Jesus Christ in World History

474 Pages·1.936 MB·English

by  Jan A. B. Jongeneel

STUDIEN ZUR STUDIES IN THE ETUDES
INTERKULTURELLEN INTERCULTURAL D’HISTOIRE
GESCHICHTE HISTORY INTERCULTURELLE
DES CHRISTENTUMS OF CHRISTIANITY DU CHRISTIANISME
Jan A. B. Jongeneel
Jesus Christ
in World History
149
PETER LANG
Europäischer Verlag der Wissenschaften
(cid:45)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:192)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:177)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:192)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:177)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)-
munity more than anybody else. This study describes and analyzes the per-
ceptions and receptions of Jesus as the Messiah/Christ in six continents from
the beginning of the Common Era until today. He appears to be "present"
both within and beyond the traditional borders of Christianity. Individuals
and peoples represent him and/or misrepresent him in their cyclical and/or
linear settings.
"(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:191)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:68)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:81)-
(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:191)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
authoritative framework for examining the range of interpretations of Jesus
Christ over the past two millennia by the major religious traditions and ide-
ologies."
Prof. Wilbert R. Shenk, Fuller Graduate School of Intercultural Studies, Pa-
sadena, USA.
"This book unfolds history from various religious and ideological perspec-
tives, tracing faith formulations and comparing them with the Christian view
of Jesus as the Messiah/Christ. The extensive but precise scholarly content
provides excellent reading into religions, philosophy, theology and mission.
A commendable resource book for seekers of God."
Prof. Siga Arles, Centre for Contemporary Christianity, Bangalore, India.
Jan A. B. Jongeneel is Honorary Professor Emeritus of Missiology at Utrecht
University. He published a missiological encyclopedia in two volumes (re-
cently reprinted in Bangalore) and supervised 41 missiological dissertations.
He is editor of the series MISSION (Zoetermeer) and the series Studies in the
Intercultural History of Christianity (Frankfurt am Main).
www.peterlang.de
Jesus Christ in World History
STUDIEN ZUR INTERKULTURELLEN GESCHICHTE DES CHRISTENTUMS
ETUDES D’ HISTOIRE INTERCULTURELLE DU CHRISTIANISME
STUDIES IN THE INTERCULTURAL HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
begründet von / fondé par / founded by
Walter J. Hollenweger und/et/and Hans J. Margull†
herausgegeben von / édité par / edited by
Richard Friedli, Université de Fribourg
Jan A. B. Jongeneel, Universiteit Utrecht
Klaus Koschorke, Universität München
Theo Sundermeier, Universität Heidelberg
Werner Ustorf, University of Birmingham
Vol. 149
PETER LANG
Frankfurt am Main · Berlin · Bern · Bruxelles · New York · Oxford · Wien
Jan A. B. Jongeneel
With the Assistance of Robert T. Coote
Jesus Christ
in World History
His Presence
and Representation
in Cyclical
and Linear Settings
PETER LANG
Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
Bibliographic Information published by the Deutsche
Nationalbibliothek
The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the
Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is
available in the internet at <http://www.d-nb.de>.

All Scripture quotations are from the New Standard
Revised Version of the Bible, copyright 1989.
ISSN 0170-9240
ISBN 978-3-635-00238-6
© Peter Lang GmbH
Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
Frankfurt am Main 2009
All rights reserved.
All parts of this publication are protected by copyright. Any
utilisation outside the strict limits of the copyright law, without
the permission of the publisher, is forbidden and liable to
prosecution. This applies in particular to reproductions,
translations, microfilming, and storage and processing in
electronic retrieval systems.
www.peterlang.de
Contents

