| Contents |
|
| Preface to the English Edition |
ix |
| Foreword |
xiii |
| A The Church as it is |
|
| I. Historicity and the image of the Church |
|
| 1. Essence and historical forms |
3 |
| 2. The development of the image of the Church in Church history |
6 |
| 3. The changing image of the Church in the New Testament |
15 |
| II. Distortions of the Image of the Church |
|
| 1. The Church as the object of admiration and criticism; the nature and "un-nature" of the Church |
24 |
| 2. The Church as the object of faith |
30 |
| 3. Visible and invisible |
34 |
| B. The coming reign of God |
|
| I. The preaching of Jesus |
|
| 1. The appeal to the Gospel of Jesus |
43 |
| 2. The Gospel message of the reign of God |
47 |
| II. Foundation of a Church? |
|
| 1. The nearness of the reign of God in Jesus |
54 |
| 2. Between already and not yet |
59 |
| 3. Jesus and the beginning of the Church |
70 |
| III. The eschatological community of salvation |
|
| 1. The ekklesia as congregation, community, Church |
79 |
| 2. Similarities and differences between Church and reign of God |
88 |
| 3. In the service of the reign of God |
96 |
| C. The fundamental structure of the Church |
|
| I. The Church as the people of God |
|
| 1. Beyond Judaism? |
107 |
| 2. From the ancient to the new people of God |
114 |
| 3. The Church, the people of God today |
125 |
| 4. The Church and the Jews |
132 |
| II. The Church as the creation of the Spirit |
|
| 1. The new freedom |
150 |
| 2. The Church of the Spirit |
162 |
| 3. The continuing charismatic structure |
179 |
| 4. The Church and the enthusiasts |
191 |
| III. The Church as the Body of Christ |
|
| 1. Members through baptism |
203 |
| 2. United in the fellowship of the Lord's Supper |
211 |
| 3. The local community and the whole Church as the body of Christ |
224 |
| 4. The Church and the heretics |
241 |
| D. The dimensions of the Church |
|
| I. The Church is one |
|
| 1. What is the true Church? |
263 |
| 2. Unity in diversity |
269 |
| 3. Reunion of the Churches |
276 |
| II. The Church is Catholic |
|
| 1. Catholicity in identity |
296 |
| 2. No salvation outside the Church? |
313 |
| III. The Church is holy |
|
| 1. Sinful and yet holy |
319 |
| 2. Forgiveness and renewal as continuing aspects of the life of the Church |
330 |
| IV. The Church is Apostolic |
|
| 1. Founded on the apostles |
344 |
| 2. Apostolicity and succession |
354 |
| E. The offices of the Church |
|
| I. The priesthood of all believers |
|
| 1. Christ as the only high priest and mediator |
363 |
| 2. The royal priesthood of all Christians |
370 |
| II. Ecclesiastical office as Ministry |
|
| 1. Service as the imitation of Christ |
388 |
| 2. The diaconal structure |
393 |
| 3. The Petrine power and the Petrine Ministry |
444 |
| Epilogue |
481 |
| Abbreviations |
491 |
| Index of Scriptural References |
493 |
| Index of Names |
503 |
| Subject Index |
512 |