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See Also: Website Introduction | Hermeneutical Approaches
Historical Idealism is the view of prophecy which teaches that the types and models in the Bible point to Jesus Christ and His Body throughout all ages... but also that they are ultimately fulfilled in "the last day at the end of the world." The point of distinction being that the substance of prophecy is being seen as largely fulfilled in the natural realm through the progress of history. This class is color-coded with MAROON Modern Idealism differs from this method, in that it sees all bible prophecy as pointing to everlasting spiritual realities in Jesus Christ. Not focusing "horizontally" on a single day in the past or future when all of the prophetic models of judgment and blessing are revealed, but rather focusing "vertically" to the eternal realm.. which is fully revealed in the "age to come" -- as in "it is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the judgment." This class is color-coded with NAVY BLUE Incidental Idealism is not, strictly speaking, Idealism at all. Rather, it is being used as a "catch all" term to refer to the writings of Preterists, Historicists and Futurists, which just happen to be Idealist in nature. This is common among chronologists when discussing the "true nature" of Baptism, the Lord's Supper, or other figures and types in the Bible. This "class" is color-coded with GOLD. HISTORICAL IDEALIS MHISTORICITY OF SHADOWS AND SOME SUBSTANCE Typically, Christian Idealism sees the historical events of the passion of Jesus Christ and the "end of the world" as having primary significance in Bible prophecy. The distinction between this method and MI is explained by Brevard Childs, using Eusebius' method as an example: "When Eusebius spoke of a spiritual sense (kata dianoian), he did not envision this sense as a timeless, independent layer of meaning, but rather as an extension of the text "to uncover the inner, religious and supernatural dimensions of historical events" (Hollerich, p. 87). The spiritual interpretations of a prophetic text revealed the meaning of a historical event in the overall design of God's salvific plan... Eusebius is initially concerned to demonstrate the literal fulfillment of prophecy in terms of facts available for all to see. This focus remains overriding in all of his apologetic treatises, especially when directed against the Jews. Then the spiritual fulfillment refers to the religious meaning of the events. Thus, the defeat of the Babylonians by Cyrus is established incontrovertible as a historical fact, but its spiritual fulfillment lies in the defeat of idolatry and victory over the devil's power." (The Struggle to Understand Isaiah as Christian Scripture, p. 78) Historical Idealism has a tendency to use historical fulfillments -- such as the judgment of Jerusalem in Israel's last days (AD66-70) -- as types of the greater judgment that is coming at "the end of the world." Due to its focus on history as the realm of ultimate fulfillment, it is differentiated from Modern Idealism.
MODERN IDEALISM It is truly a pleasure to be able to lay out a new method at this website with what is being called "Modern Idealism." Though shades and forms of this view have been around since before the beginning of creation, never (to my knowledge) have all of the pieces been collected into one complete method of interpretation. Due to the fact that there are few "Modern Idealists" aside from those former full preterists who hold it today, the view will have to be displayed historically in the many bits and pieces of it that can be found throughout history. Accordingly, most StudyArchive and StudyBible presentations of Modern Idealism will include representative comments from those who fundamentally hold differing views on other areas of doctrine. This is a consistent method, however, with the other "archive projects," such as at PreteristArchive.com, where for over a decade, in order to present the new form of "Modern Preterism," bits of preterist conclusions have been taken from the writings of futurists throughout church history. For me personally, the structural framework behind the Modern Idealist view is more important for non-idealists to investigate than the conclusions of that view. Though most Historical and Incidental Idealists forsake the method and plunge into the application, the focal point of MI approach will be the other way. As this site is committed to conservatism and lawful usage of the Word (lest we get carried away with the extreme abuses of allegorization and application as has been so shamefully common in the history of Christianity), a demonstration of the laws by which the Lord Jesus Christ reveals himself in history and in prophetic revelation are given specific presentation. Below will be listed the Study Archives for the various hermeneutical "laws" of interpretation which support the Modern Idealist view. Ultimately, the particulars listed below are subservient to the overall "prophecy/fulfillment model" of the "unity-in-plurality" -- as is given to explain the relationship between the natural and spiritual in one. Believing that the spiritual is superior in all levels of revelation, the list is designed to progress from the broader to the narrower applications of that fundamental perspective.
INCIDENTAL IDEALIST APPROACHES Incidental Idealism is represented by the writings of Preterists and Futurists who hold to a theology with a prophecy/fulfillment model which is chronology-based, and yet who make spiritual things either primary or secondary fulfillments. Where these stray beyond the restrictions of historical typology, they will be included under this classification. In a sense, this classification is the opposite of Historical Idealism in that instead of making futuristic references using an Idealist method, they make Idealist references with Futurist methods. Even though it is common for such theologians to recognize timeless, spiritual pointers in many NT images, such as the Passover and Baptism, they still do not consistently apply the same method to all other areas of their theology. Nevertheless, these stray gems can be very edifying and useful to one's understanding of their spiritual life. Also, there are a number of times when comments, which are not inherently idealist at all, are taken out of the confines of the author's theological system, and placed within the context of the Idealist approach, it can become especially instructive and revealing. The intent in labeling someone and "Incidental Idealist" is not to suggest their support of Idealism, but to recognize and identify those areas of their thought which do indeed fit well within the eternal point of view. |
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