The concept of thekingship of God appears in allAbrahamic religions, where in some cases the termskingdom of God andkingdom of Heaven are also used. The notion ofGod's kingship goes back to theHebrew Bible, which refers to "his kingdom" but does not include the term "Kingdom of God".[1][2]
The "Kingdom of God" and its equivalent form "Kingdom of Heaven" in theGospel of Matthew is one of the key elements of the teachings ofJesus in theNew Testament. TheGospel of Mark indicates that the gospel is the good news about the Kingdom of God. The term pertains to thekingship of Christ over all creation. The phrase "Kingdom of heaven" appears in Matthew's gospel due primarily to Jewish sensibilities about uttering the "name" (God). Jesus did not teach the kingdom of Godper se so much as thereturn of that kingdom. The notion of God's kingdom (as it had been underMoses) returning became an agitation inRoman Palestine 60 years before Jesus was born, and continued to be a force for nearly a hundred years after his death.[3][need quotation to verify] Drawing onOld Testament teachings, the Christian characterization of therelationship between God and humanity inherently involves the notion of the "Kingship of God".[4][5]
TheQuran does not use the term "kingdom of God", but includesthe Throne Verse which talks about the throne ofGod encompassing the heavens and the Earth. TheQuran also refers toAbraham seeing the "Kingdom of the heavens".[6] Writings of theBaháʼí Faith also use the term "kingdom of God".[7]
Zoroastrianism, a possible influence on Abrahamic traditions,[8]includes the concept of a "kingdom of God" or of adivine kingship:
In theGāthāsZoroaster's thoughts aboutkhšathra as a thing turn mostly to the 'dominion' or 'kingdom' of God, which was conceived, it seems, both asheaven itself, thought of as lying just above the visible sky, and as the kingdom of God to come on earth which is also represented by Khšathra - hence, presumably, his standing epithet ofvairya 'desirable'; for as Christians pray to God, 'Thy kingdom come ...', so also Zoroastrians long to establish the kingdom of Ahura Mazdā here below. [...] The heavenly aspect of khšathra/Khšathra has plainly a pagan origin, for in theVedasParadise is the kṣatra ofVaruṇa, the kingdom of heaven which for their own happiness men longed to attain.[9]
"The Hebrew wordmalkuth [...] refers first to areign, dominion, or rule and only secondarily to the realm over which a reign is exercised. [...] Whenmalkuth is used of God, it almost always refers to his authority or to his rule as the heavenly King."[11]The "enthronement psalms" (Psalms45,93,96,97–99) provide a background for this view with the exclamation "The Lord is King".[5]
The phrasethe Kingdom of God is not common in intertestamental literature. Where it does occur, such as in thePsalms of Solomon and theWisdom of Solomon, it usually refers to "God's reign, not to the realm over which he reigns, nor to the new age, [nor to ...] the messianic order to be established by the Lord's Anointed".[13]
The term does occasionally, however, denote "an eschatological event", such as in theAssumption of Moses and theSibylline Oracles. In these works, "God's Kingdom is not the new age but the effective manifestation of his rule in all the world so that the eschatological order is established."[14] Along these lines was the more "national" view in which the awaitedmessiah was seen as a liberator and the founder of a new state of Israel.[15]
TheGospel of Luke records Jesus' description of the Kingdom of God, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;[16] neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."[17]
In theSynoptic Gospels, Jesus speaks frequently of God's kingdom. However within theNew Testament, nowhere does Jesus appear to clearly define the concept.[18] Within the Synoptic Gospel accounts, the assumption appears to have been made that, "this was a concept so familiar that it did not require definition."[18] Karen Wenell wrote, "Mark's Gospel provides for us a significant place of transformation for the space of the Kingdom of God, precisely because it can be understood as a kind of birthplace for the Kingdom of God, the beginning of its construction ...".[19]
Within the non-canonical, yet contemporaryGnostic Gospel ofThomas, Jesus is quoted as saying, "If those who lead you say to you: ‘Look, the kingdom is in the sky!’ then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you: ‘It is in the sea,’ then the fishes will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you and outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will realize that you are the children of the living Father."[22] This same Gospel of Thomas further describes Jesus as implying that the Kingdom of God is already present, saying, "The kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it.”[22]
