojected into the gospels by the Early Christian Church
    If other texts are consulted, Jesus is often seen not to have apocalyptic views. Therefore, such views were added back in by the Early Church
  2. Jesus was actually preaching realised eschatology
    One of the key beliefs in traditional apocalypticism was that the eschaton was arriving imminently. Jesus is actually preaching realised eschatology and therefore wasn't an apocalyptic prophet
  3. Other sources show Jesus to have been non-apocalyptic
    The evidence for the arguments have so far only come from the synoptic gospels. Perhaps if non-canonical texts were consulted we would see a different side of Jesus?