did Paul think he would live to see Jesus' second coming?

[Nihil Obstat]

I can't help but think that Paul was led to believe that he would live to see Jesus' second coming. When I read, for example, 2 Thess. 1:7, which says, "[God will give] relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire," how else am I to understand him other than he thought Jesus would return soon?

Or what about 1 Thess. 4:15-17, how he says, "we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air"? Doesn't that sound like Paul anticipated that he would be alive when the resurrection of the just took place?

One more example is 1 Cor. 15:51ff, when Paul says, "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality."

Toward the end of his life, in his pastoral letters, Paul didn't speak this way (cf. 2 Tim. 2:2; 4:6-7; etc.), so perhaps this conviction was proven to be in need of correction, but I think it is clear that in his first epistles, he spoke as if Jesus truly would come back in his lifetime. What are your thoughts about this: do you agree or disagree? Have you run across other passages like this by Paul or by other NT authors? How does this mesh with the Scripture being inspired and inerrant?

Thanks all. Looking forward to a godly conversation with you. - astro

[Theophilus]

This is pretty simplistic, compared to your scholarly start, but I think that Paul did expect Jesus' return during his lifetime...but then, I expect every sold out believer in every age has expected Him to return. I mean, what greater hope do we have...what makes our heart beat faster than the expectation of His "soon return"?

As for the above scriptural examples of "we" and "this", sure, Paul included himself...but I think, in a broader sense, he was talking about the body of Christ, of which we are also part. (That's without taking gander at the Greek, though...)

All the best...and good question.

[Nihil Obstat]

All the best...and good question.

I only asked because my wife thought I was dead wrong for suggesting such a thing.

[chad]

I think the early church did expect Jesus to return in thier lifetime. When Paul wrote to Timothy, I think he knew he did not have much longer to live before he was going to be with the lord.

2 Tim 4:6-12

6.For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8.Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

9Do your best to come to me quickly, 10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

[nazzer_aij]

This is pretty simplistic, compared to your scholarly start, but I think that Paul did expect Jesus' return during his lifetime...but then, I expect every sold out believer in every age has expected Him to return. I mean, what greater hope do we have...what makes our heart beat faster than the expectation of His "soon return"?

As for the above scriptural examples of "we" and "this", sure, Paul included himself...but I think, in a broader sense, he was talking about the body of Christ, of which we are also part. (That's without taking gander at the Greek, though...)

All the best...and good question.

A very clear and awesome post; I'll just add some more.
Among all apostle Jesus was not able to know him personally but was only appeared to him through
a vision.However, Paul was not among the least of them, for he was the only apostle that know him in spiritual when he knew Christ such as one caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words,
which is not lawfull for a man to utter.
Regarding 1 Cor.15:51 Behold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all asleep, but we shall all be change. This do pertain for spiritual regeneration a new man will be change as of like the glory
of Lord Jesus but you cannot see this by your naked eyed for this thing is spiritual.
1 Thes. 4:15 17 this is also similar to 1 Cor.15:51 by the same process in a moment, in the twingkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and shall be change.Hope this help.
Thanks.
nazzer_aij.

[kay-gee]

I have never had a single doubt that Paul believed Christs return could happen in his own lifetime. No man knows the hour. This includes Paul.

This is why I get kind of perturbed with the prophecy buffs that read the book of Revelation one time and then think they've got it all figured out when Christ is returning. How is it they are privy to information that Paul wasn't? He was a guy actually taken into heaven for a glimpse. There is no historical events that have to happen first. Christ could have returned in the first century as easily as any time. He didn't. He is tarrying. Think of it. If He had of returned before now, we wouldn't have a chance of heaven because we wouldn't have ever been born.

all the best...

[Theophilus]

...Think of it. If He had of returned before now, we wouldn't have a chance of heaven because we wouldn't have ever been born.

all the best...

Funny...I had that same thought when first reading the question....

[nazzer_aij]

Funny...What is funny there? We shall not be born if He returned before? but I think it is not biblical and a human speculation only.
But okay, let us accept it for the sake of entertaiment and fellowship.

[Theophilus]

Funny...What is funny there? We shall not be born if He returned before? but I think it is not biblical and a human speculation only.
But okay, let us accept it for the sake of entertaiment and fellowship.

No...funny that I had the same thought. :-)