An Ascension thread featuring Friedrich Schleiermacher's "Christian Faith" 
Schleiermacher argues that the Ascension does not have direct apostolic witness in the Bible. It is only recorded in Acts 1:6-11.
The Ascension is not only absent from the rest of the New Testament, it is also contradicted by John 20:22 which speaks of Jesus breathing the holy spirit upon the disciples.
Furthermore the forty day period between the empty tomb and the Ascension is a unique literary feature to Luke/Acts.
Schleiermacher argues that the Ascension is part of the 'oldest creedal symbol' (§99) ie the Nicene-Constantinian Creed
However Schleiermacher argues the creedal claims about the facts of the resurrection and Ascension 'cannot be set forth as genuine'
Schleiermacher explains that the two common reasons the Ascension is rejected is because of 1. A bias against all miracles and 2. Approval of it necessitates an approval of the Trinity that is considered to be polytheism.
Schleiermacher's criticism is neither 1. nor 2. Instead he considers the Ascension to be in variance with his doctrine of the person of Jesus cf. (§13)
Schleiermacher asks the question, if the Ascension did not happen, then what happened to the body of Jesus.
If Jesus was not Ascended then has Jesus been in hiding somewhere on earth? And was the Ascension a hoax?
Schleiermacher continues that of the Ascension was a hoax then it follows that the Resurrection was a hoax as well.
Schleiermacher also links the Ascension of Jesus to creedal statements about descending into hell and returning for Judgment, and concluded similar criticisms of these as such
Schleiermacher wrestles with the historical facts and acknowledged that he believed the apostolic witness should not be regarded simply as reporters of historical claims unless the factual claims are sufficiently attested
The strength of Schleiermacher's doctrine of Ascension appears in the image at the head of the thread. He argues that the Ascension was necessary for the disciples to come into their own.
"§122. Only after Christ had departed from earth was it possible for the Holy Spirit to be fully communicated and received as this common spirit." — Friedrich Schleiermacher
The disciples were sent out by Jesus in individual events but only after Jesus had Ascended that they were to go out into the world and bring the holy Spirit to all
Schleiermacher's favoritism for John emerges again with this reference to John 20:22. I've used this wise conclusion from Schleiermacher whenever commissioning Christians in the missio Dei
Additionally, Schleiermacher acknowledged that the apostolic writings refer to a return of Jesus, and this implies that some kind of Ascension of Jesus occured, but Schleiermacher is more concerned about direct acts of Jesus instead of divine acts to Jesus (e.g. Ascension)
Schleiermacher's position makes more sense of the priority of John 20:22 over Acts 1:6-11 such that Jesus had commissioned the disciples directly rather than floated off in space.
Also it aligns with the argument that there was no Ascension event. Instead there was an end to the resurrection appearances eventually and the forty days was a narrative device to signify the beginning and end of them using old testament numerology (40s) & assumption of prophets
This spoke #Schleiermacher
