Editing Paul the Apostle (section)

=== World to come ===
{{See also|Christian eschatology|Second Coming|World to come}}
According to [[Bart Ehrman]], Paul believed that Jesus would return within his lifetime.{{sfn|Ehrman|2006}} [[N.T. Wright]] argues that Paul's eschatology did not remain static however, developing in his later epistles the idea that he would probably not see the Second Coming in his lifetime. Wright also argues that this shift was due to perspective and not belief.<ref>[[N.T. Wright]] (2018), ''Hope Deferred? Against the Dogma of Delay,'' page 58, University of St. Andrews</ref> Paul expected that Christians who had died in the meantime would be [[Resurrection of the Dead|resurrected]] to share in [[Kingdom of God|God's kingdom]], and he believed that the saved would be transformed, assuming heavenly, imperishable bodies.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|15:51–53}}</ref>

Paul's teaching about the end of the world is expressed most clearly in his [[First Epistle to the Thessalonians|first]] and [[Second Epistle to the Thessalonians|second]] letters to the Christian community of [[Thessalonica]]. He assures them that [[Resurrection of the dead|the dead will rise first]] and be followed by those left alive.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Thessalonians|4:16ff}}</ref> This suggests an imminent end but he is unspecific about times and seasons and encourages his hearers to expect a delay.{{sfn|Rowland|1985|p=113}} The form of the end will be a battle between Jesus and the [[Man of Sin|man of lawlessness]]<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Thessalonians|2:3}}</ref> whose conclusion is the triumph of Christ.

Before his conversion he believed God's messiah would put an end to the old age of evil, and initiate a new age of righteousness; after his conversion, he believed this would happen in stages that had begun with the resurrection of Jesus, but the old age would continue until Jesus returns.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Romans|16:25}}, {{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|10:11}}, {{Bibleverse|Galatians|1:4}}</ref>{{sfn|Powell|2009|p=236}}