The theme of divine judgement has often been treated, but usually with a concentration on one it its two main aspects: either that which is seen in the present life and in history or that which is believed to occur only after death. This new study seeks to combine the two aspects. It also tries to cover the whole spectrum of the ancient religions. Special attention is given to Israel, Greece, and Egypt. Israel's neighbours are also considered, and there are discussions of Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism. In several areas, notably in Egypt and Israel, it is shown that punishment in this life is sometimes presented as a fate that man brings upon himself rather than as one imposed by God, though always against a moral background derived from religion. The origins of judgement after death in the Judaeo-Christian tradition are examined in some detail and elements are traced to Egyptian, Zoroastrian, and Judaic sources.

This book seeks to fill a gap on the important topic of God's judgment. It is written for Christians who desire to have a biblical worldview that helps them to live faithfully for Jesus Christ. It investigates what the apostle Paul has to say in his letters about God's judgment. The worldview that emerges is one that must not be ignored: of judgment as fundamental to our human life as Adam's descendants, of God's judgment at work in the world today, and of the final judgment as the certain future for every person. At the center is the decisive judgment of our sin in Christ at the cross, which is God's answer to our judgment problem. For each of these four aspects of judgment, key questions are considered, with the central question being, "How do we live in the light of this truth?"