I Emailed NT Wright About the Parousia (here’s what he said)

The parousia is one of those theologically convoluted terms that is rarely discussed and when it is discussed it’s rarely acknowledged let alone discussed with seriousness, or at length. It’s always something in which those “other people” believe.

Parousia (/pəˈruːziə/; Greek: παρουσία) is an ancient Greek word meaning presence, arrival, or official visit.^[1]

I honestly didn’t even know about it until I was about two years into seminary. I found it interesting and fun to discuss, but didn’t (and still don’t) hold much validity to it. Although, again we must be fair as traditional Christians who believe in just as wacky things; it just so happens that our beliefs are more widely and culturally acceptable to profess. 

Greetings Dr. Wright,

We’re students at Princeton Theological Seminary and admire your thoughts on various theological issues. We’re emailing you to inquire, briefly, your understanding of the relationship between the Olivet Discourse and Josephus’ writings. We’ve come across preterist teachings while in our studies here and would sincerely appreciate your insights, particularly on Christ’s second coming and the portions of Josephus that describe angelic visions in the clouds during Titus’ seige of Jerusalem. Were these visions (also corroborated in Tacitus’ Annals) indicators of the parousia or were they something else we may be overlooking? Thank you so much for your work and dedication to Christ.

Blessings,
Andy Gill & J.L. Legard

NT Wrights Response (predictable):

Thank you. But — I see NO reason to associate the Parousia with AD 70. Visions of angels have often been reported in ancient and modern times. I’m afraid I regard the preterist position — which is I think unknown in the UK — as a gross distortion. I do indeed see AD 70 as the primary referent of Mark 13 and parallels; that seems abundantly clear, despite many who dispute it (including one of your esteemed new professors!). But I see no reason to separate the prophecies of the Parousia in the NT from the prophecies of the renewal of all things and the general resurrection of the dead (Phil 3.20f., Rom 8, etc). And that, I think, hasn’t happened yet…
Warm good wishes to you and your colleagues
Tom Wright

Prof N T Wright
St Andrews

[1] Entry for parousia in the Liddell–Scott lexicon