This paper by Logan Fletcher Hester, submitted to Dr. Robert J. Cara at Reformed Theological Seminary – Charlotte for NT5300 – Pauline Epistles, explores how Paul’s theology of waiting functions as an essential aspect of the believer’s eschatological identity.
Hester argues that waiting is not passive but participatory—it defines the Christian life as one lived between the “already” of redemption and the “not yet” of consummation. Through exegetical analysis of texts such as Romans 8:18–25 and 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, the paper demonstrates that waiting expresses both the tension and the assurance of salvation.
By connecting Pauline eschatology to pastoral theology, Hester concludes that Christian waiting shapes believers into hopeful, persevering participants in God’s redemptive plan—anchored in the certainty of Christ’s return and the glory to come.
Course and semester: NT5300 Pauline Epistles — Spring 2023
