| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study is to describe, analyze,
and evaluate Ted Peters's proleptic theory of the creation
of humankind in God's image. To achieve this purpose, after
the introduction, the study first reviews in chapter 2
Peters's theological biography, the context of his theology,
as welI as hls theological system and method. Peters
differs from the more traditional Christian understanding of
the creation of humankind in God's image in that he denies
the historicity of the original perfect creation of Adam and
Eve ln God's image and the Fall. To him, this image is to
be achieved eventually after the eschatological
resurrection.
Peters's application of the concept of prolepsis to
the creation of humankind in God's image is presented in
chapter 3. According to this concept, the creation of
humankind is a process of becoming fully human, in
anticipation of the future fulfilment. It is a response to
the call forward to the image of God.
The evaluation of Peters's proleptic theory of the
creation of humankind in God's image is done in chapter 4 by
examining how Peters applies the historical-hypothetical
method, especially with respect to the biblical account of
the creation and fall of Adam and Eve, the resurrection of
Jesus christ, and the eventual transformation of human
beings at the final resurrection. While Peters denies the
historicity of the perfect creation and the subsequent fall
of Adam and Eve for lack of historical evidence, he accepts
the resurrection of Jesus Christ by faith in the future
evidence of the new creation. In view of the fact that
Peters is not fully consistent in how he uses his
historical-hypothetical method, the final chapter concludes
that Peters's proleptic theory is not a valid explication of
the biblical account of the creation of humanklnd in God's
image. | en_US |