TheApostle Paul described the Kingdom of God in his letter to the church in Rome: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."[23]
The Kingdom of God (and its possibly equivalent formKingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew) is one of the key elements of the teachings ofJesus in theNew Testament.[3] Drawing on Old Testament teachings, the Christian characterization of the relationship between God and humanity inherently involves the notion of the "Kingship of God".[4][5]
Most of the uses of the Greek word,basileia (kingdom), in the New Testament involve the Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven).[24] Matthew is likely to have instead used the termheaven because the background of hisJewish audience imposed restrictions on the frequent use of thename of God.[25] However, Dr.Chuck Missler asserts that Matthew intentionally differentiated between the kingdoms of God and Heaven: "Most commentators presume that these terms are synonymous. However, Matthew usesKingdom of Heaven 33 times, but also usesKingdom of God five times, even in adjacent verses, which indicates that these are not synonymous: he is using a more denotative term."[26] Kingdom of God is translated toLatin asRegnum Dei and Kingdom of Heaven asRegnum caelorum.[27]
TheOld Testament refers to "God the Judge of all" and the notion that all humans will eventuallybe judged is an essential element of Christian teachings.[28] Building on a number of New Testament passages, theNicene Creed indicates that the task of judgment is assigned to Jesus.[28][29]
No overall agreement on the theological interpretation of "Kingdom of God" has emerged among scholars. While a number of theological interpretations of the term Kingdom of God have appeared in itseschatological context, e.g.apocalyptic,realized orInaugurated eschatologies, no consensus has emerged among scholars.[30][31]
R. T. France points out that while the concept of the "Kingdom of God" has an intuitive meaning to lay Christians, there is hardly any agreement among scholars about its meaning in the New Testament.[32] Some scholars see it as a Christian lifestyle, some as a method of world evangelization, some as the rediscovery of charismatic gifts, others relate it to no present or future situation, but theworld to come.[32] France states that the phrase Kingdom of God is often interpreted in many ways to fit the theological agenda of those interpreting it.[32]
In theNew Testament, theThrone of God is alluded to in several forms.[33] Among these areHeaven as the Throne of God, The Throne ofDavid, The Throne of Glory, The Throne ofGrace and many more.[33] The New Testament continues the Jewish identification of heaven itself as the "throne of God",[34] but also locates the throne of God as "in heaven" and having a second subordinate seat at theRight Hand of God for theSession of Christ.[35]
The term "kingdom of God" does not occur in the Quran. The modern Arabic word for kingdom ismamlaka (المملكة), but in the Quranmul'kan (مُّلْكًا), refers to Heaven, e.g. in 4:54 "Or do they envy mankind for what Allah hath given them of his bounty? but We had already given the people of Abraham the Book and Wisdom, and conferred upon them a great kingdom" and 6:75 "Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth."[6] The variantMaalik (Owner, etmologically similar toMalik (king)) occurs in1:4 "[Allah is] The owner of theDay of Judgement".[36]
The term "kingdom of God" appears in the writings of theBaháʼí Faith, including the religious works ofBahá'u'lláh, the founder of the religion, and his son`Abdu'l-Bahá.[7][37][38][39] In theBaháʼí teachings, the kingdom of God is seen both as a state of individual being, and the state of the world. Bahá'u'lláh claimed that the scriptures of the world's religions foretell a coming messianic figure that will bring agolden age of humanity, the kingdom of God on earth. He claimed to be that figure, and that his teachings would bring about the kingdom of God; he also noted that the prophecies relating to the end times and the arrival of the kingdom of God were symbolic and referred to spiritual upheaval and renewal.[40] The Baháʼí teachings also state as people worship and serve humanity they become closer to God and develop spiritually, so that they can attain eternal life and enter the kingdom of God while alive.[41]
^"Abrahamic Faiths, Ethnicity and Ethnic Conflicts" (Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change. Series I, Culture and Values, Vol. 7) by Paul Peachey, George F. McLean and John Kromkowski (Jun 1997)ISBN1565181042 p. 315
^abFrance, R. T. (2005)."Kingdom of God". In Vanhoozer, Kevin J.; Bartholomew, Craig G.; Treier, Daniel J.; Wright, Nicholas Thomas (eds.).Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. pp. 420–422.ISBN978-0-8010-2694-2.Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved19 July 2016.
