Der anspruch im Zuspruch: Martin Luthers apokalyptisches Zeitverstandnis in der Auslegung von 1. Korinther 15

Abstract

The study consists of two main parts. The first one peruses Luther's view of the different time-horizons of faith and reason, in particular with respect to the gospel of Christ's death and resurrection, and its promise of the resurrection of the dead. The main verbs of ICor 15:If point to the time-horizon of faith as determined by the past, the present, and the future alike, with a special emphasis on the aspect of hope and herewith on the dimension of faith regarding the future. Faith listens to the gospel's word of the past, adheres to it and thus gains hope for the future even beyond this life. The time-horizon of reason, however, is in Luther's view determined within the limits of the present only. Reason can only see the present, the obvious, whereas faith inevitably remembers the past and hopes for the future. The believers' hope for a new life after death originates in Christ's resurrection, which is looked. upon by Luther in the picture of an almost completely finished birth process: Christ is risen →The head is born already →The body will certainly follow →The believers will also rise. The second part looks at Luther's distinction of the "Two Kingdoms" and "Two Regiments", in particular with respect to their different time-horizons and their different ends. Christ will deliver up his kingdom - the spiritual Regiment - to God the Father (ICor 15:24), whereas the kingdom of this world will be abolished. By means of two prophetic apocalyptic pictures Luther views the end of the world as close at hand:1. By the statue of Dan 2.2. By the picture of the birth process. The statue of Dan 2 is almost completely destroyed; just the toes are left. The picture of the statue however corresponds to the picture of the birth process which is also almost complete; just the toes are left. Thus destruction, death and birth pains give way to the new eternal life. Luther does not use the apocalyptic imagery and language to encourage any futuristic speculation, but to challenge the believers to endure in all the tasks and sufferings of this world until the end.