Original Research

Ascension of Jesus: Drawing from the thoughts of Andries van Aarde

Chris Jones
Verbum et Ecclesia | Vol 45, No 1 | a3257 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v45i1.3257 | © 2024 Chris Jones | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 30 July 2024 | Published: 06 November 2024

About the author(s)

Chris Jones, Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Abstract

This article stems from the author’s dialogue with New Testament scholar Andries van Aarde about the divinity of Jesus, during which the topic of Jesus’ ascension also arose. The author aims to focus on Van Aarde’s thinking about the ascension of Jesus. The article does not intend to provide a reflection on the exegetical and hermeneutical analysis of the biblical texts alluding to the ascension of Jesus Christ. Instead, it argues that these texts existentially emphasise a believer’s new life, theologically expressed as ‘personal ascension’, implying participation with God. In the New Testament, language expressing Jesus’ ascension was borrowed particularly from royal psalms in the Old Testament. The concept of ‘ascent to heaven’ to access the divine presence is central not only to Jewish Christian apocalyptic symbolism but it also became part of the church’s liturgy. Van Aarde contends that the modern church should preserve the reference to Jesus’ ascension in ecclesial confessional language, despite no longer affirming a three-tiered universe or adhering to the mythical language of ‘descended into hell’ and ‘ascended to heaven’.

Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article makes the case that Jesus Christ’s ascension serves as a liturgical celebration of victory over trauma. It demonstrates the need for a metaphorical interpretation of the ancient references to ascension. These mythological descriptions become anachronistic in our time if they are interpreted in a realistic, historical and literal sense. However, rich and meaningful victory poetry can still be communicated if the ‘ascension’ is interpreted metaphorically.


Keywords

ascension; Andries van Aarde; Ecclesial liturgy; Jesus Christ; metaphorical language; Reformational Creeds

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

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