^abThe Gospel of Matthew by R.T. France (21 Aug 2007)ISBN080282501X pp. 101–103
^abMercer Dictionary of the Bible by Watson E. Mills, Edgar V. McKnight and Roger A. Bullard (2001)ISBN0865543739 p. 490
^abcDictionary of Biblical Imagery by Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit and Tremper Longman III (11 November 1998)ISBN0830814515 pp. 478–479
^abBiblical Prophets in the Qur'an and Muslim Literature by Roberto Tottoli (2001)ISBN0700713948 p. 27
^Nigosian, Solomon Alexander (1993). "Zoroastrian Teachings".Zoroastrian Faith: Tradition and Modern Research. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. pp. 95, 97.ISBN9780773511330. Retrieved4 August 2024.The striking resemblances (and differences) between some characteristic Zoroastrian teachings and those of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have certainly attracted the attention of both biblical and Iranian specialists. [...] it is hardly conceivable that some of the characteristic ideas and practices in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam came into being without Zoroastrian influence.
^Boyce, Mary (1 January 1996) [1975]. "Ahura Mazda, Angra Mainyu and the Bounteous Immortals".A History of Zoroastrianism. Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 1 the near and Middle East / Handbook of Oriental Studies, Religion Series, ISSN 0169-9423. Vol. 1: The Early Period (reprint ed.). Leiden: E. J. Brill. p. 209.ISBN9789004104747. Retrieved4 August 2024.
^Psalms: Interpretation by James Mays 2011ISBN0664234399 pp. 438–439
^George Eldon Ladd,The Presence of the Future: The Eschatology of Biblical Realism, Eerdmans (Grand Rapids: 1974), 46–47.
^Bowker, John (2005)."Throne of God".The concise Oxford dictionary of world religions (2005 ed.). Oxford University Press.ISBN0-19-861053-X.
^George Eldon Ladd, The Presence of the Future: The Eschatology of Biblical Realism, Eerdmans (Grand Rapids: 1974), 130.
^George Eldon Ladd, The Presence of the Future: The Eschatology of Biblical Realism, Eerdmans (Grand Rapids: 1974), 131.
^Encyclopedia of Theology: A Concise Sacramentum Mundi by Karl Rahner (2004)ISBN0860120066 p. 1351
^A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin by John F. Collins (1985)ISBN0813206677 p. 176
^abIntroducing Christian Doctrine (2nd Edition) by Millard J. Erickson (2001)ISBN0801022509 pp. 391–392
^Systematic Theology Vol 2 by Wolfhart Pannenberg (2004)ISBN0567084663 pp. 390–391
^Familiar Stranger: An Introduction to Jesus of Nazareth by Michael James McClymond (2004)ISBN0802826806 pp. 77–79
^Studying the Historical Jesus: Evaluations of the State of Current Research by Bruce Chilton and Craig A. Evans (1998)ISBN9004111425 p. 255–257
^abcDivine Government: God's Kingship in the Gospel of Mark by R.T. France (2003)ISBN1573832448 pp. 1–3
^abKittel, Gerhard (1966).Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Volumes 3-4. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 164–166.ISBN0-8028-2245-2.
^William BarclayThe Gospel of Matthew: Chapters 11–28 p. 340 Matthew 23:22 "And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it."
^Philip Edgecumbe HughesA Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews p. 401 1988 "The theme ofChrist's heavenly session, announced here by the statement he sat down at theright hand of God, .. Hebrews 8:1 "we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven"
^Momen, Moojan (2004). "Baha'i Faith and Holy People". In Jestice, Phyllis G. (ed.).Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.ISBN1-57607-355-6.
^Smith, Peter (2008).An Introduction to the Baháʼí Faith. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 118–119.ISBN978-0-521-86251-6.
