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THE 440: ESCHATOLOGY - Hybrid Edition

St. John’s University, Queens Campus, Spring 2026

Section 14941: 5:00pm - 7:00pm Monday, SJH 308

Dr. Matthew Lewis Sutton

Associate Professor of Systematic Theology

Office: St. John’s University, Queens Campus, St. John’s Hall B20–27

Student Hours: 8:30 - 9:00am; 12:15 - 1:15pm Mon and Thu, or appt.

718.990.5052 | suttonm@stjohns.edu | doctorsutton.net

Your Course Website: doctorsutton.net/the440

Graduate Bulletin: “A study of contemporary theological reflection on the ultimate destiny of humanity and of the world. The major symbols of Christianity are reexamined in the light of critical biblical and historical studies. Credit: 3 semester hours.”

This course provides the graduate student with a theological mastery of Eschatology in relation to other major theological loci of Christian Systematic Theology. While the students will deepen their understanding of the foundational biblical and historical eschatologies, they will also come to understand several current and significant eschatologies that have emerged within the recent decades of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The student will also be engaged in Comparative Eschatology throughout the semester as we examine major Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Eschatologies and place them in constructive, ecumenical, theological dialogue. In relation to the various eschatologies we will be learning, we will also be interested in developing a theology of hope in relation to Trinitarian Theology and the Paschal Mystery.

By the conclusion of the course, the student should be able:

  • to articulate in writing and speaking a knowledge of significant Eschatologies and Theologies of Christian Hope
  • to analyze critically scripture and other theological texts pertaining to Eschatology
  • to interact Eschatology with other major theological loci and develop consistent theological thinking
  • to express the similarities and differences of several Eschatologies to develop constructive, ecumenical, theological dialogue

Course Texts: Required:

Provided by Student

  • Bible, must be an appropriate translation for academic work, such as the RSV, NRSV, NAB, NABre, NIV, ESV, NKJV. (recommended translation The Ignatius Bible (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition). Second Edition. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780898708349
  • Balthasar, Hans Urs von. Dare We Hope “That All Men Be Saved”? With a Short Discourse on Hell. Translated by David Kipp and Lothar Krauth. Second Edition: San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2014. Paperback or Kindle Educational Use
  • Hammett, John. The Source of Hope: An Introduction to Eschatology. Brentwood, TN: B&H Academic, 2025. ISBN: 978-1087756165. Paperback Educational Use
  • Jenkins, Philip. The Crucible of Faith: The Ancient Revolution That Made Our Modern Religious World. New York: Basic Books, 2017. ISBN: 9780465096404. Hardcover or Kindle Educational Use
  • Ratzinger, Joseph. Eschatology: Hope and Eternal Life. Second Edition. Washington D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780813215167 Paperback Educational Use
  • Wright, N.T. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. New York: Harper, 2018. ISBN: 978-0062089977. Paperback Educational Use

Course Structure:

The course will be structured into three learning units. The first will be on Second Temple Judaism and Early Christian Apocalyptic Literature. This era developed the foundation for Christian Eschatology. The second unit will introduce current Christian Eschatologies. The third unit will be a detailed study of current theologies of Christian Hope. The course concludes by returning to the Book of Revelation as source and summit of Christian Eschatology, while learning from your fellow students several current Eschatologies. Each unit will have assignments and assessments designed to give you an overall understanding and mastery of the thought and development of Christian Eschatology and Christian Hope.

Learning Assessment:

In this course, you can earn a total of 100 points. Progress reports will be emailed to you at the beginning of every month. You earn these points by successfully completing the following:

  • Class Participation: consistent, active engagement (questioning, answering, and discussing) = 15 points
  • Minor Paper on Eschatology in Art, Culture, or Liturgy = 20 points
  • Share Theology Project = 15 points
  • Presentation on a Significant Modern or Post Modern Eschatology = 20 points
  • Research Paper on a Significant Modern or Post Modern Eschatology = 30 points

Grading Scale:

A = 100 - 93 points (100 - 93%); A- = 92 - 90 points (92 - 90 %); B+ = 89 - 87 points (89 - 87%); B = 86 - 83 points (86 - 83%); B- = 82 - 80 points (82 - 80%); C+ = 79 - 77 points (79 - 77%); C = 76 - 73 points (76 - 73%); C- = 72 - 70 points (72 - 70%); D+ = 69 - 67 points (69 - 67%); D = 66 - 60 points (66 - 60%); F = 59 - 0 points (59 - 0%)

We are at our best when:

  • We are Here because we are better together.
  • We act with Academic Integrity, which means no plagiarism, no cheating, no damaging of other people’s work, no use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) generative tools, and no assisting someone else’s dishonesty. Plagiarism is the act of appropriating and using the ideas, writings, or works of another person or program as your own without giving proper citation to the person or program who created it. I will follow the university’s procedure for plagiarism and discipline to the highest extent allowable, which can include a failure for this course and the act of plagiarism noted in your academic file. Any further offenses entail suspension or expulsion. Please see the University’s policies and guidelines for the ethical and unethical use of AI in your studies. Additionally, the course is protected by and compliant with copyright law and intellectual property rights following university policy. As expected of all students, we will be following St. John’s Student Code of Conduct.
  • We are Actively Engaged with each other. As a student, you must participate in class regularly, attentively, and promptly with readings and assignments completed. As a professor, I must be available to you for encouraging and guiding you to excel in your education.
  • You are Responsible for Everything said in class. You are responsible for getting class notes and lectures from another student. Only after you have received and read those notes can you contact me with further questions about the class.
  • We do what is Effective, not what is Popular. We do the hard and real work of growing our understanding. We do not do simple, fancy, or splashy assignments. We’re not interested in fads, but what works in growing young intellectuals that can achieve profound goals. No shortcuts.
  • We use any Digital Devices and Services appropriately during class time such as cell phones, text messaging, smart watches, tablets, laptops, or generative AI tools. If you do not follow this policy, you will not be able to earn participation points for the class meeting or assignments. If it continues to be a problem, your overall point total will be reduced according to the severity of your lack of engagement.
  • We turn in our Assignments and Papers promptly as directed by the professor. Even if you are absent, you are still responsible for turning in your assignments by the beginning of class or as directed. If your assignment is late, your grade for that assignment will be lowered at least by 10% for each day that it is late. Your grade will continue to be lowered to zero at my discretion until it is submitted.
  • We attend Prepared for all Exams and the Final Cumulative Exam and these should not be missed. If you cannot attend an exam, you must consult me in advance and receive clear approval from me. No make-up exams will be given unless you receive clear approval beforehand or as determined by me. Since the dates of the exams are clearly communicated to you, it is unlikely that you will receive approval.
  • We learn because We Are Human and we desire to know the truth about the divine, the world, and ourselves. We strive for Excellence without Excuses.

University Resources For Academic Success

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