Time and History

Jesus of Nazareth inaugurated his earthly ministry with an announcement of the fulfilment of time as well as the nearness of the kingdom of God. The Good News he preached came as a challenge to start a new way of living in our historical process. In fact, time and history are the most important parameters of human life. The ongoing flow of time is what we call history and the entire historical process of the world is at the same time salvation history. Humans are the makers of history and they are also being formed and transformed by this history. The Church, in continuing the saving mission of Christ, tries to become the sacrament of God's presence in history and imparts to the world at large its healing and saving power. It is from the Bible that we have to derive a comprehensive and holistic meaning of time and history, and it is this salubrious understanding that should be the source of inspiration for all in approaching and celebrating the challenge of time and history in our times. The various studies in this 'Time and History: Biblical and Theological Studies' try to throw light on some of the forgotten dimensions of time and history, and invite men and women towards a more meaningful commitment to our historical process.

Joseph Pathrapankal was born in 1930 in Kerala, India. A member of the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, he holds an MTh from the Theological Faculty of Pune, India; an LSS from Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome; a ThD from Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; and an Honorary PhD in Theology from the University of Uppsala, Sweden. He was a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, Rome, from 1984 to 1989; Vice President of the Conference of Catholic Theological Institutions (COCTI) from 1987 to 1993; Vice President and President of Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, India, from 1976 to 1985, and Dean of the Faculty of Theology from 1985 to 1991. He has served as President of Theological Publications in India since 1991. His other books include 'Christian Life: New Testament Perspectives'; 'Critical and Creative'; 'Text and Context'; 'The Christian Programme'; 'Dimensions of the Word'; and 'Foundational Perspectives'.