The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy,Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
Purchased from my employer, the Canadian Bible Society @ Cafe Logos, Vancouver.
This text review continues...
Although from theologians, philosophers, biblical scholars and scientists, alike, there would be much debate on the degree of biblical literalness in regard to the new heaven and new earth, I have written on this previously on this website (edited).
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Mounce acknowledges that Isaiah did mention the concepts of a new heaven and new earth. (368). This he documents within Isaiah, Chapters 65-66. (368). He notes that 'renovation of the old order is a concept which belongs to the common stock of apocalyptic tradition.' (369).
This is restoration theology as opposed to a theology of ex nihilo recreation.
The creation is renewed. (369).
Mounce states: 'Probably the new order of things is not to be thought of primarily as a physical transformation.' (369). Mounce reasons that most scholars allow for varying levels of literal interpretation in regard to the new creation. (369).
In contrast, others views presented support largely plain literal interpretations of eschatological and creation texts, at times within a dispensationalist tradition.
Mounce further demonstrates the rather figurative literal (not mythological) nature of this eschatological language in Revelation.
The reference to 'no longer any sea' (New American Standard Bible, my add) is likely a reference to a dread of the sea by many ancient cultures. The sea was viewed as an evil.
To state that through the metaphorical use of 'sea' that evil will no longer exist in the new order, seems far more intellectually palatable than attempting to explain the lack of major water bodies in a new creation within an everlastingly liveable universe for human beings.
Although resurrected persons have a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15: 44), they still have physical qualities and live in a physical universe. As resurrected human beings in Christ still have a restored, physical nature and attributes, quite reasonably, the universe and earth should also have restored physical attributes. Perhaps a restored earth will be similar to the pre-fall Garden of Eden? But the entire earth and universe. Perhaps it will have more spiritual aspects than at present?
David F. Payne in his 2 Peter commentary opines that everything on the earth will be 'laid bare', is probably a more correct text than stating everything will be 'burned up'. (1569). This would lead to the theology of eschatological restoration as opposed to eschatological recreation.
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In basic agreement, I find the entry below within the Orthodox Study Bible, quite academic and reasonable. I tentatively and cautiously hold to figurative literal (a degree of literalness) theology with the new heaven and new earth.
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MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
PAYNE. DAVID F.(1986) ‘2 Peter’, in F.F. Bruce, (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.
