As I understand it… what “changed” with Christ’s “about to be” (mellō) ‘parousia’ was the fullness of their expectation having come to fruition, that is, Israel’s promised redemption (covenant restoration) was complete. There was an outworking to perfection/fullness/completion in “the last days” (which THEY were in) as per 1Cor 10:11. In terms of Israel’s redemption… Christ’s cross was the DECISIVE EVENT with Christ’s parousia being the CULMINATING EVENT; both functioned as bookends to Israel’s redemption story. As Israel’s sanctifying firstfruit saints “in Christ” they had already born of the “incorruptible seed” (1Pet 1:23). This all came to fullness then in the parousia in perfection.
The old covenant was “corruptible” but the new covenant “incorruptible”. As they were “putting off the old man” (OC) and “putting on the new man” (NC) they were putting on the very LIFE of God, i.e., new covenant life. This was a process in THAT age.
What are you stipulating constitutes “evidence”? There’s no “evidence” that a solitary Jew crucified some 2000+yrs ago redeemed Israel, let alone reconciled humanity… however, like me I suspect you actually believe that such was the case?
An all too oft made charge that when held to scrutiny tends to fall FLAT BECAUSE most every biblical position “spiritualises” something – it just comes down to what that might be; take for example your own words here…
Consider this…
Were you literally / physically crucified in “the likeness” of Christ’s death… NO, and yet you understand the “spiritual” application being made, and do so without even batting an eyelid. Now apply the same principle to joining in Christ’s resurrection. ‘Resurrection’ was ALL ABOUT Israel coming up out of the “corruption” of the old covenant mode of existence, coming up out of the graves of bondage (covenant EXILE) into the “incorruptible” LIFE of God, i.e., the burgeoning NEW covenant age that was bursting forth in their day. We live beyond that time in the “new creation wherein righteousness dwells” 2Pet 3:13; 2Cor 5:17; they were coming into it, we have it… humanity HAS been reconciled!
Paul goes onto say “…that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” His reference to being “raised from the dead” speaks to the OC community that was “dead in trespasses and sins” UNDER the Law, i.e., the old covenant. Thus Paul’s “BODY if sin” speaks to the old covenant.
How do you figure this Steve? That logic makes about as much sense as saying… well if SIN is destroyed then clearly there was never any need for it in the first place.
The Jews had any number of beliefs regarding life after this life, or the lack thereof… the Sadducees being a case in point. However, for the most part you’re correct about the majority expectation of a bodily resurrection, BUT, their expectation wasn’t for a bodily resurrection “in heaven” beyond this life (at least not permanently) but rather resurrection BACK into THIS very same world… the very thing Jesus actually did.