Semne comportamentale ale sfârşitului vremurilor: iminența Parusiei în 2 Timotei 3:1–5

Abstract

The paper deals with the issue relating to the imminence of the Parousia based on 2 Timothy 3:1–5. It answers two questions. The first is how sure are the signs that are behavioural in nature to indicate the nearness of Jesus’ second coming? The second addresses the question of the relationship between the completeness of evil and its destruction? In order to answer the first question the study examines the profile of what could be called the eschatological human being described in 2 Tim 3:1–5. It also seeks to establish whether there is an instrument to measure the qualitative ripening of evil through successive ages of human history. Since it appears that there is no way to accurately assess the extent, intensity and gravity of evil, there seems to be no way to anticipate the eschatological end of the world on the basis of human wickedness. To answer the second question, the article analyses certain biblical typologies that have set wickedness and judgment in relation. The basic answer to this second question is that there is no direct, causal relationship between human evil and its extinction. There are other factors suggested that play a certain role in the fulfilment of the promise of Christ’s return.