Dear Dr. Craig, we know that forgiveness is central to the Christian life, Matthew 612, 14 and 15, Matthew 1821 to 35. However, forgiveness

does not require complete restoration of a broken relationship. I am thinking of a situation

where one spouse is unfaithful. The betrayed spouse would be responsible to forgive their spouse,

and even the affair partner. But most counselors and therapists would strongly advise that the

couple establish a no-contact relationship with the affair partner so they can rebuild their

marriage. Likewise, if someone murdered a family member, we should forgive.

But that would not mean we are required to have a close relationship with the murderer. Thinking

of these instances and assuming that everyone involved, the spouses, the affair partner,

the murder victim and the murderer, are all Christian. Perhaps the murderer becomes a Christian because

of the forgiveness of the surviving family. In both the intermediate state where we are with Christ

and the final resurrection when God creates the new heaven and the new earth, and we dwell with

God for eternity, what will be the relationship of these individuals?

Perhaps a simple biblical way to put it is,

how is Uriah the Hittite going to relate to both King David and Bathsheba?

Ed, United States.

Your question, Ed, connects in an interesting way

with my current work on eschatology to close out my systematic

philosophical theology. Eschatology is the doctrine of the so-called last things, such as the

return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the last judgment, and the new heavens

and new earth.

Your central point that forgiveness does not imply or require the victim's reconciliation with

the offender is a good one, that philosophers writing offender is a good one that philosophers writing about forgiveness

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