Kingship and kingdom of God

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For other uses, see Kingdom of Heaven (disambiguation).
Stained glass by Hallward depicting Matt 5:10: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven".

The concept of the kingship of God appears in all Abrahamic religions, where in some cases the terms Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are also used. The notion of God's kingship goes back to the Hebrew Bible, which refers to "his kingdom" but does not include the term "Kingdom of God".[1][2]

The "Kingdom of God" (Greek: βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ, Basileia tou Theou) and its equivalent form "Kingdom of Heaven" (Βασιλεία τῶν Ουρανῶν, Basileia tōn Ouranōn) in the Gospel of Matthew is one of the key elements of the teachings of Jesus in the New 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]

The Quran does not include the term "kingdom of God", but refers to Abraham seeing the "Kingdom of the heavens".[6] However, Bahá'í writings do use the term "kingdom of God".[7]

Contents

Judaism [edit]

Main article: Kingship of God (Judaism)

The term "kingdom of God" does not appear in the Hebrew Bible, although "his kingdom" and "your kingdom" are sometimes used when referring to God.[2] "Yours is the kingdom, O Lord" is used in 1 Chronicles 29:10-12 and "His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom" in Daniel 4:3, for example.[8]

The "enthronement psalms" (Psalms 45, 93, 96, 97-99) provide a background for this view with the exclamation "The Lord is King".[5] However, in later Judaism (after the destruction of the First Temple) a more "national" view was assigned to God's kingship in which the awaited messiah may be seen as a liberator and the founder of a new state of Israel.[9]

1 Kings 22:19, Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1 and Daniel 7:9 all speak of the Throne of God, although some philosophers such as Saadia Gaon and Maimonides interpreted such mention of a "throne" as allegory.[10]

Christianity [edit]

Main article: Kingdom of God (Christianity)
God the Father on a throne, Westphalia, Germany, late 15th century.

The Kingdom of God (and its equivalent form Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew) is one of the key elements of the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament.[11] 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 Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven).[12] Matthew is likely to have instead used the term heaven because the background of his Jewish audience imposed restrictions on the frequent use of the name of God.[13] Kingdom of God is translated to Latin as Regnum Dei and Kingdom of Heaven as Regnum caelorum.[14]

The Old Testament refers to "God the Judge of all" and the notion that all humans will eventually "be judged" is an essential element of Christian teachings.[15] Building on a number of New Testament passages, the Nicene Creed indicates that the task of judgement is assigned to Jesus.[15][16]

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 its eschatological context, e.g. apocalyptic, realized or Inaugurated eschatologies, no overall consensus has emerged among scholars.[17][18]

R. T. France points out that while the concept of "Kingdom of God" has an intuitive meaning to lay Christians, there is hardly any agreement among scholars about its meaning in the New Testament.[19] 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 the world to come.[19] France states that the phrase Kingdom of God is often interpreted in many ways to fit the theological agenda of those interpreting it.[19]

In the New Testament the Throne of God is talked about in several forms.[20] Including Heaven as the Throne of God, The Throne of David, The Throne of Glory, The Throne of Grace and many more.[20] The New Testament continues Jewish identification of heaven itself as the "throne of God",[21] but also locates the throne of God as "in heaven" and having a second subordinate seat at the Right Hand of God for the Session of Christ.[22]

Islam [edit]

Further information: Divisions of the world in Islam

The term "kingdom of God" does not occur in the Quran. The modern Arabic word for kingdom is mamlaka (المملكة), but in the Quran mul'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]

Bahá'í Faith [edit]

The term "kingdom of God" appears in the writings of the Bahá'í Faith, including the religious works of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the religion, and his son `Abdu'l-Bahá.[7][23][24][25] In the Bahá'í 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 a golden 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.[26] The Bahá'í teachings also state as people perform good deeds they become closer to God spiritually, so that the can attain eternal life and enter the kingdom of God while alive.[27]

See also [edit]

References and notes [edit]

  1. ^ "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) ISBN 1565181042 page 315
  2. ^ a b Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible by Kevin J. Vanhoozer, N. T. Wright, Daniel J. Treier and Craig Bartholomew (20 Jan 2006) ISBN 0801026946 page 420
  3. ^ The Gospel of Matthew by R.T. France (21 Aug 2007) ISBN 080282501X pages 101-103
  4. ^ a b Mercer Dictionary of the Bible by Watson E. Mills, Edgar V. McKnight and Roger A. Bullard (May 1, 2001) ISBN 0865543739 page 490
  5. ^ a b c Dictionary of Biblical Imagery by Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit and Tremper Longman III (Nov 11, 1998) ISBN 0830814515 pages 478-479
  6. ^ a b Biblical Prophets in the Qur'an and Muslim Literature by Roberto Tottoli (Dec 14, 2001) ISBN 0700713948 page 27
  7. ^ a b Bahá'u'lláh (2002). Gems of Divine Mysteries. Haifa, Israel: Bahá'í World Centre. p. 9. ISBN 0-85398-975-3. 
  8. ^ Psalms: Interpretation by James Mays 2011 ISBN 0664234399 pages 438-439
  9. ^ Encyclopedia of Theology: A Concise Sacramentum Mundi by Karl Rahner (Dec 28, 2004) ISBN 0860120066 page 1351
  10. ^ Bowker 2005, pp. Throne of God entry
  11. ^ The Gospel of Matthew by R.T. France (21 Aug 2007) ISBN 080282501X pages 101-103
  12. ^ Theology for the Community of God by Stanley J. Grenz (Jan 31, 2000) ISBN 0802847552 page 473
  13. ^ Matthew by David L. Turner (Apr 15, 2008) ISBN 0801026849 page 41
  14. ^ A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin by John F. Collins (Aug 1985) ISBN 0813206677 page 176
  15. ^ a b Introducing Christian Doctrine (2nd Edition) by Millard J. Erickson (Apr 1, 2001) ISBN 0801022509 pages 391-392
  16. ^ Systematic Theology Vol 2 by Wolfhart Pannenberg (Oct 27, 2004) ISBN 0567084663 pages 390-391
  17. ^ Familiar Stranger: An Introduction to Jesus of Nazereth by Michael James McClymond (Mar 22, 2004) ISBN 0802826806 pages 77-79
  18. ^ Studying the Historical Jesus: Evaluations of the State of Current Research by Bruce Chilton and Craig A. Evans (Jun 1998) ISBN 9004111425 pages 255-257
  19. ^ a b c Divine Government: God's Kingship in the Gospel of Mark by R.T. France (10 Mar 2003) ISBN 1573832448 pages 1-3
  20. ^ a b Kittel 1966, pp. 164–166
  21. ^ William Barclay The Gospel of Matthew: Chapters 11-28 p340 Matthew 23:22 "And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it."
  22. ^ Philip Edgecumbe Hughes A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews p401 1988 "The theme of Christ's heavenly session, announced here by the statement he sat down at the right 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")"
  23. ^ Bahá'u'lláh (1976). Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. p. 86. ISBN 0-87743-187-6. 
  24. ^ Bahá'u'lláh (1992) [1873]. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Most Holy Book. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-85398-999-0. 
  25. ^ `Abdu'l-Bahá (1908). Some Answered Questions. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust (published 1990). p. 58. ISBN 0-87743-162-0. 
  26. ^ Momen, Moojan (2004). "Baha'i Faith and Holy People". In Jestice, Phyllis G. Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1-57607-355-6. 
  27. ^ Smith, Peter (2008). An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 118–119. ISBN 0-521-86251-5. 

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