Foreword and Acknowledgments x
1 Perceptions and Receptions of Jesus Christ 1
Methodological reflections 4
Overview of presentation 5
2 World History, World Religions, and Worldviews 9
Outlining world history 9
Surveying world history 11
From oral traditions to scripts and alphabets 11
From incidental truth-findings to complete belief systems 13
From Roman Empire to corpus Christianum and corpus Islamicum 19
From Western to worldwide orientation 21
Transformation through globalization 23
History in the perspective of world religions and worldviews 26
Linear versus cyclical views 26
Immanent versus transcendent views 31
Final observations 32
3 Messianic Expectations and Beliefs before the Common Era 34
Messianic expectations and beliefs outside Israel 35
Ancient civilizations 35
Jaspers’s axial period 36
Roman empire 37
Messianic expectations and beliefs in Israel 38
The terms “Messiah” and “Christ” 39
Anointed people in Israel 39
Political messianism 40
Spiritual messianism 42
Apocalyptic messianism 46
Final observations 48
4 Jesus, the Messiah/Christ 51
Sources of our knowledge 51
Jewish sources 52
Greco-Roman sources 53
Christian sources 54
Jesus’ life and work 59
Baptism and communion with God 60
Public ministry 61
Cross 65
Resurrection 66
Jesus’ identity 68
v
Jesus’ self-determination 69
Christology of the apostles and evangelists 74
Final observations 76
5 From the Birth of Christianity to the Rise of Islam 78
Cyclical worldviews 79
Primal societies 79
Eastern societies with sacred texts 80
Linear worldviews preceding Christianity 81
Zoroastrians 82
Jews 82
Linear worldview of Gentile Christianity 86
Development of the Christian faith 87
Encounter with traditional philosophers, mystery religions,
Gnosticism, and Manichaeism 94
Developments in understanding time and Christ 102
Advance of the linear view of history 103
Presence and representations of Jesus Christ 105
6 From the Rise of Islam to the Discovery of New Worlds 108
Cyclical worldviews 109
Primal societies 109
Eastern societies with sacred texts 110
Western societies: The Buddha and astrology 115
Linear worldviews 115
Zorastrians 116
Jews 116
Christians and the corpus Christianum 119
Muslims and the corpus Islamicum 126
Developments in understanding time and Christ 137
Advances in linear worldviews following Muhammad 137
Presence and representations of Jesus Christ
vis-à-vis emerging Islam 139
7 From the Discovery of New Worlds to the French Revolution 142
Cyclical worldviews 143
Primal societies 143
Eastern societies with sacred texts 146
Western societies under classical Greek influences 152
Religious linear worldviews 154
Jews 154
Christians 157
Muslims 166
Secular linear worldviews 168
Deists and atheists 168
vi
Empiricists, historians, and scholars of comparative religions 170
Rationalists and idealists 175
Impact of French Revolution 176
Christian polemics and apologetics 177
Developments in understanding time and Christ 178
Extension of the linear worldview in the age
of emerging secularism 179
Presence and representations of Jesus Christ
vis-à-vis emerging secularism 181
8 From the French Revolution to World War I 185
Cyclical worldviews 186
Primal societies 186
Eastern societies with sacred texts 188
Eastern influences in Western societies 198
Religious linear worldviews 204
Jews 204
Christians 206
Muslims 213
Secular linear worldviews and the Christian response 216
Philosophers, scientists, and scholars of comparative religion 216
Religious pluralists 219
Christian apologetics 220
Developments in understanding time and Christ 221
Linear views challenged by the renaissance of the East 221
Presence and representations of Jesus Christ
vis-à-vis the renaissance of the East 222
9 From World War I to the End of World War II 225
Cyclical worldviews 226
Primal societies 226
Eastern societies with sacred texts 228
Eastern influences in Western societies 234
Religious linear worldviews 237
Jews 237
Christians 242
Muslims 248
Secular linear worldviews and ideologies 251
Worldviews 251
Ideologies 254
Christian apologetics 261
Developments in understanding time and Christ 262
Linear views challenged by emerging ideologies 263
Presence and representations of Jesus Christ vis-à-vis ideologies 264
vii
10 From the End of World War II to the Present 266
Cyclical worldviews 267
Primal societies 267
Eastern societies with sacred texts 269
Eastern influences in Western societies 277
Religious linear worldviews 283
Jews 283
Christians 289
Muslims 299
Linearly oriented new religious movements 303
Secular linear worldviews and the Christian response 304
United Nations 304
Worldviews 304
Marxism/communism 306
Christian apologetics 308
Developments in understanding time and Christ 310
Cyclical and linear views in a globalizing world 310
Presence and representations of Jesus Christ
in a globalizing world 311
11 Messianic Expectations and Beliefs in the Wake of Jesus Christ 315
Messianic figures and movements in cyclical contexts 316
Primal societies 316
Hinduism 319
Buddhism 321
China 322
Japan 323
New religious movements in the West 325
Jesus Christ vis-à-vis cyclically oriented messianianism 326
Messianic figures and movements in linear contexts 328
Judaism 329
Christianity 332
Movements influenced by Christianity 338
Islam 339
Secular worldviews and ideologies 342
Jesus Christ vis-à-vis linearly oriented messianism 344
Black and female messianic figures and movements 345
Black messianic figures and movements 345
Feminist messianism 348
Jesus Christ vis-à-vis black and feminist messianism 350
Messiah Jesus and politics, spirituality, and apocalyptism 350
Jesus Christ and political messianism 351
Jesus Christ and spiritual messianism 352
viii