What is Revolutionary About the Kingdom of God? | N.T. Wright Online

It's easy to assume we know what words and phrases in the Bible mean. Over the last 2,000 years, the term "Kingdom of God" has been a favorite of Christians. But what did Jesus mean when he said it?

In this video, Prof. Wright places this term in its first-century context, unpacking what "Kingdom of God" did and did not mean for Jesus.

You can study these ideas and more in Prof. Wright's two-part course, History and Eschatology
Knowing God in the Created World
Knowing God in History and Hope

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[youngman]

These and your weekly scripture readings are just so refreshing and beneficial. They are a mini escape from the world - yet also, so very practical (and love the setting of your office/library - it really brings a warmth). Thank you again, so very much.

[akronurbanleague]

A gold nugget of teaching! Thank you!

[sherrywebber]

Very interesting and accurate 👌 👍 it makes you ponder and think on "Kingdom of God." Thank you sir also for your devotions on YouVersion... so enjoyable & I love doing them!! Have a blessed weekend 🙏 ✨️ 💖

[holysmokes]

I enjoy these very much. Thank you for all that you do.

[shelliemoore]

I am halfway through the gospel of John this summer going very slowly verse by verse and I just realize there’s only one spot where John talks about the kingdom of God. But Jesus in the gospel of John is always talking about eternal life, and the promise of the resurrection. Isn’t that intertwined with the kingdom of God?

[eltonron]

As long as there is strife, poverty, and wars, there is no kingdom of God yet. No doubt it is to first be here on earth.

[jollyrancher]

Daniel 2:44 states that God's Kingdom is a real goverment that will intervene in human affairs and destroy all other kingdoms. At that time, the only goverment on earth will be God's Kingdom. As we read in the NT, the chosen King of God's Kingdom is Jesus. He has selected some individuals to rule with him in heaven. (Revelation 5:9, 10) Those on earth who are under this rule will no longer suffer and die. (Revelation 21:3, 4) God's promise to Abraham about all nations being blessed will finally be realized.

[duncescotus]

A lot of believers are taught that "kingdom of God" and "kingdom of heaven" are different in some significant way, but I don't really see it. They seem to be interchangeable. But I suppose nothing in scripture is interchangeable. It speaks the way it does for a reason. I wonder what Bishop Wright would say.

[FocusontheKingdom]

But what is the Kingdom of God?!
You did not say!
What is meant by "the government will be on his shoulders, " Isa 9.6-7?
What is meant by "the throne of David, " Luke 1.35?
God will give Jesus the throne of his ancestor David.
What do you day?
Do you think that the Messiah is ruling the world now?
In hope,

Sir Anthony F. Buzzard
Bt., MA (Oxon.) MA Th.

[ShephardMinistries]

Let me explain something that very few understand: Just what is THE KINGDOM OF GOD? Jesus, after being tempted by Satan (Mark 1:13) came preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14). The Greek meaning of the word "Kingdom" is "royalty, rule, realm"[STRONG'S (#932). The word "realm" means "government" in the dictionary. The word "of" means "coming from." Therefore, Jesus came preaching the royalty, rule and government coming from God. Now U know just what the KINGDOM OF GOD is all about. It's not about going to Heaven. It's about the Government of God that's coming to this planet. And that Government will B on the shoulders of Jesus (Isa.9:6) when He takes over the kingdoms (governments) of this world (Rev.11:15). Don't hide this truth from others, tell them about it.

[tkthomas]

260  
                  Kingdom of God
                 Jesus preached the Kingdom of God. Only about the "Kingdom of God" did he talk.
          1)"Be born-again to see the Kingdom of God". He continued to Nicodemus who still was skeptical, "the wind's effect could be seen on trees". Though being BORN AGAIN is internal and non-observable, the effect of the KOG would be observable in the surroundings, as the effect of wind on trees.
          2) Of the Kingdom of God Jesus said " KOG is at hand". The Kingdom of God is right here and right now.
          3) Jesus further said  "Whatever you have done to the least of your neighbour, you have done unto me". Where the powerless neighbour is treated as King God, there is the Kingdom of God . 
                But who is the least in the neighborhood? Whoever at the receiving end of a transaction is the least in the environment. A pedestrian in front of the car driver. A king in front of the tax-payer. Next one to use the toilet. Listener in front of the preacher with a mike. The posterity...   Even tomorrow's me is at the receiving end of today's me….              
             Where the sermon on the mountain is considered as practicable and honestly followed there is the Kingdom of God.
                     The Kingdom of God envisioned by Jesus is simply treating the least in the neighbourhood as the King God. To serve the powerless neighbour as the King God. One needs to be born again to replace the attitude of exploitation with the attitude of love and care towards the weak neighbour. Born again childlike mind is representative of a child's readiness to accept new interpretation of nature, ie. the scientific temper too. 
                       When we look around we are not able to see KOG anywhere in the world. Churches build mansions in the name of the Kingdom of God. We see church authorities and elders fight to loot the asset. Though Church denominations differ on petty details they are in harmony about the impracticability of the Sermon on the Mountain. Jesus invites individuals, not Church nor any establishment, to follow Him bearing one's own cross. If I find the invitation attractive, the onus is on me to bear my cross and follow Him from this moment on. Bearing one's own cross simply means to take the decision in favour of the weak neighbour (decision to serve little neighbour as King God). Now and here, at hand, is the Kingdom of God.
                       Jesus invites each individual to create a node of one's own Kingdom of God around oneself, where the least in the environment is treated as King God. As long as the least in the neighborhood remains neglected, the Kingdom of God is willingly avoided by the individual. It's futile to wait for the Kingdom of God after death neglecting the Kingdom of God at hand.
                The "Kingdom of God '' which is at hand, as envisioned by Jesus is to be created willingly by bearing one's own cross. The cross of treating the little one in the neighborhood as King God. Anyone who wishes to follow Him, needs to take decisions in favour of the little one in the neighborhood, "Right here right now".. every moment of life. Indeed a cross, not as easy as following the mindless rituals prescribed by any religion. Religion attempts to obliterate the spirituality of the Kingdom of God. Religion colludes with the individual to neglect the King God, the powerless neighbour. 
                Jesus' invitation is to bear own cross to create the "Kingdom of God" at hand. No erring establishment, nor a leader unable to walk the talk, should be an impediment to the formation of my own personal "Kingdom of God"....
               A microcosm of the "Kingdom of God" is created at the node of the individual who decides to take Jesus' invitation "to be born again to see the Kingdom of God" seriously.

[mrseph]

I disagree with you Tom, the scriptures do in numerous places speak pf violence when the kingdom comes. And Jesus reminds us of that as he is about to be executed "My kingdom is not of this world because if it was my people would fight on my behalf"