Evangelical Theology Confusion

[timothyu]

to explain the Gospel

I rarely hear the Gospel of the Kingdom referred to.

 

[hedrick]

I rarely hear the Gospel of the Kingdom referred to.

But Paul had already started deemphasizing the Kingdom of God. Paul did use the term Kingdom, but it didn't have the central role for him that it did for Jesus, and the same as true in Acts and the other epistles.

I said before that in Paul we are already seeing a translation from Jesus' Jewish environment to a Greek one. Necessarily so, given Paul's audience. The difference is that Paul didn't use the kind of philosophical speculation that later theologians did.

I've wondered whether the presence of the Spirit with the Church is Paul's equivalent of the Kingdom. After all, the Kingdom of God isn't just (as sometimes translated) God's rule. It's his presence with his people. Perhaps that way of putting it was too closely tied with the whole OT covenant to be the central way of talking about it to Gentiles, and the presence of the Holy Spirit was the way the Kingdom manifested after Jesus' resurrection anyway.

 

[timothyu]

But Paul had already started deemphasizing the Kingdom of God. Paul did use the term Kingdom, but it didn't have the central role for him that it did for Jesus, and the same as true in Acts and the other epistles.

I said before that in Paul we are already seeing a translation from Jesus' Jewish environment to a Greek one. Necessarily so, given Paul's audience. The difference is that Paul didn't use the kind of philosophical speculation that later theologians did.

It was not Paul that diverted attention away from the Kingdom.

Acts 19:8 He (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the Kingdom of God

Acts 28: 23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

Acts 28: 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

 

[thecolorsblend]

[Staff edit].

I must admit that the disrespect which is being paid to great Christian teachers and leaders from history in this thread is as audacious as it is disturbing.

In a great many cases, the Early Church Fathers risked their lives to be Christians. They carefully studied the scriptures, they prayed without ceasing, many of them died agonizing martyr's deaths for their faith and, in the bargain, they ferreted out heresy wherever they found it.

For example, there were numerous debates and disputes over the nature of the Incarnation. And the reason for that is because it's not incidental doctrine. Understanding the Incarnation leads to an understanding of Our Lord's character, mission and redemptive work. Understanding those things leads to an understanding of the grace we have been offered.

It's quite easy for someone today to look at careful study of theology, Christology, soteriology, etc, with something akin to disdain. But for Christians earlier in history who didn't have the benefit of nearly two full millennia of orthodox faith and exegesis to depend upon, these were not incidental matters. Indeed, they cut to the heart of the faith that was still growing and maturing in their time.

[Staff edit].

 

[timothyu]

All that self justification does not change the fact that a movement that was to represent the Kingdom of God which is opposite in nature to the ways and will of man, sold out and rejoined the world of man, aligning itself with the governance of man and rejected the governance and will of God to do so. Hard to teach about God's will and selflessness when co-operating with man's will and selfishness. Something got changed in the process in order to return to the ways of the Pharisees.