Kingdom theology

Kingdom theology is a system of Christian thought that elaborates on

kingdom of God found throughout the New Testament

. Its emphasis is that the purpose of both individual Christians and the church as a whole is to manifest the kingdom of God on the earth, incorporating personal evangelism, social action, and foreign missions.

Theology

Kingdom theology distinguishes between the current world ruled by

Vineyard Bible Institute Derek Morphew argued that the kingdom of God encompassed both signs and wonders and social justice.^[4] Although kingdom theology presents history as a struggle between God and Satan, there is an eschatological expectation that God will triumph over Satan, which is why suffering for the sake of the kingdom is accepted.^[5]

In more

sermon on the mount.^[6]

Eschatology

George Eldon Ladd believed that the Bible taught of two ages: 'This Age' and 'The Age to Come'. In 'This Age', there will be hostility to Christianity but in the 'Age to Come' those who have followed Jesus will be free from oppression and given eternal life. He believed that 'The Age to Come' would be inaugurated by the second coming of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead.^[7] Ladd argued that there is an overlap between the two ages; he suggested that, although the 'Age to Come' is in the future, it can still be "tasted" now, and its power can penetrate 'This Age'.^[8] The Vineyard movement's statement of faith relating to the last book of the bible, Revelation, states that God's kingdom came through Jesus and continues to come through the Holy Spirit. It suggests that, when Jesus comes again, Satan will be defeated, the dead will be raised, the final judgement will happen, and God's kingdom will be fully established.^[9]

History and influence

This theological concept of "already" and "not yet" was proposed by Princeton theologian

Gerhardus Vos early in the 20th century, who believed that we live in the present age, the 'now', and await the 'age to come'.^[10]^[11] Kingdom theology was more fully examined in the 1950s by George Eldon Ladd, then a professor of biblical theology at Fuller Theological Seminary.^[12] He argued that there are two true meanings to the kingdom of God: Firstly, he proposed that the kingdom of God is God's authority and right to rule.^[13] Secondly, he argued that it also refers to the realm in which God exercises his authority, which is described in scripture both as a kingdom that is presently entered into and as one which will be entered in the future.^[14] He concluded that the kingdom of God is both present and future.^[15]

Doctrine of the kingdom of God caused controversy with

missionary work. The philosophers Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Schleiermacher and Albrecht Ritschl believed that the kingdom of God referred to a world of ideal human relations and envisaged a perfect Christian society. This interpretation influenced the secularisation of the doctrine and the development of liberal theology in the 1930s, and the Social Gospel movement in the USA.^[16]

Vineyard Churches, and underpins many of its teachings.^[4]

References

^ Friedmann & Bender 2010, p. 100
^ Waggoner, Bert. "The Theology & Practice Of The Kingdom Of God". Vineyard USA. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
^ ^a ^b Williams, Don. "The Kingdom Coming, Come Or Both?". Vineyard USA. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c Morphew, Derek. "The Kingdom: Healing The Dualism Of Personal And Social Ethics". Vineyard USA. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
^ Friedmann & Bender 2010, p. 102
^ Friedmann & Bender 2010, p. 101
^ Ladd 1959, pp. 26-7
^ Ladd 1959, p. 41
^ Vineyard USA
^ Ladd 1993, pp. 66–67
^ Enns 2011, p. 180
^ Bielo 2011 p. 140
^ Ladd 1959, pp. 19–20
^ Ladd 1959, p. 22
^ Ladd 1959, pp. 23–5
^ Richardson & Bowden 1983, p. 317